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Weather Station Hardware => Weather Station Pictures => Topic started by: WA4OPQ on November 12, 2020, 10:19:05 PM

Title: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: WA4OPQ on November 12, 2020, 10:19:05 PM
Here's my latest project, a solar powered station using ham radio to link to my base station. It uses an Ambient WS-2902 array, Ecowitt GW1000, and a raspberry pi zero running WeeWx. It's currently in my back yard, hopefully next year it'll be on a hill overlooking a cornfield.
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Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: vreihen on November 13, 2020, 07:32:15 AM
Out of curiosity, how does the VV-898 perform as an APRS transceiver?????
Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: rlee171 on November 13, 2020, 10:28:36 AM
Very nice job!   Specs on the solar panel?
Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: WA4OPQ on November 13, 2020, 01:11:47 PM
Out of curiosity, how does the VV-898 perform as an APRS transceiver?????
It works quite well in a rural location. Low current draw and good sensitivity. I would not recommend it in suburban or city settings, however.

Very nice job!   Specs on the solar panel?
It's a 30W Newpowa panel. I thought it would be adequate for a station that draws 3.5 watts, but I appear to be mistaken. I am going to upgrade it to a 75 watt panel.
Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: roc121 on February 11, 2021, 09:58:01 AM
This is really cool.
Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: WA4OPQ on February 11, 2021, 11:22:48 AM
Update:

I have made some modifications after testing. My previous method of burying the battery flooded so a larger battery is in a vault with good drainage. It now has a 75 watt panel and the solar controller has been moved into the cabinet.
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I have also installed a voltage and current sensor and can read five parameters through telemetry. As a test I disconnected the solar panel and found that the battery alone will run it for 5 days and 20 hours.
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Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: josecmorales on February 17, 2021, 08:45:50 AM
Great setup, would you mind to explain all you can did it (a little guide how to)
Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: davidmc36 on February 17, 2021, 09:08:55 AM
Underground battery?

Keeps it warm?
Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: josecmorales on February 17, 2021, 09:27:00 AM
Underground battery?

Keeps it warm?

I dont think warm, maybe an stable temp.
Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: WA4OPQ on February 17, 2021, 10:58:50 AM
Great setup, would you mind to explain all you can did it (a little guide how to)

Thank you. It has turned out to be a much larger project than I envisioned. I am in the process of documenting all of it. I hope to have it published in QST, the journal for Amateur Radio in the US. If so I will supply a link or copy here.

As a note on the progress: My battery will power the station for almost six days, so of course Mother Nature tested me with eight cloudy days. I'm now working on a small UPS and shutdown device for the pi.
Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: WA4OPQ on February 17, 2021, 11:03:22 AM
Underground battery?
Keeps it warm?
As mentioned before, just a bit more stable.A little less cold in the winter and not so hot in the summer. The vault lid has a provision for a security screw so it also makes it a bit more vandal proof.
Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: azchrisf on April 14, 2021, 12:42:16 PM
Excellent setup!
Title: Re: Solar powered remote WX station
Post by: nordos on January 21, 2024, 11:19:02 PM
Thank you. It has turned out to be a much larger project than I envisioned. I am in the process of documenting all of it. I hope to have it published in QST, the journal for Amateur Radio in the US. If so I will supply a link or copy here.
Hello! Have you published somewhere what and how your weather station was assembled from? Please provide a link.