wind speed /solar monitor thing

[shadiya]

Can anyone recommend a device that I can use to measure my wind and sun for the next year to help with my decision as to what system to go for? Thanks

[dhaslam]

There isn't much need to measure the sun.    It fluctuates of course but the  difference between one site and another within a general area is negligible.   

The  weather station   the Navitron site  doesn't  do data logging to a PC but it does give some wind information  which may be sufficient if you record  the readings regularly.

www.navitron.org.uk/product_detail.php?proID=16&catID=67

[shadiya]

It's true, I'm a donkey, ignore the solar bit....

I'm also really forgetful so think I need something that will record the info for me, any ideas? I can remember to log onto my laptop but checking wind speed daily for a year is a complete non starter....

[Dave1]

Have a look at this

http://www.weathershop.co.uk/shop/elements/sunshine/be-powerpredictor.html

Dave

[Baz]

Cheaper here.
http://www.anemometers.co.uk/wind_speed_data_logger_field_kit.html

Anyone tried it?

[dinitro]

Maplins have a good range;

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223254

in the past their promo's had a similar station for £70/ £80.

PC linkable, use something like Sandysofts Cumulus to graph windspeed temp etc.
regarding solar the only thing I can think of is hobbyboards solar monitor.  However if you are adept at designing electronic circuits all you need is an analogue to digital convertor and a photoresistor/ photodiode and measure voltage/ current out.

really depends on how much you want to spend.

I have a WH-1080 from maplins and have it wired to a nettop, also have a 1-wired network.  No solar monitoring yet.

dinitro

[cornishben]

Maplins have a good range;
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223254

I've been thinking about getting a wind speed/direction measurement set up for our house roof, not really related to renewables at all but do a lot of surfing and the wind speed/direction can make or break a good session..  my idea was to get some basic 'home weather station' that could log to a PC.  The link from dinitro above to the 'USB Wireless Weather Forecaster' looks ideal.

Anyone any experience of rigging something like this up to a low power laptop/server and then 'harvesting' the logged data in real time and posting it to a website or something?  my plan is to put the data up on the web in real time so that friends can also see what the wind is doing (we're right by the beach), or maybe knock a phone app together for it.  I guess this is classic arduino/pachube territory?

[zeus]

Maplins have a good range;
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223254

I've been thinking about getting a wind speed/direction measurement set up for our house roof, not really related to renewables at all but do a lot of surfing and the wind speed/direction can make or break a good session..  my idea was to get some basic 'home weather station' that could log to a PC.  The link from dinitro above to the 'USB Wireless Weather Forecaster' looks ideal.

Anyone any experience of rigging something like this up to a low power laptop/server and then 'harvesting' the logged data in real time and posting it to a website or something?  my plan is to put the data up on the web in real time so that friends can also see what the wind is doing (we're right by the beach), or maybe knock a phone app together for it.  I guess this is classic arduino/pachube territory?

Hi

Something like this ?? http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/sw/camborne_latest_temp_graphs.html ..... Culdrose also available for the Lizard ....

[cornishben]

someone's been there before me  
http://www.grantgibson.co.uk/blog/index.php/2008/05/26/weather-station/

[cornishben]

Something like this ?? http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/sw/camborne_latest_temp_graphs.html ..... Culdrose also available for the Lizard ....

Yeah exactly that kind of thing  but I wanted it local to us

[Baz]

You do know about the wunderground?

Maplin and ebay have some cheap weather stations. They probably interface to the common weatherstation software which are usually web accessed. Or you could use the basic s/w supplied with weather station and access it using a simple free VPN application.

[skyewright]

Anyone any experience of rigging something like this up to a low power laptop/server and then 'harvesting' the logged data in real time and posting it to a website or something?

You might consider Meteohub or for even lower power[1] (and less up-front cost) Meteoplug.

Either will work with a host of weather stations including the Fine Offset Electronics/Watson that the Maplin links probably point to.

I'm a long term Meteohub user, logging to an ALIX-1D, and I also have a Bifferboard based Meteoplug because I helped with pre-release testing.

[1] I find 1W a bit of an exaggeration. When talking to ethernet and with a USB connection active I find my Bifferboard uses a bit over 2W - but that is still pretty impressive!