The wind speed on my VP Vantage Pro is not reporting. Davis recommended removing/putting back the wind cups as well as checking the cabling. Took down the mast and to my surprise found numerous instances of the plastic cable conduit being compromised. In places you can see metal (not copper but silver color). I am wondering if the Davis RJ-15 cable is shielded? Likely a moot point; the cable needs replaced.
I had to splice my anemometer cable when I moved my station transmitter about 30 feet. I didn't take any pictures apparently but at least on the VP-2 there is no metal shielding. It is a standard 4-conductor telephone cable. If you need to splice the cable, scotchlok connectors work very well. Davis supplies them in their cable splicing kits but you can get them in any telephone or electronics supply house. Here is a video on how to use them:
https://youtu.be/vV16ahOr6po
Might be a good time to upgrade the wire with a custom type. Not sure what that would be, but surely there is something out there that would be more durable than standard telephone cable.
I'll check out the scotchlok connectors. Looks like I can continue to use the Davis weather proof box with them. The exposed cable I am seeing though it is silver. I'll check out the wire when I splice everything. Hopefully the hardware store has some connectors. Radio Shack closed several years ago. Other than that, it is the internet [banghead]
Likely insulated CAT 5? I'll hold off on a wire upgrade and hope Davis upgrades the Vantage Pro line soon. I would like a wireless anemometer. The wire from the mast to the weather station is buried in PVC pipe so it is pretty protected.
Dear Jeff, Herb, and WeatherCat station cabling experts,I'll check out the scotchlok connectors. Looks like I can continue to use the Davis weather proof box with them. The exposed cable I am seeing though it is silver. I'll check out the wire when I splice everything. Hopefully the hardware store has some connectors. Radio Shack closed several years ago. Other than that, it is the internet [banghead]
Likely insulated CAT 5? I'll hold off on a wire upgrade and hope Davis upgrades the Vantage Pro line soon. I would like a wireless anemometer. The wire from the mast to the weather station is buried in PVC pipe so it is pretty protected.
If you simply want to splice in a section of newer cable, I just checked and Davis cable kits are the same for the Vantage Pro and Vantage Pro-2:
http://www.davisnet.com/weather/products/install_cables.asp (http://www.davisnet.com/weather/products/install_cables.asp)
Davis sells a splicing kit with the scotchlok connectors and weather-proof box. That's what I used to extend the cables of all my instruments. So you could replace that cable for a very moderate cost and allow yourself plenty of time to wait for the VP-3 or whatever Davis has on their R&D workbench right now.
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
P.S. if you go Internet for the Davis wiring kits definitely go with one of the discount dealers. This thread lists "da' usual suspects" . . . .
http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=1880.0;topicseen (http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=1880.0;topicseen)
Just a couple of thoughts, which may or may not be useful since I don't know all the details.When I put up the mast in 2009 I bought the 100' Davis extension wire kit. However I only needed 50'. I did not cut off the left over as I was thinking about extending the mast to 32 ft (at that time and currently it is 24 ft). The remainder I wound up and tied to the base of the mast with cable ties- this is where the abrasions occurred (see picture). I believe I have enough wire to to cut out the bad wire and splice back together. This time I might connect a PVC pipe to the bottom of the mast and run the wire through it to eliminate the abrasion point. Open to any ideas of securing the splice box to the mast. The splice box is about 1" x 4" round cylinder if memory serves me.
If any of the wire is loose from the sensor head to the entry of the conduit pipe, flapping in the breeze will over time wear the insulation away. If the wire is still carrying the signal, while not touching anything to ground, then you can just wrap it with a good quality electrical tape, then secure the wire to the mast at several places to prevent further damage.
Cat 5 and other Ethernet cables are heavier, but are twisted. Phone cable is not. Rule of thumb when replacing cable. Replace twisted with twisted, and straight with straight.
Hopefully you can continue to use the existing cable for several more years.
[cheers1]
Open to any ideas of securing the splice box to the mast. The splice box is about 1" x 4" round cylinder if memory serves me.
I use to install all kinds of wiring from TV cable coaxial cable Cat 5 and 6 and learned from some of the best
And learned that you should never wrap it round anything kept it flat and straight and secure it every 12" wrapping it around can cause magnetic impulses which can cause bad signal running through the wiring
Since you are already using WeatherCat, perhaps you could use another "Kat" product to protect those zip ties from UV: <BeautyKat Sunscreen (http://www.beautykat.com/Category-Sunscreen/c1_13/index.html)>
30 feet long, for 3 days...10 feet a day ...1 foot an hour (10 hour work day) ... Next time, rent a backhoe! 3 hours to go get it, 1 hour to unload it, 1 hour to figure out how to use it, 1 hour to dig the trench, 3 hours to take it back! And you'll still have 1 hour of extra sleep! [lol2]
Since you are already using WeatherCat, perhaps you could use another "Kat" product to protect those zip ties from UV: <BeautyKat Sunscreen (http://www.beautykat.com/Category-Sunscreen/c1_13/index.html)>
Yep. When sun exposure is a factor, only Ty-Rap that will do is Ultraviolet Resistant Black Nylon.
A little expensive at $19.90, but light and roomy at 6x6x4. PVC Junction Box
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Herb
Thanks for the ideas! I'll have to think a long time on the sunscreen idea though. Might be a good idea on New Year Eve [cheers1]
Hi everyone,
The wind speed on my VP Vantage Pro is not reporting. Davis recommended removing/putting back the wind cups as well as checking the cabling. Took down the mast and to my surprise found numerous instances of the plastic cable conduit being compromised. In places you can see metal (not copper but silver color). I am wondering if the Davis RJ-15 cable is shielded? Likely a moot point; the cable needs replaced.
Thanks!
Hard to tell from the images... is that 'regulation' bailing wire at the top of the short post? :o Depending on the capabilities of the local critters, it might be better to use some "U" bolts in that area, as you did at the bottom. I assume that short pipe is actually in the concrete holding the tall pole/mast upright. :-\
Not sure what the weather will do to the "wood wedge". Rain might cause it to swell, even with "U" bolts, it may deteriorate from it's exposure even if it's "marine-grade" particle board. :(
Only possible additional step I would suggest is to fill the hole in the upper 90? PVC joint with some kind of silicon sealant to (1) prevent wasps/spiders/etc. from using the tube for 'home building' and (2) prevent the wind from moving that section of cable on the edge of the PVC. [tup]
Only other comment is about all those large rocks in your yard. I really think you may damage your mower if not very careful... maybe just paint them Da-Glo orange? [tup]
The gap between pipes is about 14/16". I was hoping 1" PVC would fit but it just slightly too large.Even if you filed away a 1/16" on opposite sides of that 1" PVC, the warm (hot?!) part of the year could cause the pipe to become flattened a bit and eventually just fall out. I'd suggest buying a couple of pounds of Walnuts. Sort though those and I'll bet you can find an exact fit. Those things are harder than any rocks on your place and not even a squirrel can chew through one! It will last longer than the pipes!! [rockon] Might paint it red so you can find it next time you lower the mast and you forget to catch the nut!! [biggrin]
I think "Good Stuff" would probably be better, I just wish they made it in much smaller cans. I usually need a table spoon of it somewhere every two years, but once it starts coming out, anything still in that long tube dries out and you're stuck (no pun intended, of course) with 90% of the contents forever unavailable! [banghead]
I'd suggest buying a couple of pounds of Walnuts. Sort though those and I'll bet you can find an exact fit. Those things are harder than any rocks on your place and not even a squirrel can chew through one! It will last longer than the pipes!! [rockon] Might paint it red so you can find it next time you lower the mast and you forget to catch the nut!! [biggrin]
One of those rocks looks like a petrified log! I hope the handle resting on it is (was!) not to one of your better axes!! :o
I think "Good Stuff" would probably be better, I just wish they made it in much smaller cans. I usually need a table spoon of it somewhere every two years, but once it starts coming out, anything still in that long tube dries out and you're stuck (no pun intended, of course) with 90% of the contents forever unavailable! [banghead]
"Good Stuff" is the cheaper brand of "Great Stuff"; it's just not as... uhmn... good. [banghead] Similar to Windows and Mac... [lol]
On my first go, I did not seal my pipe with silicone. Water drizzled into the pipe over several winters, eventually accumulated enough to freeze and break the wire. So don't do what I did. Be smarter than that.