New wind sensor - Pypilot + Davis

[seandepagnier]

Hi,

Is this the "minimal weather sensor" board? The one that converts the rj12 jack into usb without a display?

There are 4 wires going to the wind sensor. These are power (0 and 5 volts) wind direction (analog voltage) and wind speed (pulse).

Can you confirm the two wires of 0-5 volts with an changing voltage?

You said the "anemometer was working fine" was this with a different setup, or the same one? Sometimes the rj12 contacts need cleaning. I am developing a greatly improved wind sensor right now that hopefully avoids all sorts of issues...

[Erickalon]

Hi Sean, thanks for the reply.
I have the sensor with display.
The two data wires are showing changing voltage. I will further try to give you more accurate values.
I don't have changed any setup on the anemometer and weather sensor.

[seandepagnier]

So it did work in the past and is not working now with the same hardware setup?


The davis sensor sometimes can degrade over time... I remember drilling holes in mine and injecting oil to get it working again after 6 years....

[Erickalon]

Hi Sean,
my Davis sensor has only one season of operation, less than one year, so it is not the most probable explanation, but if necessary I will check it and by the way try to rotate the potentiometer to avoid the dead zone and the 180° compensation (there was no way for me to put the sensor forward).
I don't think to a problem with the RJ11 plug because it is shining and my boat stay very dry, but I will use a contact cleaning spray to clear this question.
Meanwhile, I intend to check the weather sensor at home. I think inject variable voltage on the RJ11 data wire, so between earth and data wires. I read on the Davis Internet site that the signal for the speed is given by a an magnetic switch, so I can try to send an hacked signal by a way to imagine, and for the direction a variable voltage.
I was thinking to a possible Arduino software corrupted, maybe do to electromagnetic surge during lighting storm. Is there a way to check the integrity of this soft and to reinstall a clean one in case of trouble?
thanks for your help,
Eric

[Erickalon]

Hi Sean,
I have made some more check on board this afternoon. I have tried to wiggle the connector with no effect. I have measured the voltage on the PCB.
Between Gnd and 5v: 4.97 v
Between Gnd and Speed, 4.7 v with a very low observed wind speed, display 0.0.
Between Gnd and Dir, 4.0 to 4.1 v, observed direction 10 to 20° port, display 65 to 70° (offset is 0 and anemometer is oriented backward).
At home, I have connected the weather sensor on my PC with Putty, without anemometer, and I get the following reading:
Sensor type:davis
Wind Off:0
Baro Off:0
Temp Off:0
Cal valid 118 901
bmX280 setup
$ARMWV,5.50,R,0.00,N,A*2e
$ARMWV,13.43,R,0.00,N,A*1b
$ARMWV,25.17,R,0.00,N,A*1f
$ARMWV,27.04,R,0.00,N,A*1f
$ARMWV,27.43,R,0.00,N,A*1c
$ARMWV,27.52,R,0.00,N,A*1c
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMDA,,,1.01495,B,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*3f
$ARMTA,20.92,C*2f
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMWV,27.53,R,0.00,N,A*1d
$ARMDA,,,1.01496,B,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*3c
$ARMTA,20.92,C*2f

I can make the same measure on board later with the anemometer connected.
Have you an idea on this issue? did there is a mean to check the integrity of the software?
Many thanks,
Eric

[seandepagnier]

if you touch the board without the sensor connected on the pins under the rj12 jack, does the direction change?

Does the voltage on the wind sensor change when the wind direction changes?

[Erickalon]

Hi Sean,
Yes, when I touch the terminals on the board with RJ11 disconnected, the direction changes.
The wind direction was not moving too much during my last time on board but the voltage was changing slightly, roughly around 0.10 v for 10° to 20°.
I am not in condition to climb to the mast for some weeks, so it will not be possible to check the Davis anemometer, but I have ordered a small oscilloscope that I intend to use to check the delivered signal. I will post the result asap.
Thanks a lot, Eric

[seandepagnier]

I think this would show that the issue is with the sensor itself not the board

You could use a volt meter rather than an oscilloscope.

[Erickalon]

Yes Sean, you are probably right and it will be surely easier for me to solve a problem on the anemometer sensor, but I must wait to be in condition to climb.
The voltmeter is showing a steady voltage for the speed, but the signal is supposed to be pulsed, so the voltage probably show few variations. It was for me an occasion to buy a used cheap oscilloscope...

[seandepagnier]

Speed is a pulse, so for this an oscilliscope might be useful.