New feature request: Maintanance mode

[DAP]

I'd like an easily toggled option to continue logging data, but mark the data as invalid, and not broadcast it to weather services.

I'd like to be able to turn this option on when I am doing maintenance on my ISS (cleaning the rain gauge, messing with the mount, or debugging a faulty sensor).

I'm currently having issues with my rain gauge not measuring accurately or repeatably (10 to 50% low readings), and I'd like to be able to do some debugging on my system without corrupting the data I send to the weather services.

[admin]

This is a "not easy to do" request, but logical. Problem is that data logging also needs to halt and after that cumulative
changes (like additional false rain totals) need to be ignored.

[DAP]

Currently the metobridge pro is my only method of seeing data from my ISS. I can delete some data, but not all from weather underground (solar an UV can't be deleted) and I don't even know if it is possible to delete data from CWOP.
I am currently trying to debug a rain gauge problem where it is under reporting rain.
I was up on the roof manually toggling the tipping bucket, probably more than 100 times. The total reported rain was 0.02"
Is there some software filter that ignores rain if it appears to come too fast? If so, what is the maximum rate allowed.
In any case a maintenance mode would be very useful right now.

[admin]

Do you know how to adjust daily and monthly and yearly in the historical section?
You can change values there by clicking onto the value to change.

[DAP]

Do you know how to adjust daily and monthly and yearly in the historical section?
You can change values there by clicking onto the value to change.

Will editing the local history change the values at all of the web sites I broadcast data to?
The problem as I see it is that if bogus data goes out, it must be edited at all the sites it went to, and some don't allow you to edit.
It would be much better if I could prevent the bogus data from being sent in the first place.
Rain gauges are supposed to be cleaned every few months, and they will generate bogus data when they are cleaned.

[Mattk]

.... Rain gauges are supposed to be cleaned every few months, and they will generate bogus data when they are cleaned....

One would normally disconnect (or turn off) the actual rain gauge when cleaning, wouldn't they?

[DAP]

.... Rain gauges are supposed to be cleaned every few months, and they will generate bogus data when they are cleaned....

One would normally disconnect (or turn off) the actual rain gauge when cleaning, wouldn't they?

Depends on how much trouble it is to disconnect or turn off the rain gauge.

[D2149]

I was up on the roof manually toggling the tipping bucket, probably more than 100 times. The total reported rain was 0.02"
Is there some software filter that ignores rain if it appears to come too fast?

Is this a Vantage Vue or VP2?

If its a VP2, only thing you want installed that high above the ground is your Anemometer. You really should't have the ISS up on a roof cause it isn't designed for it.

Should be about 5.6' from the ground on a mast or wooden mounting stake. Your rain measurements are going to be WAY OFF with the rain bucket that high up in the air. (although your issue sounds like a bad sensor connection from the bucket to the main board or a faulty Reed Switch or switches under your tipper) Cleaning the tipper buckets definitely needs to be done, but the data loss you are reporting is HUGE. A dirty but functioning tipper would still work a lot better than that.

How old is this ISS? If its new, you need to call Davis tech support and explain those readings. If you tipped the tipper 100 times, you should have 1.00 in of rain on the Console/MBP which is equal to 100 tips of the tipper back and forth. 0.02" is = to TWO TIPS. If the unit has been outdoors for a year or more, you might have a failure of your tipper switches, which will require you send the ISS back to Davis for service. Unless it is out of warranty and you want to order the parts and change out the Reed Switches yourself. (Provided that is the cause of the problem). Manually tipping as you did and missing 98 of the hits, really sounds like both switches are bad. One would give you 50% less than entered.

Davis offers a REFURB Service of your entire VP2 system for $212.00 which includes return FedEx shipping. For that flat fee, they go through you entire system and bring it back up to factory spec. I recently sent in our backup 6163 for this service and they replaced the FARS Fan, FARS batteries, upgraded the T/H sensor to the new SHT31, replaced ISS main board, and brought the rest of the system up to production line spec. GREAT DEAL for any ISS older than a couple of years.

Regarding ISS on a roof, you also run the risk of over reporting temps in the summer due to radiant heat coming off the roof, depending on the roofing material under the solar shield. Can also happen in the winter too depending on geographic location.

Having the ISS properly sited at the 5 feet 6 inches height not only provides you with the expected/accurate readings, it is also a heck of a lot easier to access for battery changes, maintenance of the rain bucket, or to UNPLUG ALL of your sensors from the board when you don't want the ISS sending data to your MBP. If you are connected to the VP2 console and not RF, you can just put the console in Stand By mode by Holding down DONE and the Minus Button at the same time.

This is all contained in the "Siting Guidelines" which I believe Davis still includes in their paperwork. If you can't find your Siting Guidelines pamphlet, Wunderground offers a similar document online.

[DAP]

I was up on the roof manually toggling the tipping bucket, probably more than 100 times. The total reported rain was 0.02"
Is there some software filter that ignores rain if it appears to come too fast?

Is this a Vantage Vue or VP2?

If its a VP2, only thing you want installed that high above the ground is your Anemometer. You really should't have the ISS up on a roof cause it isn't designed for it.

Should be about 5.6' from the ground on a mast or wooden mounting stake. Your rain measurements are going to be WAY OFF with the rain bucket that high up in the air. (although your issue sounds like a bad sensor connection from the bucket to the main board or a faulty Reed Switch or switches under your tipper) Cleaning the tipper buckets definitely needs to be done, but the data loss you are reporting is HUGE. A dirty but functioning tipper would still work a lot better than that.

How old is this ISS? If its new, you need to call Davis tech support and explain those readings. If you tipped the tipper 100 times, you should have 1.00 in of rain on the Console/MBP which is equal to 100 tips of the tipper back and forth. 0.02" is = to TWO TIPS. If the unit has been outdoors for a year or more, you might have a failure of your tipper switches, which will require you send the ISS back to Davis for service. Unless it is out of warranty and you want to order the parts and change out the Reed Switches yourself. (Provided that is the cause of the problem). Manually tipping as you did and missing 98 of the hits, really sounds like both switches are bad. One would give you 50% less than entered.

Davis offers a REFURB Service of your entire VP2 system for $212.00 which includes return FedEx shipping. For that flat fee, they go through you entire system and bring it back up to factory spec. I recently sent in our backup 6163 for this service and they replaced the FARS Fan, FARS batteries, upgraded the T/H sensor to the new SHT31, replaced ISS main board, and brought the rest of the system up to production line spec. GREAT DEAL for any ISS older than a couple of years.

Regarding ISS on a roof, you also run the risk of over reporting temps in the summer due to radiant heat coming off the roof, depending on the roofing material under the solar shield. Can also happen in the winter too depending on geographic location.

Having the ISS properly sited at the 5 feet 6 inches height not only provides you with the expected/accurate readings, it is also a heck of a lot easier to access for battery changes, maintenance of the rain bucket, or to UNPLUG ALL of your sensors from the board when you don't want the ISS sending data to your MBP. If you are connected to the VP2 console and not RF, you can just put the console in Stand By mode by Holding down DONE and the Minus Button at the same time.

This is all contained in the "Siting Guidelines" which I believe Davis still includes in their paperwork. If you can't find your Siting Guidelines pamphlet, Wunderground offers a similar document online.

I am aware that an ISS is not an ideal solution. The wind sensors want to be as high as possible to catch the wind, the solar sensors could go with the wind sensor, the rain collector wants to be exposed, but out of the wind, and the temperature sensor would prefer to be out of the sun. One must pick their poison when placing an ISS. Proper sighting for an official weather station usually require about an acre of level mown grass to place the station in the centre of. I don have that. The wind sensor cable is not long enough for ideal placement of both the wind sensor and the rain gauge, so I compromised on the rain gauge placement. The primary reason for roof mounting though is that it is harder for someone to walk off with the ISS.

As far as temperature, I have a fan aspirated sensor, but I also have two other temperature sensors in shady spots on the east and west of my house, and they never agree on the temperature. At my location there is usually a steady breeze of about 5 mph except or rare very hot days.

I do not have the Davis base station, I figured that with the metobridge pro, I would not need it. The ISS was installed new in January, and I am working with Davis support to try and identify the problem with it.

With an ohm meter I verified that when the bucket is midway, the switch closes, and opens when the bucket is fully tipped either way. It seems to work when there is a long time between tips, but not when tipped quickly.
I will try and run some more experiments this weekend to identify the issue.

[D2149]

Ah! I had not considered security as being a reason for your ISS placement. That must be frustrating that you can't put the sensors where you really want them! But good for those who are relying on your data that you are aware of what your ultimate siting location should be. There are SO MANY PWS owners out there that are truly clueless about ISS placement! Many choosing a Roof Top installation when they have a much more viable ground based location available and simply choose not to take advantage of it for whatever reason.

(Don't let the 40' limit of the Anemometer cable stop you from putting the cups where you would like to put them! - Just pick up a good set of RJ-11 RJ-45 crimpers, some 4 conductor phone cable, and a male and female 4 conductor RJ connector, and you can make yourself an extension cable as long as required!)

I understand about your specific installation now and the security aspects of having the ISS in a location where it can't be nicked!
Well... Good luck with sorting out your issue. Hopefully Davis tech support will be open to the idea of a defective exchange, or at least a warranty based evaluation/repair. (Another situation where having a backup ISS really takes the sting out of needing to send a piece of kit back to Davis!

Cheers.