Andy9164

Thats a good point and also I agree, if you are going to add this sort of hardware to keep the sensor running in cold weather and stop it freezing up then there should be a built in mechanism for it to happen automatically and be controlled internally. I dont know how warm the heating plate gets, hopefully its just a gentle warming but next project then would be to work out some kind of alarm system that triggers when the plate is on and the temperature is above 0C.

Just on the temperature control gadget I mentioned above. This arrived today and I have been doing some very technical experimentation with a bag of frozen peas. By setting the "On" to -1C and the "Off" to 0C at room temperature unit does not supply power to the output. Wrap in the bag of frozen peas, watch temperature drop and as soon as temperature hits -1C unit switches on providing output power. Unwrap from peas and when temperature exceeds 0C the unit turns off. Just what is needed. I dont know if our weather in the UK is severe enough to warrant the use of the heating plate on the WS80 but who knows we may get another "Beast from the East" where the lowest temperature here was -7C and with the windchill the apparent temperature dropped to -16C . It will save me having to run out to the shed to switch it on. Andy

So I have opted for the GW1003 and have been speaking with Lucy @ Ecowitt who is being extremel helpful. Just waiting for a final price including shipping. Unfortunately due to the Corona Virus delivery will take 4 - 6 weeks but I am happy to wait. I have also being looking at this little gadget so that I can automatically turn on the heating plate when the temperature drops below 0 degrees C 12V/220V Digital LED Temperature Controller Thermostat Control Switch Probe # WWW.EBAY.CO.UK Long press The UP button the temperature display Flashing, press the UP or DOWN button Set the beginning of the temperature value. Long press the... Using the 240V version I can just wire the output to a 13 amp socket and plug the required adaptor for the heating plate in to that. Mount the sensor outdoors so when the temperature is between -50C and 0C the heater will come on.......I hope. Will let you know how it all goes when it arrives. Andy

Hi Mandrake, Many thanks for your answers. I did look at getting a GW1002 from Amazon in the US as it was $30USD cheaper but then I had reservations about the sensor transmission frequency and then complications at a later date if I wanted to add a console or additional sensors. Unfortunately I have not recorded any wind measurements for storm Caira or storm Dennis as this is the part that failed on my Maplin weather station. I have had it in bits, freed up the bearings, recrimped all the connections, as I have to add an extension cable, but unfortuanetly despite all my efforts and many hours taking it down and back up again and trying to repair it, its finally died. I read about the heating plate on the WS80 and if you have a lot of rain / snow and temperatures > -3C that it can adversly affect the readings. Not sure how applicable this would be for us in the UK. Maybe need to try and work something out with a Pi that switches it on automatically if temperature hits -3.C I will speak with Ecowitt and see what can be done. Andy

Hi all, I too am looking at Ecowitt as a replacement, but they do seem to be lacking in sellers in the UK, so like others will need to get this shipped. Intially looking at either the GW1002 or GW1003 (like the ideal of the ultrasonic wind sensor as my old Maplin station has had several wind / direction replacements). Not too bothered about a display as I use CumulusMX to upload to my website. A couple of questions: 1) with the GW1003 the outdoor temperature / humidty sensor is on the same pole as the wind instruments. I was always lead to believe that temperature sensors should be in a shady spot where they are not in direct sunlight. Does the screen around the sensor offer enough protetction as obviously the anemometer needs to be in as much open space as possible. 2) As shipping in to the UK, what rates of import duty / VAT did the shipment attract. Did customs slap 20% on. Thanks Andy