Temp data problems - Davis VP2

[Flying Astronomer]

I think I've solved the problem this morning, but recently, for several days, I've only been getting --.-- displayed for temperature from my wireless VP2, which has worked flawlessly for over 18 months now. Sometimes, for maybe an hour or so, the data would return, indicating that the transmit was OK. The data also seemed sensible, so the probes appeared to be functioning OK when they did fire-up.

Jiggling the connections made no difference. The line of sight is only about 15 metres, so well within the published range, and no obstructions.

It's been a really poor summer here in Wales this year, given the La Nina status and having endless runs of low pressure systems being squeezed passed us between the Iceland and Azores highs. So, when the sun came out, the temp data reappeared. A penny dropped somewhere, and I came to think that the times the temp probe worked wwere when the Sun had swung round to provide enough light to the solar panel. Even though the system diagnostics were returning an 'OK' from the transmitter's battery, I decided to replace it, as it was still the original battery.

It now *seems* to have sorted the problem out. Has anyone else had a similar problem? All the data was being lost at one point earlier in the year, but that was, strangely, down to low console batteries ( I tend to have it on batts as it's more flexible around the house), not the transmitter battery.

Thanks,

J.

Edited August 10, 2008 by Flying Astronomer

[Flying Astronomer]

BTW, here's the strip-chart. Doesn't fully support my time-of-day theory, but it might be part of the story...

[Flying Astronomer]

24 hours in, and everything's working fine. Looks like Davis should review their battery status limits!

J.

[Flying Astronomer]

Now three days in, with cloudy and sunny days. Everything working fine. The temp console clearly needs a reasonable amount of power in order for the probes themselves to work. There doesn't appear to have been any problem on the transmit/receive side.

:lol: