I just bought a Davis Wireless Vantage Pro. I love this weather station. Compared to my WM-918 it is more acurate and reliable. However, accessories are on the expensive side. I have yet to purchase the data logger, even though I own a copy of Weather-Display. Oh well, I will continue to log my data into MS-Excel.
Anyway I am saving my pennies to buy a rain collector heater. I live at the 41st parrallel and get plenty of frozen precipitation that I want to measure. Davis wants $160.00US. That seem like a lot of money for a heating coil with a thermal cutoff switch.
Does anyone have plans on how to make your own rain collector heater, or a cheap alternative?
I got the Davis Heater at a discount, about $100. It is overpriced for what you get, but it was easier.
There was a foil insulator to line the upper cone. Keeps the heat in. Anything thin and refelective that does not interfere with the tipper should be ok.
There was a big, wire-wound resistor and a thermal cutout, and an ac power supply. If my memory serves me, it worked out to about 25 watts. Oh, and a switch with a green LED.
What was missing was a thermostat to automate the turning on of the heater when the temperature dropped. I guess there is no sense in having it on if you are not expecting precipitation.
Now, take Brian’s bulb, any 25 watt low voltage bulb should work. Most of that power will be in the form of heat. Since I have a wired VP, I didn’t mind running the power to the collector. It is almost necessary to power that much heat to melt the ice/snow. It would sure eat up batteries.
But, considering what I have invested in this hobby, the Davis was a lot easier. And it was great getting precip readings all winter, even thought I installed it in late Feb.
The light bulb is an interesting idea. I was planning on running a wire to the rain collector, anyway. I think I have what I need to do that for $.00.
Richard,
Your input is very valuable. I did find the Davis heater for $109. I think I am going to try the light bulb first so I can get a data logger and get WD up and running.
I was reading this topic and it got me thinking.
I have a Lacrosse WS-2010
and I was wondering if the the 25 watt bulb trick would work in my rain gauge.
