bobm@qip.UUCP (Bob Maccione) (11/08/89)
I'd like to build a weather station ( portable ) and all of the current systems are REAL expensive.. ( ie > $100 ). I know that Heathkit has one but I thought I could throw together a windspeed and direction system for less money than that. I'd be happy with analog. Has anybody seen sources for the anemeters(sp) and the vanes. thanks bobm
spirit@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu (11/10/89)
>I'd like to build a weather station ( portable ) and all of the >current systems are REAL expensive.. ( ie > $100 ). I know that >Heathkit has one but I thought I could throw together a windspeed >and direction system for less money than that. I'd be happy with >analog. Has anybody seen sources for the anemeters(sp) and the >vanes. >thanks bobm A possible source is the catalogue from: Wind and Weather The Albion Street Water Tower P.O. Box 2320 Mendocino, CA 95460 However, I would not be optimistic that this job will come in under budget. Their cheapest anemometer (other than a plastic vane) is $91. Edmund Scientificmay beat their prices by 10-20%, but that probably is a ballpark number. Depending on what you want to use it for, there is a handheld anemometer called a Turbo Meter ($135) which has good sensitivity and quick response time. (Storm chasers use it with a compass to get quick wind observations.) Good luck. ____________________________________________________________________________ Harold Brooks Internet/Bitnet:brooks@uiatma.atmos.uiuc.edu Dept of Atmospheric Sciences UUCP:{uunet,convex}!uiucuxc!uiatma!brooks University of Illinois
cj@hpsad.HP.COM (Chris Johnson) (11/10/89)
Try looking in back issues of Scientific American. I know that
sometime around 1972 thru 74 there was an Ametuer Scientist
article (back when they used to have lots of fun projects you
could build) on weather instruments that used a DC motor and
metal kitchen funnels for an anemometer. Direction was done
with some funky self-synchronous motors which are probably
impossible to find, but it shouldn't be too hard to do it with
a slotted disk and some LED/photo transistor pairs now that
those things exist. I'd look up the article, but all my Sci. Am.
got destroyed in a fire :-(
-cj
cj@hpsad.hp.comcommgrp@silver.bacs.indiana.edu (11/10/89)
>I'd like to build a weather station ( portable ) and all of the >current systems are REAL expensive.. ( ie > $100 ). I know that >Heathkit has one but I thought I could throw together a windspeed >and direction system for less money than that. I'd be happy with >analog. Has anybody seen sources for the anemeters(sp) and the >vanes. >thanks bobm An inexpensive wind-vane can be built from a pair of military-surplus "selsyn" motors (turn the shaft of one, the other rotates the same amount). Most are rated 115V 400 Hz; battery-powered inverters are easy to build. The motors will also run on 24V 60 Hz (less torque, still satisfactory). My favorite portable weather instrument is the Casio "alti-depth" wristwatch which has an altimeter/barometer function of excellent quality. Service Merchandise currently has them on sale for $69.95. Note: It's temperature-sensitive; wear it for 20 minutes before setting, and keep it out of direct hot sunlight. Check the ads in _Weatherwise_ magazine. It's published monthly and is available at many bookstores. It's filled with fascinating articles about weather, and beautiful pictures. BTW, a friend who owns Heathkit's big ($$) weather station is very happy with it. He has connected the RS-232 interface to his ham packet-radio rig, and can interrogate it remotely. -- Frank Reid W9MKV reid@gold.bacs.indiana.edu