Post by crashtestdummy on Oct 17, 2018 11:00:21 GMT -6
My 5 in 1 hasn't really discolored either. A bit of dirt from life outside, and the top of the level seems to have cracked and the liquid evaporated out, but other than that, it worked until it didn't.
We'll see if I have a learning disability, or have made a good investment. I just ordered an Atlas.
Post by crashtestdummy on Oct 25, 2018 10:40:51 GMT -6
So my Atlas arrived yesterday. I'm loving the display. The sensor bolted right on the existing stand, which is a plus. Immediately after setting it up, I heard the alert sound and looked at the display wondering what was up, figuring it was an alert chime indicating it had connected to the sensor, although I had seen the output from the sensor displayed on the screen. It chirped again, so I had a closer look. The lightening detector was picking up lightening 4 miles away!! How cool!
I heard the rumble of thunder about 30-second later, so there was lightening in the area.
There was also rain. But even after what seems like about 1.5" of rain overnight, the thing is still displaying 0". I have removed the rain gauge shipping block, so that can't be it, but did note a black/red wiring harness with a two prong female plug laying in the rain gauge well. I couldn't initially find where it went, and the external battery pack and anemometer extension options seem to use a different plug, and plug into the outside of this well.
Anyone have and idea if this thing needs to be plugged in anywhere?
I'll note that in spite of my disparaging comments about the old weather station, I sure have missed the display on my desk these past few days. It's nice to have that display back.
"You can learn a lot from a dummy."
Gene Beaird, Pearland, Texas
SKYSUMMIT President | Director of OperationsAdministrator
I believe it does plug in somewhere inside the unit. I cannot remember offhand, but I want to say I remember unplugging mine for something months ago. There's not too much inside the unit.
Hammond, LA NWS COOP ID: 16-7425-08 CoCoRaHs ID: LA-TG-23
Post by crashtestdummy on Oct 29, 2018 7:38:36 GMT -6
There IS a lot of space in there for something to take up residence and enjoy quite the spread!
The water in the yard finally subsided enough I could get out to the sensor unit to have a second look. The 2-wire (black and red) is taped to the water collection bowl molded into the black plastic section of the sensor housing. This one is just a 2-wire plug. There's another 4(?) wire connector plugged into a socket on the gray plastic housing, so it's not that one. I looked around some more, and still could find no open socket anywhere. The solar panels were connected.
"You can learn a lot from a dummy."
Gene Beaird, Pearland, Texas
SKYSUMMIT President | Director of OperationsAdministrator
crashtestdummy join the Acurite User Group on Facebook. There are a number of users on there, including a few Acurite employees who may be able to help.
Hammond, LA NWS COOP ID: 16-7425-08 CoCoRaHs ID: LA-TG-23
Post by crashtestdummy on Nov 8, 2018 10:29:28 GMT -6
That makes sense, Scott. I've double- and triple-checked the area near the socket, and can find no unused plug for this socket.
Acurite support has been pretty useless here. A chat request went unanswered for three hours, until the page updated with a 'we're closed now...' post. My three email queries went completely unanswered. They finally replied to the unanswered chat request with an email, but all it contained were the links for removing the shipping pad from the rain gauge and how to calibrate the gauge. My reply that these steps did not fix my issue, again, went unanswered.
I've registered all the products, and will be shipping the sensor back for R&R very soon.
Post by crashtestdummy on Dec 11, 2018 15:17:47 GMT -6
After a couple of queries that went unanswered, or were replied to with the standard 'make sure the shipping stabilizer is removed and calibrated the gauge', I finally heard from someone who offered up more info. After trying a hard reset and removing the sensor and re-discovering it to no avail, they provided me with a RMA label and it's on it's way back to Acurite. I'm waiting to hear what they find when it gets there.
Updates as they occur. I do really miss the thing!
Post by crashtestdummy on Jan 10, 2019 13:44:38 GMT -6
Well, Chaney Instruments 'updated' and repaired my Atlas and sent it back to me. It arrived in good shape, and I have been enjoying my weather station for several weeks now. It's good to have my 'officemate' back again!
Since they instructed me to remove everything except the sensor and display, I did so. What I got back included a lightening module (which I already had) and bracket clamp, which I also already had.
New here but glad I found this place. After some research I'm considering the Atlas especially b/c it has the lightening detector. This will be my first weather station. Skimming through this thread, it *sounds* like y'all would recommend it but I wanted to confirm.
SKYSUMMIT President | Director of OperationsAdministrator
New here but glad I found this place. After some research I'm considering the Atlas especially b/c it has the lightening detector. This will be my first weather station. Skimming through this thread, it *sounds* like y'all would recommend it but I wanted to confirm.
Welcome. Yes, I highly recommend it. I've been a beta tester for Acurite for the past couple years. You can see my station here on Weather Underground. It's one of the only gold star stations in our area:
New here but glad I found this place. After some research I'm considering the Atlas especially b/c it has the lightening detector. This will be my first weather station. Skimming through this thread, it *sounds* like y'all would recommend it but I wanted to confirm.
In spite of my issues, I'd recommend it, too. Note that it may just quit one day a couple of years down the road, but it's a great unit until then. The Atlas display is nice. The lightening sensor is interesting. It'll count the lightening strikes, and if they're a mile, or more, away, it'll tell you that (1 mile, 2.5 miles, etc). Less than a mile away, though, and you'll just have to count after seeing the flash for the thunder.
You can also set several alarms, like low or high temp, etc. It's a nice unit, and I feel worth the price. Support was slow, but did eventually respond, and resolved my issue.
Last Edit: Mar 18, 2019 10:18:42 GMT -6 by crashtestdummy
Post by crashtestdummy on Jun 17, 2019 6:44:36 GMT -6
Our Atlas started displaying a 'low battery' symbol early last week. I figured I'd change them out over the weekend. I mean, low battery, I'm fine, right? Anyway, by Thursday, the thing seemed stuck at 71.5 deg-F temp and 00.00" of rain. With real temps in the low 90's, I decided I'd just go ahead and change the batteries that afternoon.
I swapped out the batteries for new ones, and waited about two hours for the sensor and monitor to sync up with no success. I brought the sensor in, pulled and reinserted a battery to hopefully make the thing reset. Waited. Still no signal sync. I pulled power from both the units and powered them back up. This time, I got a sync, but the temp was reading 827 deg-F with a 301 mph wind. =8-0 Which remained that way for a couple of hours. In hindsight, I should have snapped a quick pic of the monitor screen to show that we've had a heat wave in Texas, but was focused on getting my system back online and concerned that we were about to experience a 'here we go again' moment.
I ended up having to remove and add a 'new' sensor before things got right again. Hopefully this was an aberration and the next battery change will be not quite so dramatic. I seem to remember the batteries in the old Acurite lasting a LOT longer though.
Last Edit: Jun 17, 2019 6:47:59 GMT -6 by crashtestdummy