Davis Vantage Pro Battery

[Stormtracker_Tony]

So, I've been having trouble lately with my wireless Vantage Pro (vp1, original version)...I've had this probably 3 years or so, but lately I've noticed that my data reception is very poor at night...Just after sunrise and for the rest of the day, it's fine...I started thinking that maybe the backup battery was bad (although, I thought that since the solar pannel gets full sunlight all day that it was supposed to power it through the night and only use the backup battery if there were limited sunlight?)

Anyway, for the first time tonight, I'm getting a message on the console that says "Low Battery on Station 1"....So I have 2 questions for long time vantage pro users

1. What kind of battery should I get to replace the one currently in the ISS? Will any 3 volt lithium battery at Walmart do the trick?

2. Am I mistaken by thinking that full sunlight in the deep south all day is supposed to give enough solar energy to make it through the night? I thought the longevity of the battery life was because the battery would only be used at night IF there was not at least a few hours of sunlight that day...

By the way, my unit does not have a fan, so nothing there to drain the power....Yes it has been full sunlight the past several days and the solar pannel is facing south and in direct sunlight all day.

[Nyquist]

Sounds like your battery is just worn out. Over time those Li batteries lose their ability to hold a charge.

To relate this to a notebook battery, many manufacturers rarely see their notebook Li batteries last more than full years and be able to maintain 60% capacity.

[Stormtracker_Tony]

and now, once again, within minutes after sunrise, it's working perfectly...

So by Nyquist's post, I'm taking it that the battery operates it every night and the solar panel just recharges the battery during the day? If so, then that explains the problem...I was under the impression that it would still work at night without a battery at all (ie. the solar panel itself stored energy and the battery was only needed IF there wasn't enough sunlight for a period of time..) So if I'm understanding this correctly now that the solar panel just recharges the battery everyday, then I'd need a rechargable Li battery replacement to put in there?

[TAFKA wacowx]

Yes. Solar panels make energy, they do not store it.

[Stormtracker_Tony]

Well, I found an owners manual online and it sort-of goes back to my original thought (in a way)...The solar panel doesn't store it, but a capacitor does...

It says "Note: A super capacitor stores energy from the solar panel for power at night. The battery powers an ISS when the super capacitor is depleted"

So, that leads me back to the original question..Why is a bad battery causing me to get no data at night when this super capacitor is supposed to run through the night....I don't remember where I saw it, but I've seen somewhere that said it only needed 4 hours of sunlight to power it for a full 24 hours...That's why I originally thought that the battery wasn't necessary except as a backup....Perhaps this capacitor has gone bad? It's either that, or I was mislead by whatever told me that 4 hours of sun would power it all night without a battery...

[wx or not]

maybe if you'd stop using the batteries for vibrating toys at night....

[Bureau Chief]

I had constant problems with my Davis Vantage Pro wireless. It finally failed completely. A new battery will keep it going for a while...but your problems are the beginning of the end for it.

Davis told me they had a round of bad circuit boards and they replaced them on the units they had in house...but wanted me to PAY for the replacement for mine! They were $140!! Seems to me if you are selling a known defective item, and you value your rather limited customer base, you should send out those boards for free! After a rather rude phone call with them, Ive decided to make it my mission in life to spread the word about their dirty little secret.

In other news, I have two of the remote display panels for the Davis Vantage Pro Wireless Id like to sell. If anybody needs a second (or third!) display, PM me.

[Stormtracker_Tony]

hmm, well this is the first issue I've had with it in the over 3 years that I've had it...It's been perfect, so I can't complain about the unit (at least, not yet)...it still works perfectly during the day...with a little googling, I did find one person that had a problem with it constantly eating up the battery (that super capacitor was bad) so they bought a super capacitor online and they claim it's working just fine...

I guess I'll try one battery and see what happens..if it doesn't last long, then I'll take it from there

[Nyquist]

I guess I would take a look at the capacitor if it has one and it's visible. It might be swollen--which would be a definite sign of a failure.

To continue with my previous thoughts, many standard consumer Li batteries are good for about 300 discharges and recharging. If your capacitor failed about a year ago, that would be about the time required for your battery wear down to the point it is at as well.

[Weatherman4TV]

I've had the Davis Vantage Pro (1) for about 7 or 8 years now. My capacitor likely blew out last year; and I just replace the Lithium Battery more frequently. I had the exact same problem as you described and I figured it was the circuit board or the capacitor.

The only other weather station I have owned was a Heathkit built in 1979 that lasted 21 years. It didn't have any of the modern conveniences, but it was accurate and durable. The wind gauge was especially accurate.

It is too bad that companies can't build a weather station today like they did in the past.

My Vantage Pro barometer has to be re-set constantly. The rain gauge reads good for rain, but adding the heated blanket causes the snow melt to be lower than the actual measurement.

I love how my Vantage Pro can broadcast to the Internet. I built a home weather station Internet site with a Web Cam. Everything is centered around the Vantage Pro, and although I'm 100% happy with the station, I'll reluctantly buy a Vantage Pro II sometime in the near future so that I can have my toy to play with.

(weather.wtb.cc is my home site). The weather station is broadcast out at http://weather.wtb.cc:801/Tag-List.html.

I get more satisfaction from my weather station and web cam than the average weather nerd. It is a sad state of affairs when "one" not only presents the weather on TV, but it is one of his or her favorite pastimes at home. Sad, really sad.

[TAFKA wacowx]

Originally Posted by Weatherman4TV

I get more satisfaction from my weather station and web cam than the average weather nerd. It is a sad state of affairs when "one" not only presents the weather on TV, but it is one of his or her favorite pastimes at home. Sad, really sad.

How is that sad...you are truly doing what you love as a job! Not many people can say that.

[Weatherman4TV]

I enjoy watching my home weather station anywhere I am. The station is part of the Mesowest and the NWS network, and for whatever reason, I enjoy doing my part to be part of the network.

I was simply being sarcastic and pocking fun at myself. My family, friends, and our viewers all know I'm into the weather. I'm one of the fortunate few who followed their dream and lived it.

My TV experience hasn't been so pleasant in the past couple of years, after I got "hosed" by a company that sold itself off to one of those "Private Equity" firms. The only consultation is that ALL of the managers that had it in for me are working for station(s) 109 markets less than I am now. (Interesting that all of them are working in the same market...wierd). The consultants also got fired. I'm now employed by one of the most stable broadcast companies abound; and one of the best TV stations in the country. (Been a number 1 for going on 40 years and no layoffs during the economic downturn). My former station in the market lost 60% of its viewers after it blew the entire 10 pm team out. They haven't gained anything back by revamping. Ya, I'm bitter about that. But, not about Meteorology.

I still love watching, recording and presenting the weather!

[wx or not]

Originally Posted by Weatherman4TV

I still love watching, recording and presenting the weather!

Keep up the great work! I've always said that there is room for the best and the brightest, as long as the dream is kept alive. You are living proof!

[Weatherman4TV]

WX, thanks. I think it is in our blood.

Thank goodness I'm still surviving the TVee purge, so I can still enjoy working in the weather business. Before the job loss, I often would be sitting in my chair at work and I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real. I still get that feeling once in a while today.

We're finally getting some exciting weather here in the Wasatch. Snow forecasting is my favorite time of the year. Since we don't see as much severe weather here, severe forecasting is my second favorite.

Winter weather and severe storms drive the news viewing here. When there is a storm (winter in particular), there is a measurable rise in HUT levels and news ratings. That helps drive my enthusiasm for crazy and difficult to forecast weather.

W4TV

[WXMAN4EVR]

Stormtracker... check your PMs.