anemometer status

[Stephen Wasson]

You may recall the recent problems with our "new" anemometers forced us to put back up an old one and send the new ones back to the factory.  The old one mostly behaves ok with an occasional hiccup (that's why we took it down in the first place), and the new ones have been mailed back to and received by the manufacturer, Peet Bros.  Included in the package was a lengthy letter explaining the event history, environment particulars, as well as some speculation as to probable cause of the problem.  Also included was one of our older, very dusty anemometers that saw over a year of service.  This contrasted to the new ones lasting only a week should enable them to figure something out. 

I spoke with one of their reps today, and all he could tell me was that our 'anemometers are in the lab.'  I reiterated that the probable cause was likely the fine dust particles blown into the housing between the fixed and moving parts of the sealed bearing.  I also pointed out that the old, open bearing style (like the kind included in the return package) managed to perform well for over a year.  Since the main difference between the old and new styles is the bearing, that's the first place to look.

More details to follow as they look into it...

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Stephen Wasson
Secretary/Treasurer
Coastal Condors, Marina CA
USHGA Chapter 084 (aka 136)

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[Steve Cahill]

Hello Stephen:

 

Good to have a status report, thanks. Does this mean that we have no decision to make about swapping out the anemometer that's installed, as potential spares are all back at Peet Bros?

 

I have been working on the ultrasonic approach. The big problem has been getting the ultrasonic transducers; the manufacturers don't really work through distribution, which makes it hard to get parts. I have a manufacturer's rep coming to see me tomorrow, though. It isn't a dead-end.

S. Cahill

[Stephen Wasson]

The only new anemometers we have (had) are back at Peets.  I only buy two at a time, since they're expensive (~125/ea).  I think we might have enough old parts, including the rotor you gave to Lee (?) to one cobble together, although, there's no guarantee that'd even work.  If the ultrasonic can be made to work in our environment, that might be the way to go, pending price and ease-of-replacement (meaning, who else can build these?)

At 11:42 PM 8/3/2010, you wrote:

Good to have a status report, thanks. Does this mean that we have no decision to make about swapping out the anemometer that's installed, as potential spares are all back at Peet Bros?
 
I have been working on the ultrasonic approach. The big problem has been getting the ultrasonic transducers; the manufacturers don't really work through distribution, which makes it hard to get parts. I have a manufacturer's rep coming to see me tomorrow, though. It isn't a dead-end.