Replacement for Vantage Pro 2

[wwwd...@gmail.com]

My Vantage Pro 2 is showing its age. The solar panel needs to be replaced, as I'm losing the station connection once the sun goes down and regularly having issues with the rain gauge not registering rainfall. I know that I can send it into Davis for a tune up ($225 do buy the parts, $400+ if they do it), but given the cost of that I'm wondering if it is just time to replace it. It also doesn't give me warm fuzzies that I never heard back from them when I tried to contact them about a repair.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a replacement station that doesn't break the bank like the Vantage Pro? Ideally I would like to have the same basic sensors and be able to add UV and solar radiation, as I use that to make sure my rooftop solar is producing appropriately. And of course, continuing to work with weewx is a requirement! :-)

Thanks!

-- 

Dan Rich <dr...@employees.org> |   http://www.employees.org/~drich/
                               |  "Step up to red alert!"  "Are you sure, sir?
                               |   It means changing the bulb in the sign..."
                               |          - Red Dwarf (BBC)

[vince]

Based on your description it sounds like a new battery (CR123 - $10) and perhaps a solar panel ($55) will handle the data problems, but I'd suggest doing just the battery first to see.

Adding UV/solar to a Davis is crazy expensive.  There seem to be a lot of different replacement rain gauge assemblies available in the $60-85 range if you poke around online at Scaled Instruments (link).  Those guys are pretty responsive in my experience if you want to email questions.

You could probably sell your VP2 for more than the price of whatever you're thinking of replacing it with.

[Graham Eddy]

i replaced my then-18yo cracked & peeling solar panel with a nice new one - just required plugging panel’s lead into ISS

⊣GE⊢

[Tom Hogland]

The panel is easy - swap the door and plug it in. The CR123 battery is easy, and also there's a DC input on the board that you can directly run AC power in via an appropriate wall-wart. That's what I have to do in Alaska, otherwise the long winters drain everything...

[Marius Schamschula]

I've had this kind of a failure in the past. If the super-capacitor fails it regularly drains the battery (I had to replace mine several times a year). A new motherboard fixes this. I also had replaced the solar panel, but that made no difference.

Unfortunately, ants got into the housing a few years later, and I ended up having to replace the entire unit. 

[Daniel Rich]

Thanks for the reply! (And thanks also Graham and Tom)

I replaced the battery a while back when I first started having issues, I suspect the solar panel is shot so it no longer charges. The panel prices have gone up — $86.57 with shipping. Given that I’m within driving distance of their offices, you would think I could at least save on the shipping! :-)

Between yours and a couple other replies, it sounds like my best bet is to go ahead and repair this station — especially since I already have the UV sensor and the station does everything I want.

It also looks like their tune up kit isn’t an option, as it isn’t compatible with the old rain gauge that I have. I would probably have to replace the whole thing with the newer Aerocone. I may need to call them and check.

— 

Dan Rich <dr...@employees.org> |   http://www.employees.org/~drich/
                               |  "Step up to red alert!"  "Are you sure, sir?
                               |   It means changing the bulb in the sign..."
                               |          - Red Dwarf (BBC)

[Charlie Fortner]

On Tue, Apr 23, 2024, at 16:20, 'Daniel Rich' via weewx-user wrote:

The panel prices have gone up — $86.57 with shipping. 

That's very expensive. Have you looked at Scaled Instruments? Vince included a link to their selection of Davis parts in an earlier message. I've ordered many parts and at least one VP2 from them. They are very helpful and their prices are good.

Charlie

[vince]

Highly recommend Scaled. Use their contact link if you have questions.  The other vendor was Scientific Sales but they don’t seem to have many parts anymore.  Both had great customer service for me.

[Jeff A. D.]

It sounds to me that Marius is most likely correct.  If it's working during the day then the solar panel must be working, and the bad supercap is draining the battery so it doesn't work at night.  (The solar panel does not charge the battery,  just the supercap, the battery is not rechargeable and is just for backup.)  The supercap can be replaced if you have some soldering skills, or know someone who can do it for you.  Also the output of the solar panel in sunlight can be tested before buying a new one, but again, to me it appears to be working.

[Jeff A. D.]

BTW, Scaled Instruments list a VP2 Supercap for $4.50.

[Daniel Rich]

Thanks again to everyone who replied for the responses and the advice.  I went ahead and ordered a tune-up kit from Scaled Instruments, and while I was at it I picked up a new rain gauge to get something more reliable than my old double-bucket sensor. I also grabbed a replacement capacitor from a local electronics supply house (the last one left tin the San Jose area).

After a bit of work this past weekend I have a station that is back up and running with a bunch of new (and in some cases improved) parts that will hopefully last me another 17 years!

[n7uv...@gmail.com]

Yeay! Good to know.

I have a 10 yo Vantage 2 Pro wired, so no solar panel, but the sensor hub cover disintegrated and needed replacement, but that's it so far in its turbulent life!

Cheers - Jon N7UV