Where to locate temperature sensor

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Jonathan Jefferies
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Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2015 2:09 pm

Where to locate temperature sensor

Post by Jonathan Jefferies » Tue Dec 15, 2015 3:42 pm

Hello Everyone.

I'm new to the col forum and in the process of buying equipment to make weather recordings. I am going to purchase a plastic Stevenson screen to house my mercury Thermometers as well as an aws temperature sensor from Instromet. I have heard that the radiation shield fitted with the temperature sensor is too small for accurate readings though and as I am after accurate readings to comply with standards I have some alternatives but not sure which is best.

A. Keep the temperature sensor in the supplied radiation shield from Instromet.
B. Put the temperature sensor in the Stevenson screen.
C. Buy an aspirated radiation shield from Apogee or similar to house the sensor.
D. House the temperature sensor in a Met21 screen.

I am tempted with putting the temperature sensor in the Stevenson screen.

Many Thanks for your help.

Richard Hunt
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:16 pm
Location: Hornsea, East Yorkshire. 10m AMSL

Re: Where to locate temperature sensor

Post by Richard Hunt » Tue Dec 15, 2015 4:22 pm

I would place the sensor in the screen. I use max/min thermometers, but I also have my electronic sensor in there as well. I find it accurate enough.
COL Station: 25020

N 53°54'.185". W000°10'.235"

10m AMSL

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Niall Dollard
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Location: Kilkenny, Ireland
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Re: Where to locate temperature sensor

Post by Niall Dollard » Tue Dec 15, 2015 9:25 pm

Same with me. I keep my AWS sensor in the Stevenson Screen.

Generally it keeps very close to the LIG thermometer readings, but there is a bit of a time lag. This is barely noticeable when there are no rapid temperature fluctuations (Winter half of the year). However in Summer, I notice the max on the AWS could be 0.2 or at most 0.3 below the mercury max. But I think I can live with that. :)

Jonathan Jefferies
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Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2015 2:09 pm

Re: Where to locate temperature sensor

Post by Jonathan Jefferies » Tue Dec 15, 2015 10:32 pm

Thank you for your information. Well I think putting the aws temperature sensor in the Stevenson screen is the preferred option and would save buying extra equipment too.

Many thanks

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Nicholas Gardner
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Location: Rural riverside valley location near the village of Newton Poppleford and 2 km from the sea.
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Re: Where to locate temperature sensor

Post by Nicholas Gardner » Thu Dec 17, 2015 8:12 pm

Hi Jon

I've placed my Davis AWS VP2 temperature and humidity sensor in my Stevenson Screen (see photo). I removed the radiation screen from it as this was no longer necessary and this increased the response time (it was also bulky within the screen).

The AWS is usually within 0.1°C or 0.2°C of my standard MetO LIG minimum and maximum thermometers (mostly within 0.1°C), and are also in the photo just below the VP2 sensor.
ottervalleystevensonscreeninstruments.jpg
ottervalleystevensonscreeninstruments.jpg (212.86 KiB) Viewed 27424 times
Otter Valley Weather
Near Newton Poppleford, Sidmouth - Devon
50:41N 3:17 W; 20 metres AMSL; Station Grade B-BAAA37
http://www.ottervalleyweather.me.uk

Jonathan Jefferies
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Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2015 2:09 pm

Re: Where to locate temperature sensor

Post by Jonathan Jefferies » Thu Dec 17, 2015 9:00 pm

Hi Nicholas.
It's interesting to see how you have your sensors arranged in your screen. I have spoken to Instromet and they are able to supply the temperature sensor without the radiation shield so I can then place this within the Stevenson screen as well as the humidity probe.

I'm also after a log book to write down all my measurements from my manual instruments, rainfall, min/max temp, humidity, cloud type etc, i have not found one yet, do you or anyone know where to get one from. I know I could copy these to a computer but I do like a hard copy.

Thank you

Jonathan

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Martin Rowley
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Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:32 pm
Location: West Moors, East Dorset

Re: Where to locate temperature sensor

Post by Martin Rowley » Thu Dec 17, 2015 9:43 pm

Jonathan Jefferies wrote: I'm also after a log book to write down all my measurements from my manual instruments, rainfall, min/max temp, humidity, cloud type etc, i have not found one yet, do you or anyone know where to get one from. I know I could copy these to a computer but I do like a hard copy.
... I use [and have done for more years than I care to remember] an ordinary spiral-bound 'foolscap' sized lined pad, then rule / annotate columns to suit my instrumention and periods of recording. It's labour intensive of course - but frankly I find it quite satisfying every few months! I also transfer everything to a spreadsheet - relatively simple stuff, but it does give you a cross-check for things like means/extremes between spreadsheet and manual computation.

Martin.
Martin Rowley
West Moors, East Dorset
Lat: 50deg 49.25'N, Long: 01deg 53.05'W
Height (amsl): 17 m (56 feet)
COL category: C1 overall/TRSHEUN=CC-A03-

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