The Chosen Design

Phases of Project: Initial Theory | Possible Implementations | Chosen Design | Final Project | Lessons Learned | System Install | Pump Building Side Install

Why we chose the black box option:

The basic reasons we chose this design are:

  • Reliable and solid state components.
  • Simple to assemble and describe to others.
  • High accuracy can be obtained by customizing the choices in this design.
  • It allows us to display 24 hrs a day the status of the turbine and the weather.
Vantage Pro Transmitter Unit
Notice that on our unit (lower photo) we have removed the rain bucket. 
It is unnecessary since we are using that input.

Simple 5v voltage regulator for Wattnode signalling. Multi-Mode timer to output 1 sec relay pulses from square wave. Wattnode unit from Continental Control Systems to output square wave pulses from the generated kWh.

Software

There are numerous software choices on the market for Davis weather stations.  We chose Virtual Weather Station by Ambient Software because it seemed to be more flexible in its layout than all the others we sampled.  You can click here to see that we were able to seamlessly integrate a kWh reading into the display.


Project Funded By:
West Texas A&M University | Texas State Energy Conservation Office | National Renewable Energy Laboratory | U.S. Department of Energy