What is different about Environdata's Weather Station Data Loggers?

Environdata’s weather station data recorders are specialised data loggers designed specifically for weather data recording.

Most data loggers are designed for office, laboratory or industrial applications where equipment does not have to withstand weather extremes. Such equipment is easily accessible and technical staff are readily available to identify and fix problems.

In contrast, Environdata’s weather station data loggers are designed first and foremost to withstand harsh environments. Moreover, they require minimal maintenance and technical support to facilitate continuous, unattended operation over a ten to twenty year lifetime.

• FULLY SEALED HOUSING

Our weather data loggers are supplied in fully sealed IP66 or better weatherproof housings that will withstand even the harshest climate and ensure reliable operation over their lifetime.

• FULLY SEALED CONNECTORS

Sealed connectors ensure that moisture ingress and corrosion cannot occur. From our experience, these give better outcomes than cable glands and terminal blocks.  Glands can introduce problems over time as the seal characteristics degrade.

• LIGHTNING RESISTANT

Electrically, our data logger’s digital inputs are inherently more resistant to potential lightning damage than the more delicate analogue inputs that most systems use.

• SIMPLE PLUG-IN SENSORS

Environdata uses either its own digital sensors or provides an Environdata digital interface for requested specialised third party sensors for all its weather stations. This means all weather sensors have the same type of easy to use plug-in connector and interface. This simplifies installation, testing and replacement of sensors.  Each Weather Station includes a full programming report detailing which sensor plugs into each channel.

• INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS

With most of our systems, any communications options can be integrated into the sealed housing of the weather station, simplifying installation and maintenance.

• CUSTOM PRE-PROGRAMMED

Our systems are delivered fully programmed and calibrated so there is no need for special instruments or testing during the installation process.

• PRE-CALIBRATED SENSORS

Our sensors include an integrated digital signal conditioner that standardises that sensor’s output so that all sensors (of a given model) have the same calibration. This means sensors are fully inter-changeable, without the need to alter calibration constants in the weather station logger.

• VARIABLE PULSE RATE

Environdata’s digital weather sensors have a further advantage – their digital signal (pulse rate) varies continuously with the sensing element, this means the pulse count accumulated over the sample period is a true average of the original signal being sensed. This ensures that the reading taken is reliably representative of the environment, even with potentially rapidly changing weather parameters, such as wind or sunlight.

• ACCURATE CLOCKS

Our weather station data loggers incorporate very accurate time clocks to maintain accurate timing between site visits.  When connected to WeatherMation, these clocks are synchronised automatically, including changes in Daylight Savings if requested.

• MULTIPLE MEMORIES

Our Loggers use multiple memories to provide efficient data storage and to extend the storage time for critical data sets where this is advantageous.

• SECURE DATA STORAGE

Data and program settings are stored in secure non-volatile flash memory.

• RESISTANT TO DATA DISRUPTION

Our weather station data loggers include dedicated automatic watchdog circuitry so that they will restart automatically after nearby lightning disturbances, ensuring minimal or no disruption to data collection and storage.

• ENERGY EFFICIENT

Our systems are designed to minimise power usage and are typically solar powered.

• SMART BATTERY CONSERVATION

Where required, to protect and give preference to the critically important data logging process, our weather stations automatically switch off communications systems if the battery voltage is low, turning it on again once the battery has charged again.

• POWER ISOLATION TO PRESERVE SYSTEM FUNCTION

Our sensor power supplies are isolated from our data logging power and each sensor has power isolation from all other sensors and is limited in its maximum power usage. This means that a short circuit failure of one sensor or its cable is unable to compromise the operation of any other sensor, or the system as a whole.

• POWER MONITORING

We also include comprehensive battery and solar power monitoring – both voltage and current – to allow the early detection and fault finding of potential power problems.

• IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO PROCESSED DATA

Our weather stations include specialised weather related calculations within the data logger itself. This means calculated results are available immediately and alarms can be activated directly without the need for downloading and post-processing.

Examples of this are Dew Point (from air temperature and relative humidity), Heat Load Index (HLI -for beef cattle), Thermal Work Limit (TWL - for OH & S) and Wind Gust and Wind Vector calculations for spray and odour drift.