Wind gear on a budget

[Simi 60]

Really not interested in those home units guys - as I said, the boat had one previously and the white plastics fell apart in the sun in fairly short time.

Its why I am leaning toward the original more robust black cups and a bicycle speedo.

I have a speedo already purchased for $5-00 that I got last time I considered this on another project.
Now, I can get large screen models for $10 so I may lash out.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...610710&alt=web

[Zhyachts]

Originally Posted by chris mac

I don't know about that unit, but I use an Oregon scientific brand household unit. I oriented it with "North" facing forward so display is always set with bow as north. It works fine for steady wind, doesn't show gusts as it refreshes every minute or so.

Any low cost weather station showing N-E-S-W can be changed to apparent wind by relabeling the wind directions to B (BOW), S (STBD), A (AFT), P (PORT). I have been trying to get Davis to offer a stick on decal for years, This would open the RV and Marine markets to their product. No luck so far.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Really not interested in those home units guys - as I said, the boat had one previously and the white plastics fell apart in the sun in fairly short time.

Its why I am leaning toward the original more robust black cups and a bicycle speedo.

I have a speedo already purchased for $5-00 that I got last time I considered this on another project.
Now, I can get large screen models for $10 so I may lash out.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...610710&alt=web

Hi.
Out of interest how do you intend to calibrate the set up? Obviously the speed of a bike wheel is proportional to the bike speed and the voltage or frequency, whatever the unit sends out. The speed of the paddles will probably not be linearly proportional to the wind speed however so unless you have a look up table you won't know the wind speed, which sort of defeats the object?

Maybe be wrong of course...

[barnakiel]

The unit at #1 can be used with any re-labelled voltmeter.

OR else Arduino can be used to convert the voltage to any given scale. Results can be displayed on any smartphone. Building an Arduino converter takes about 1 day and costs about 15USD.

ANYBODY has a good idea of how to get or build a wind direction sensor equally inexpensively?

I have build one at usd5 but it lacks precision (a potentiometer based unit).

Cheers,
b.

[abarrow]

I suggest you have a look around aliexpress.com, they have units for both wind speed and direction, and in metal rather than plastic.

Here is an example: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2PCS...278681009.html).

As another poster said, it would be pretty straightforward to create something using Arduino. Another (or additional) option would be to use the Raspberry PI. There's lots of people working on very similar things over at the Openplotter Project (OpenMarine - OpenPlotter)

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

ANYBODY has a good idea of how to get or build a wind direction sensor equally inexpensively?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...424839&alt=web

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Perna

Hi.
Out of interest how do you intend to calibrate the set up? :

As bicycles have different sized wheels bicycle speedos can be calibrated by pressing buttons.

[Matt Johnson]

Here is how to use the anemometer listed by the OP:

To use, connect the black wire to power and signal ground, the brown wire to 7-24VDC (we used 9V with success) and measure the analog voltage on the blue wire. The voltage will range from 0.4V (0 m/s wind) up to 2.0V (for 32.4m/s wind speed). That's it! The sensor is rugged, and easy to mount. The cable can easily disconnect with a few twists and has a weatherproof connector."


Matt

[abarrow]

I don't know about you guys, but considering the number of birds that hang out on the top of my mast, I'm thinking some of this inexpensive plastic stuff isn't going to last very long.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

As bicycles have different sized wheels bicycle speedos can be calibrated by pressing buttons.

Sorry probably wasn't clear enough.

A bike wheel speed is exactly proportional to the bike speed.

The paddlewheel speed will not be linearly proportional to the wind speed.

So it will not be accurate.