Meteohub Weather Server with Battery Backup
back to Kenley Weather Station
Meteohub is a miniaturized weather server, that records weather data from my Oregon WMR928 weather station and Current Cost Energy Monitor, evaluates this data, draws user defined weather graphs and uploads these via ftp to a web server. Furthermore, Meteohub can upload weather data to Internet weather networks and can export recorded weather data in WSWIN or WD format to allow for further processing on your PC. Meteohub supports a wide range of weather stations and allows to record these data ongoing and to transport the information to the Internet, without having your PC switched on. Below Meteohub configuration/setup for Kenley Weather Station
Meteohub is Browser based. You don't need a keyboard or
monitor connected to Meteohub to configure any settings. All you need is
Meteohub being connected via LAN or WLAN with your router. You access Meteohub
with the browser of your Desktop/Laptop at home, at work, or from an Internet
cafe. The ALIX.1D board from PC Engines is based on AMD Geode LX800 processor (500 MHz clocked) like fit-PC Slim. Adding the appropriate black metal case and a DC adapter the ALIX.1D acts as a cheap Meteohub platform that can even be equipped with an optional WLAN adapter (internal mini-PCI slot) and has similar power like a fit-PC Slim, but comes at a significant larger form factor and without status LEDs and without a power switch. CF card, that has to be mounted internally and cannot be accessed from the outside, is used as storage media. Like ebox 4300 and fit-PC Slim the ALIX.1D is well suited to process larger amounts of weather data.
Main features of ALIX.1D are: There is a one time license charge for Meteohub software of 59 Euro. A time limited demo version with some limitations on functionality is available as a free download in the "Download" section. Installed demo versions can be changed to a licensed version by adding an activation code later on.
Below Meteohub/Meteoplug configuration/setup for Kenley Weather Station Meteoplug is a cloud-based approach for logging and processing weather data from automated weather stations. The client application needs minimal storage and computing power, which allows for embedding into "computers" of minimal size and with minimal power demands. These clients upload weather data to a server on the internet which stores it and provides a broad range of computations and services. The server application is based on a professional database and can handle hundreds of clients simultaneously. Each user has access to his private weather data and the server application acts like being a dedicated device. The server is a fully-fledged computer which consumes quite a lot of power, but by being shared by hundreds of users this just adds another 1 watt on total power consumption per user.
Meteoplug provides support for many weather networks, can
generate user-defined graphs and allows download and upload of data to and from
your PC. Meteoplug is compatible with a long list of weather stations. One
Meteoplug client can handle multiple weather stations simultaneously if you have
more than one station at hand.
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Kenley Weather Station Setup Detail My weather sensors connect by wireless to my Oregon WMR928 weather station. The WMR928 connects by USB to the Meteohub Server. My Current Cost Power monitor also connects to the Meteohub server by USB. The power monitor collects data on my total power usage and also the power consumed by my common PSU. The Common PSU supplies my weather station/server, my CCTV cameras and my Master Clock system. The charge controller keeps the backup battery charged and will switch to backup battery any devices connected to the 10 battery backed up fuses. |
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Oregon WMR928 Weather Station
The WMR928 Cable FreeTM Weather Station.
An all-purpose easy-to-use system, the WMR928
Current Cost CC128 ENVI Wireless Energy Monitor
See real time energy use on the wireless display
Meteohub Installation My Meteohub weather server is installed on a ALIX-1d motherboard and mounted in a Mini ITX case. A 12A hour sealed lead acid battery can be fitted internally or a larger external sealed lead acid battery can be connected for battery backup.
Power for the ALIX-1d motherboard is via a battery backed up PSU.
Meteohub Server The Meteohub Server is housed in a Mini ATX PC case.
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Side view with case cover removed. Batt tray for a 12AH battery is at the front. |
Front panel showing status LEDs for Flash Card activity, DC volts and power. Also a DVM to monitor batt charge/discharge and weather station voltage. Front panel flaps hide USB port and batt charge voltage adjuster (bottom) and (top)hides the batt fuse and DVM controls. |
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Rear view showing batt terminals for external backup batteries. Weather station power take off and ALIX-1d board connections.
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Top view showing the regulator and charging circuit board mounted inside the mini ITX PSU case. The PSU in the case has been replaced by an external Battery Backed up PSU
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Automatic Battery Backed Up PSU My weather server has a backup battery using a solar panel controller via a modified 10 Amp 18 fused output PSU. A 20 Amp hour lead acid battery provide backup power when mains power fails. The charge controller keeps the battery charged correctly and also prevents over discharge of the battery.
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Battery Backed Up Power Supply | |||||
Solar Charge Controller |
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