Meteohub Weather Server with Battery Backup

back to Kenley Weather Station

Meteohub

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.

Meteohub is based on appropriate hardware and a matching Linux distribution. I use a ALIX_1D see other hardware choices on the Meteohub page link above.

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:
x86 system based on AMD Geode LX800 (486 compatible), 500 MHz, 1000 BogoMIPS, 256 MB RAM.
Meteohub software and daten are stored on (internal) CF-Karte.
System starts automatically when power is present.
optional WLAN by mini-PCI slot.
integrated RS232 interface.
Price about $180 (without WLAN, without CF card, incl. case and power supply, incl. VAT).
ALIX.1D can be purchased from Varia-Store as a turn-key solution (Germany).

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.

 

Meteoplug

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.

The only prerequisite to be met is that the client device is connected to a router that provides a connection to the internet. Configuration of the client can be easily done by the server application, you don't even need to know the IP nor other details of your client. After having created an account for the server application, setup is mainly done by a couple of clicks. This dead simple operation - just plug in your weather station and connect the client to your LAN - gave this solution the name "Meteoplug".

You try Meteoplug free for 30 days of usage. After that, you have to decide if you want to continue to use it. The fee for 12 months of usage is 29 Euros. As the internet server that acts as the backbone of Meteoplug generates significant monthly cost, licenses are valid for limited time. That might be seen as a disadvantage first, but please keep in mind that your investment in hardware is very low, so it might turn out to be more economical than buying and owning hardware capable of doing all the weather storage and computation yourself.

 

 

 

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.

 

Oregon WMR928 Weather Station

The WMR928 Cable FreeTM Weather Station.

An all-purpose easy-to-use system, the WMR928
lets you monitor the following weather elements:
- Air temperature
- Relative humidity
- Barometric pressure
- Wind speed and direction
- Rainfall
The WMR968 is also equipped with:
- Calendar clock with daily alarm
- Weather forecast within 32 to 48 km (20- to 30-mile) radius
- Weather alarms
- Memory for maximum and minimum readings
- Simple, touch-screen operation
- RS232 PC connection jack
- backlight

 

 

 

 

Current Cost CC128 ENVI Wireless Energy Monitor

See real time energy use on the wireless display
View whole house energy consumption
Monitor individual appliances (IAM plug required)
Now compatible with Google PowerMeter


CC128 Envi Features

Programmable single or dual tariff
Simultaneously observe instant, average and historical consumption
PC connectivity for detailed analysis (Current Cost data cable required)
Analyse and compare with the Current Cost Web Portal
Remote accessibility to Current Cost data
Monitor individual appliances (Current Cost IAM required)


Current Cost Display Shows:
Present energy use in Watts
Cost per day in £ & p (based on present usage)
Up / Down energy cost / saving when appliance is switched on / off (shown as Up or Down with a cost in £ & p)
3 bar graph showing energy use 7am-3pm previous day, 3pm-11pm previous evening and 11pm-7am the previous night
Accumulative enegry used in kWh - scrolls between last day, last seven days and last 30 days energy use
Time
Temperature
Adjustable Tariff

The Current Cost Envi comes with a default tariff (p/kWh) unit rate pre-programmed. You can adjust this rate to match the rate you are paying. Dual rate tariffs can be programmed with adjustable low and high rates and times.

 

 

Below Meteoplug can display live date from the Current Cost Power Monitor

This example show power used in watts from my common PSU that supplies power to my Meteohub Server, Master Clock system and CCTV cameras.

 
 

 

Meteoplug can also display live graphs. The example below shows my common PSU power in watts over the last day.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Rear view showing batt terminals for external backup batteries. Weather station power take off

and ALIX-1d board connections.

 

 

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

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Battery Backed Up Power Supply


Solar Charge Controller