Mounting Davis Vantage Pro2 to Roof Rack

ericjkelly

ericjkelly

EF4
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
Messages
340
Location
Cascade, CO
Hey whats up guys!

Hey my wife bought me a Davis Vantage Pro2 for Christmas (Yes I know a lucky)

How would you recommend a mount this to my roof rack on my Ford Escape hybrid? Would love some help!
 
Eric,

Congrats on your purchase. Davis VP2 is one of the best home wx stations on the market when you compare value to the instrument suite and accuracy.

However, I would refrain from placing your xmas gift into this situation. The Davis wx stations are not designed for the type of use you are suggesting. I have had several discussions with Davis engineers hoping they will enter this arena.

Anyways, I hope you will take the following into consideration.
1.) The setup is not structurally designed for vehicle mounting and being subjected to highway road conditions.
2.) Depending on what you're after, the sampling interval of the instruments is certainly not ideal for near-storm environment. Personally I would like to see something with a > 1Hz sampling interval.

Wind speed: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 to 3 seconds
Wind direction: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 to 3 seconds
Accumulated rainfall: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 to 24 seconds
Temperature: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 to 12 seconds
Humidity: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 seconds to 1 minute

3.) The anemometer is rated to about 150 mph. While this would sustain most everything but a tornado in your backyard, note that while driving at highway speeds, if you were in an RFD or squall line with winds in the same direction of travel, you will likely find your anemometer missing.

Just some things to consider and C.C. will likely be a big help as well.

Evan
 
Evan....with due respect, the whole argument about car mounting and such is rather silly unless someone is doing hard core research (like Vortex2 and similar). RM Young and others are great, but are RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE.

In near storm or IN storm environments, the performance of my Davis set-ups have been fine for storm chasing duties and more the adequate to superior for storm reporting duties. Davis is the best 'home' package to use this side of a full scientific set-up. I've never missed a gust that wasn't within a +/- 2mph reading of a nearby METAR station when I tested it for curiosity (not a scientific test...but good enough for government work).

Kinda a shame Davis Instruments didn't talk to me or Chris or others. Used them just fine. There are other issues, NOT the wind, that would need discussing.

BTW....I never have had 150mph winds monitored while driving. The only time I've ever lost an anemometer was during a hurricane. What I learned....make sure the set screw is extra tight. Besides...just keep an extra set of cups with ya...and you are good to go (at just $12 ea.)
 
Jason,

Like I stated, these were things to consider "depending on what you're after". Obviously, there is a cost prohibitive factor of purchasing RM Youngs and other high sampling instruments and connecting them to a $1000 Campbell Scientific data logger.

My point may have been missed. I can personally speak to having watched others' instruments break under subjected conditions in and around supercells, hail and debris withstanding. I just don't want to see someone who got an AWESOME gift risk getting it damaged/destroyed without at least being aware of the potential -- that is all. I love my VP2 and it's been running great for 4.5 years now.

As for the data quality, I agree and disagree with your assessment, depending on whether you're taking measurements stationary or mobile. There are a plethora of publications on mobile mesonet observations with respect to mounting, housing, etc...and the influence of vehicle dynamics on measured variables. There are also several discussions in the StormTrack archive (which you have posted in) if Eric is interested.

All the best,
Evan
 
Thanks for all the help guys!

There is no way I am keeping this at home. The reason she bought it for me was to take it tornado chasing! The pieces are cheap enough that I can replace cups etc.

Sorry to cause the arguement :) I just want a good way to mount this :)
 
Dang, Eric! So far, you are winning the "best gift from your wife this year" contest! I hope you didn't buy her a power tool!

One year, my dad bought my mom a *USED* vacume cleaner for Christmas. She never let that man live it down.
 
Very funny!

yea she really loves that I have a hobby and she is really supportive of it!

I took her chasing once....never again :) She got really scared and nauseous :0
 
Eric...it's no problem between Evan and me. Just discussion with strong points. Evan been around a while and knows his stuff. Just didn't want to discourage (if possible...doesn't seem like it) using the Davis station. Evan points are valid, as are mine. Just makes for knowing ALL the points to consider and evaluate.

I'm 50/50 on selling my Davis VP (no VP2) and not chase with it to avoid the 'gaukery' that comes with chasing with it, but also love the usefulness of it. It is more functional for hurricane chasing. As Evan mentions...to be accurate you really need to be standing still...in motion readings can be tainted (well the wind, temp/dew pt are still fine).

One thing I will recommend is this:
-use an aluminum base plate. The poly-carb versions don't hold up over time. They are good for a few months, but mine failed during my winter coverage earlier this year (last winter season).

Are you handy with a welder at all?
 
Jason,

Hey thanks!

I am not a welder...I could probably find someone who is, but I am not!

Yea I have thought about the idea of having it and that attention...

I really love wind readings and think it could be useful for reports gusts etc! I also will use the temp dewpoint readings.
 
Eric;

Congrats on the Davis unit; they are reasonably well made and accurate for their intended purpose.

I can see that you will not be persuaded to forgo installing this on your vehicle, although I can predict what will eventually happen. I went through a similar exercise at one time but can report that I am now happy with it installed at my home instead of on my vehicle.

Besides the already mentioned points on the anemometer, keep in mind that the temperature/humidity sensors will not provide anything useful if not mounted in a properly constructed enclosure, and in the correct location. Look at a Vortex 2 vehicle for inspiration on that. If you don't have it mounted that way the data is marginal at best.

In any case you'll need to discover these points for yourself. :)

Good Luck!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Rather than simply copying what you see on the vehicle of someone else(research or otherwise), if you are really interested in getting the most out of your instruments then you should actually talk to someone. There have been a fair number of people that have copied the design of instruments that some of the National Severe Storms Lab Mobile Mesonets use, and they have missed key features that are not readily visible. As such, you should really talk to those involved if you want to really understand why it's important to place it there or use that shield, etc. What's the saying, give a man bread and he'll eat for a day, teach him to bake and he'll eat for a lifetime.
 
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