My flight subject is sort of 30km (19 miles) from my residential dwelling, and earlier than going out to play with my drones, I at all times verify the wind situations in numerous climate apps. The realm is between some valleys and has its microclimate; the climate functions are sometimes improper. Putting in a house water station, just like the EcoWitt HP2551, is the easiest way to trace Mom Nature. Due to the built-in WIFI connectivity and free cloud service, you possibly can monitor each indoor and out of doors environments remotely anytime from wherever on the globe.
The EcoWitt HP2551 dwelling energy station consists of three foremost elements: the management unit (console), indoor sensor, and out of doors sensor. The 2 sensors and different elective sensors join with the HP2550_C show wirelessly. In keeping with your area and native RF rules, you possibly can go for 433Mhz (Oceania), 868Mhz (Europe and UK), and 915Mhz (North America).
Along with real-time climate monitoring, the HP2551 sends knowledge to the Ecowitt server to trace the historical past of climate evolution (temperature, wind velocity/route, rain amount, air pressures, humidity, photo voltaic radiation, and UV degree). It additionally helps importing climate knowledge to widespread platforms equivalent to Climate Underground (WU), Weathercloud, and WeaWOW.
EcoWitt HP2551 climate station overview
Disclosure: I obtained this WiFi climate station in a product overview collaboration with Ecowitt. Though the product was free, all opinions on this article stay mine, and the sponsor didn’t affect me.
Initially, I wished to construct my very own climate station utilizing Arduino, however seeing that I might get hold of the identical outcomes with a ready-to-use resolution, I gave up the mission. I contacted a number of producers to see in the event that they wish to present one in all their merchandise for overview. Ecowitt was the primary to reply my electronic mail. I requested for the 5-in-1 WN1910, however being out-of-stock, they despatched me the extra versatile 7-in-1 HP2551.
The climate station is available in a suitcase-like field with protecting cardboard inside. The package contains every thing to start out utilizing it; you will have solely 4 AA batteries (two for the exterior sensor and two for the interior) and a 50mm diameter pole for mounting.
What’s contained in the field?
- HP2550_C Wi-Fi Show/Console
- WH32P indoor 3in1 sensor
- WS69 out of doors 7in1 sensor
- Wind velocity cups (tri-blade)
- Wind vane (route blade)
- Set of mounting equipment (2x U-Bolts, 4x M5 nuts, mounting plate and M5 wrench)
- USB energy adapter with USB to three.5mm DC 5V energy twine
Ecowitt HP2551: Management unit and dashboard (HP2550_C)
First, we’ll focus on the indoor management unit (Show/Console). The HP2550_C seems to be like a pill with a number of buttons on the backside. Sadly, in contrast to most fashionable units, the 7″ TFT full-color LCD doesn’t have contact options. You’ll be able to management it solely via the eight buttons, whose capabilities are modified from display screen to display screen -the precise perform of the button is displayed on the underside ribbon. The unit communicates wirelessly with the sensors (indoor/out of doors), the vary being as much as 100 meters. It might handle a number of sensors and even as much as eight of the identical kind. Right here, I ought to point out that you could’t combine frequencies; for instance, if the console works on 868Mhz, you possibly can’t use 433Mhz sensors.
The HP2550_C show has two working modes, day (black background) and night time (white background), and you can too regulate the display screen’s brightness. The unit has a built-in foldable stand to be positioned on a desk and two holes if you happen to desire to mount it on a wall. The unit shouldn’t be self-powered (battery-operated) and requires an AC outlet close by.
At a look, in addition to the sensors’ inputs, the console exhibits the Time and Date, ‘Feels Like’ Temperature (Wind Chill and Warmth Index), Dew level, Dawn, Sundown, Moon Part, Forecast, and lots of extra particulars.
The HP2550_C foremost console additionally shows minimal and most situations with time and date stamps and historic archived knowledge, which may be exported to a micro SD Card for superior knowledge evaluation in spreadsheet editors like Excel. Firmware updates will also be accomplished utilizing the micro SD slot.
Along with the included indoor and out of doors sensors, the Ecowitt HP2550_C can monitor many different kinds of sensors, together with lighting, air high quality, and soil moisture.
Ecowitt HP2551: Indoor sensor (WH32P)
The WH32 seems to be like an air conditioner distant however with none button. It has a built-in display screen that exhibits the precise temperature, humidity, and barometric air strain. It measures 123*42*14mm and weighs about 140 grams.
The unit can measure indoor temperatures from -10°C to 60°C (-14°F to 140°F) with an accuracy of ± 0.3°C (± 0.6°F) and backbone of 0.1°C (0.1°F). You’ll be able to add as much as eight WH32 sensors to the system, one for every of the home’s areas. If the WH32 is put in ready uncovered to direct daylight, Ecowitt’s devoted sensor shelter is really helpful to boost the accuracy of daytime temperature readings.
Ecowitt HP2551: Out of doors sensor (WS69)
The WS69 is a posh unit that features seven completely different sensors. Along with temperature, humidity, and barometric air strain monitoring, it may measure wind velocity, wind route, rain amount, UV radiation degree, and solar energy via a tiny built-in photo voltaic panel.
The wind vane (route) can cup (velocity) must be put in on the shaft. Be aware that the wind may be put in in just one place (see picture under). One other necessary factor is to place the sensors in response to the West arrow on high of the unit. I used my Kopset T3 Extremely watch as a compass, however you can too use your smartphone. In the event you set up the climate station with many birds round, I like to recommend mounting chook spikes as a result of they like making nests on surfaces just like the rain gauge.
Distant climate monitoring: Ecowitt cell APP and Cloud Interface
Due to the built-in wifi connectivity, you possibly can monitor the real-time climate situations and overview stats via the Ecowitt cell APP (accessible for Android and iOS units) or the corporate’s cloud interface. Each choices present the identical detailed view of the particular and historic sensor’s inputs.
Below the settings menu, you possibly can customise climate models (temperature F/C, Stress inHg/hPa/mmHg, Windspeed mmph, m/s, km/h, knots, fpm, BFT, Precipitation inch/mm, Photo voltaic irradiance: Q/m2lx,fc, and Capability: Lm3gal).
The app has a map characteristic the place you possibly can share your climate station and have entry to others put in world wide. I used to be shocked to learn how many there are, even close to my location.
You export stats in Excel format from the cloud interface for additional evaluation and comparability.
Pricing and availability
The HP2551 Wi-Fi climate station may be ordered straight from the producer’s official on-line retailer for $199 (this value contains all 3 foremost elements: console, indoor and out of doors sensors). Ecowitt merchandise will also be accessible on AliExpress, Amazon, and different platforms.
Who should purchase this climate station?
As talked about initially of my overview, I wanted a real-time climate station for my flight subject to know remotely whether or not there have been good flight situations. After beginning to use it, I found it has many different usages. Built-in with Google Dwelling or different sensible dwelling methods, you possibly can management room temperatures and humidity, optimize heating and cooling, or routinely shut the blinds of your terrace in case of a storm (robust wind or heavy rain).
Based mostly on the historical past of the information obtained from the wind sensor and the photo voltaic radiation, you possibly can determine whether or not wind or photo voltaic inexperienced power fits you. Lately, everybody began putting in photo voltaic panels on the roof with out contemplating the photo voltaic protection within the space or if wind power wouldn’t be extra environment friendly.
Farmers can use climate stations to optimize irrigation, planting, and pest management. Utilizing Ecowitt WH51 soil moisture sensors, they know exactly how a lot watering is required to enhance crop yields and maintain prices low.
Key options
- [Personal Weather Station] Offers correct climate data with a newly designed interface; it lets you monitor your property and yard wirelessly and have enjoyable (No further Software program required).
- [Wi-Fi Capable]: Allows your climate station to publish its knowledge wirelessly to Climate Underground/Climate Cloud/WOW and think about the present climate situation straight by way of our climate app WS View; helps importing to ecowitt.web to get electronic mail alerts for all of the sensor knowledge.
- [Large TFT Color Screen]: Person pleasant & well-designed interface with 2 backgrounds (darkish/mild) selectable; Shows wind velocity and route, dewpoint, rainfall, indoor out of doors temperature and humidity, barometric strain, moon section, photo voltaic radiation, and UV; with climate forecast perform.
- [All-in-One Outdoor Sensor]: Wind vane, wind velocity cups, UV / photo voltaic radiation sensor, thermo-hygrometer sensor, rain gauge, bubble degree, and photo voltaic collector 7-in-1 built-in sensor; 100-meter long-range wi-fi connectivity.
- [3-in1 Indoor Sensor] Wi-fi temperature, humidity, and barometric strain with built-in display screen.
- [Max/Min & History Records]: View max/min and historic information of sensors straight on the console with dawn and sundown time show; helps including max 8 WH31 multi-channel temp and humidity sensor, one WH51 soil moisture sensor, and one WH41 PM2.5 air high quality sensor.
- [Smart Features] Calculates dew level, wind chill, warmth index, moon section, and sundown/dawn time. Climate forecast and sending alarms.
Accuracy and measuring vary
| Vary | Accuracy | |
| Temperature | -40°F – 140°F (-40°C-60°C) | 2°F (±0.5C) |
| Humidity | 10% ~ 99% | 10% |
| Rain quantity | 0–199.99 in (0-5.1m) | 10% |
| UV index | 0-15 | N/A |
| Mild degree | 0–120 kLux | N/A |
Ecowitt climate station: Non-obligatory sensors
Along with the elective sensors listed under, the Ecowitt ecosystem helps its time-lapse digicam.
| Mannequin | Kind | Variety of supported sensors |
| WH57 | Lightning sensor | 1 |
| WH45 | PM2.5/PM10/CO2/temperature and humidity all-in-1 sensor | 1 |
| WH31 | Multi-channel temperature and humidity sensor | 8 |
| WH51 | Soil moisture sensor | 8 |
| WH41/WH43 | PM2.5 air high quality sensor | 4 |
| WH55 | Water leak sensor | 4 |
| WN34 | Temp Sensor | 8 |
EcoWitt HP2551 options
After I began researching a climate station for my flight subject, I got here throughout numerous fashions, and to be trustworthy, many look the identical regardless of being from completely different manufacturers.
Vevor and Okay&F Idea are well-known manufacturers on FirstQuadcopter from different overview firms, and after checking their web site, I discovered that additionally they have a climate station. The Vevor YT60234 options related options because the HP2551, but it surely comes with a bigger display screen, and its out of doors sensor is self-powered via a photo voltaic panel and rechargeable batteries. The Kentfaith GW40.0009US WIFI climate station has a ten.2″ show, a 5-star overview rating, and prices solely $179.
The Logia 7-in-1 LOWSC710B, ACCUR8 DWS7100, Ambient WS-5000, and Bresser NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC are additionally nice choices in case you are searching for a distant climate monitoring system.
Ecowitt’s HP2561 comes with a touchscreen management unit and prices just a few bucks extra, making it a very good different for the HP2551. The Ecowitt GW2001 includes a new-generation ultrasonic wind velocity sensor and haptic rainfall sensor, making the out of doors unit way more compact and sturdy. The GW2001 WittBoy has no shifting half and is extra correct for harsh climate situations.
