That’s kind of my thinking. It’s very hard to find a true all wire hanger these days. Thinking I might just strip a piece of 12ga electrical wire. Will wander around the local big box and see what they have that I might adapt.
You might try a hobby shop for a piece of piano wire or some welding rod. You can get a stainless steel welding rod in different sizes.
1 Like
I sent a message to Ambient Weather. . .inquiring about this: https://www.ambientweather.com/amwewsbispki.html#caption
Since the diameter of the top area of WFSKY & Tempest is only about 4.25". . .they assured me that their 5 inch bird spike would work. I don’t have a bird problem at the present time. . .but all it take is one bird landing on top of an item. I am planning to obtain three of these: 1 for WFSKY and 1 each for both of my Tempests.
Within their URL. . .they also have an online Manual of how to assemble and install it.
2 Likes
I have purchased two of the Ambient Weather bird spike kits for my CoCoRaHS and Ambient Weather WS-2902A. The kit comes with two clamp bands so you should easily be able to mount on the Tempest.
3 Likes
So here is my budget anti roosting device. Basically just a 24" piece of 1/8 wire rod from the local big box store, bent appropriately, with two screws to hold it in place.
- Aluminum welding rod of a similar diameter does not work. It has a crystalline structure that does not bend. They didn’t stock stainless and standard 11" welding rod wasn’t long enough.
- The bottom of the rod was bent 45 degrees in to fit a hole I drilled into the post. This secures the bottom.
- The two screws aren’t optimal, but they work. I wanted to find one of those small W shaped plates that have channels on either side and a screw hole in the center, but couldn’t even come up with a name to search for. Kind of like a throttle cable holder, but smaller channels.
- The bend towards the top was done to provide enough clearance so the wire wouldn’t tap the Tempest in high winds.
- The plane in the background was purely coincidental!!
We’ll see if this is enough. If necessary, I can bend the rod to be more centered on the dome.
2 Likes
It’s called a drill, two pairs of pliers (or a vice), and a piece of scrap metal. 
Two of these from your local auto parts store (and a hammer to smoosh it from 3/16" to 1/8") might work as well:
www.amazon.com/Helix-11068-Stainless-Steel-Single/dp/B004BV5OQE/
If this works for keeping birds away, I’m going to figure out how to make a clamp that fits around the fence rail post that many of us are using for a mast…
I was thinking you were going to bend it like this: 
.
I know that small birds will still find the top attractive and won’t be bothered by the wire the way you have it. Bending it over the top without shadowing the center light sensor at high noon should not have much if any effect on rain measurement.
3 Likes
I want to keep the rod vertical enough that they won’t try to roost on it. I’ll watch it for a few days and see how well it works. Plan B is the $15 crown posted up thread.
Thank you for sharing this great idea. I received my Ambient Weather Bird Spike Kit and installed it. One thing I noticed…I had to trim (shorten) the clamp band to make it fit, otherwise it looks to be a great option till WF creates their own bird spike.
Thank you for sharing this great idea. Regarding the Ambient Bird Spike, I found I had to trim almost 1 inch from the clamp to fit the Tempest. Otherwise, it’s a good option.
1 Like
You were right. The larger birds no longer roost, but the small ones aren’t put off. On the plus side, they tend not to trigger rain alerts. On the minus side, they seem to love taking a dump on it.
1 Like
A big beautiful white and shiny target. The birds are probably doing target practice 
2 Likes
Maybe we need to put a feature request in for an automatic squeegee to clean the top. 
5 Likes
How about lasers to deter birds? 
2 Likes
If scientists can fly helicopters on Mars using solar power, I’m sure WF could rig some laser things.
2 Likes
With SO many trees in my area. . .luckiily. . . my weather station stuff has never had a bird-landing. . . to my knowledge. I just installed my “Insurance Policy” on WFSKY-01 (SK-7866) and on “Bellevue Tempest° WeatherSystem” (ST-2827).
6 Likes
Looks good! For me, it was easier to slide the bird spike from the bottom instead of the top. The top is curved in unlike the bottom.
I meticulously got it all lined up to where I wanted it (on both). . .then meticulously / carefully / slowly tightened the stainless steel “zip-tie” band. It is snug and secure and this will be one less thing that I will have to deal with! [The only problem left is the battery charging issue with Tempest Field Test (ST-7764) pending the outcome of the “power booster” sometime next month. My 2nd “Insurance Policy” is. . .
just in case that “power booster” does NOT juice up ST-7764. . .because its battery is probably tooooo far gone. . .I recently purchased and received that “Tempest Device Only” and may have to eventually do a “Replace Device” . . . swapping out ST-7764 for ST-2387. If I have to “Replace Device”. . . then the last bird spike would then be installed on ST-2387.]
1 Like
3 posts were merged into an existing topic: Tempest Charging Questions