I’ve just upgraded from an early release Sky / Air Weatherflow to a Tempest. The battery voltage reading on the Tempest seems quite a bit lower than what I’m used to seeing on the Sky / Air.
What is the range of voltage expected to be seen on a Tempest?
I’m at 2.79V currently, but I’m use to seeing voltages in the 3.3v range.
Hello Dividedsky
Indeed switching to the Tempest implies a little adaption to what you’re used to 
Voltage levels are way lower as it uses another type of batteries (LTO). +/- 2.80V is fully charged (when it is in the sun) and it’ll drop pretty quickly to +/- 2.65 V once the sun goes away (this is normal so don’t go bonks when you see this, 2.8 is max charge voltage and it’s nominal stable max voltage without charging i around 2.65)
Also you have power saving modes but you can read it in this help section in all details
i think 2.65V is a bit on the optimistic side. 2.6V is more realistic. In the link in your reply “around 2.55” is mentioned as an operating range.
Agreed. My Tempest lives at the 2.6V mark…occasionally rising to 2.63V. On multi overcast/rainy days, it drops to a low of 2.53V.
Interestingly, I had a Tempest early on that had a hard time getting above 2.4-2.5V and it was replaced for a new one. That one typically tops out at 2.8V during the day and 2.65V at night.
Just running across this as I was checking and it looked “flat”. I’m in FL (pretty sunny state) and Mine never goes above 2.53-2.56. Is that OK?
Also mine doesn’t appear to vary that much. This is May 17th through today:
I just got my Tempest a few days ago. But I’m just not seeing a way to see the battery voltage in a graph as you have here. Did that feature go away?
Click on (or select) this card …
Did you enable the battery card in the app settings? It is disabled by default…
That did it! Took some poking about to find it.
Tempest has this chart in the help settings. Basically, you do not want to go under 2.455V, and avoid going under 2.355 at all costs.
I didn’t think mine was getting enough sun, but once I saw this chart, I know I am doing fine. I’m between 2.58 and 2.81 depending on how sunny the days are.
On sunny days, your unity should ALWAYS go up to 2.8V (or close to it) unless you have it placed in someplace that doesn’t get 3-4 hours of full sun per day on average. I believe 100% charged is about 2.81 or so volts. If it’s in a sunny place with the device lined up properly, then there could be a defective battery in it.
Mode 0: Voltage ≥ 2.455
All sensors enabled and operating at full performance
Wind sampling interval every 3 seconds
Mode 1: Voltage ≤ 2.415 from Mode 0 or ≥ 2.41 from Mode 2
Mode 2: Voltage ≤ 2.39 from Mode 1 or ≥ 2.375 from Mode 3
Mode 3: Voltage ≤ 2.355
As long as you are over 2.455v, the unit will work normally
I just got my Tempest and have been running the Solar Power Accessory on my old Sky for the past three years. With the Sky+SPA, my voltage was in the 3.4 to 3.6 volt range during really sunny days. I’m guessing the Tempest has a different voltage base?
Edit - Okay. I just read that the Tempest uses an LTO battery instead of traditional Li-Ion which explains the lower voltage rating.
Typical max voltage for the Tempest is around 2.8 Volts.
This page alsoe xplains the power saving modes it can go in when the battery goes low (winter time for ex)
Eric,
I have a replaced unit due to a failure of my Tempest about 6 months ago. My first unit consistently reached 2.8 every sunny day. This replacement unit has never been any higher than 2.71 back when it was new (to me).
My current unit now averages a max of 2.65-2.69 volts on very bright sunny days.
Anything to be concerned with? I will say the unit seems fine. I just don’t want issues once we get into winter and the many dark and dreary days we can get om eastern NC.
Thanks,
Stu E.
Nope. There is very little energy between 2.65V and 2.8V. The only thing that you will gain is about 3 hours of run time. If you do get into a situation where there is simply not enough sunlight to charge your Tempest in the winter, there is a Power Booster Accessory which can be added to a station.
I’ve just fitted a Power Bank Accessory based on advice from a few for those long grey UK winter days. Voltage in 2.6v and steady…should it rise to 2.8v as the PBA has 8 new lithium batteries, a gradual increase or is approx 2.6v fine?
That is just fine. When the PBA has batteries installed, you don’t want the Tempest to run just on them, you want the solar to do as much as possible so the PBA should kick in only when needed. Also, there is very little energy between 2.6V and 2.8V.
Don’t get too excited yet. I added the Power Booster Accessory in early November because I was getting unit shutdowns at about 2.3v. The PBA solved the problem until today. I haven’t checked yet, but I assume the PBA batteries have been drained ($30!).
I hope Weatherflow can tell me what’s wrong.
