@eric I totally missed the instructions to reboot the Tempest when I installed mine… maybe https://help.weatherflow.com/hc/en-us/articles/4414460312603-Power-Booster-Accessory should be modified to make it clear that this is an important step (maybe using bold text with an explanation of what makes it an important step).
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I recharged my station to 2.82V in the middle of November. 14 days later almost to the hour I had my station running at 2.40V when I decided to charge it with AC power via the booster (with most likely dead batteries). I charged it to 2.8V where it stayed until I removed the AC power. 5 days and 6 hours later the station died at 2.53V. I was planning on setting in new batteries to avoid having to draw extension cords to attach the AC power every two weeks, but this time the station died already after 5 days, and with sufficient voltage to run it.
How would I go about solving this issue? It’s not like the batteries will help if they only kick in at 2.42 volts.
Something isn’t right with your Tempest. As shown on this page: https://help.weatherflow.com/hc/en-us/articles/360048877194-Solar-Power-Rechargeable-Battery
It doesn’t even go into power save mode 3 until 2.355V. IIRC, I’ve seen my Tempest not completely shut off until about 2.1V. You may want to contact support. The link is in the menu above.
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The PBA manual says you can connect to the 12V AC provided by a yard light timer. Is anyone doing this? And will running it every night when the yard lights turn on cause any issues?
I don’t see why that would cause any issues. The Tempest will just charge fully every time the lights are on.
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Thanks. My concern was using AC from the light system versus the DC from the batteries. I wondered if an AC to DC converter was required and which one, since none was included with my PBA.
Hi All,
I have just had support update my tempest firmware to 173 and as its not sunny here in the uk I decided to use the power booster (on ac only) to charge the unit. It charged it from 2.35 to 2.46 but doesn’t appear to charge past 2.46. (24 hours have gone by)
Should it not rise to at least 2.65 ?
Appreciate any thoughts.
The chart a few posts up shows that at 2.455 V all functions are operational. I wonder if they are giving the internal battery a little space should the solar panel produce some charge.
if that was always the case, that would be a good idea. Charge it from the battery booster just enough to get to a full day without sunshine. It would save on batteries in the booster. When the power booster isn’t using batteries it might charge to the full amount
I did take it down and placed it indoors, covered the solar panels up and left it thru the day and night with no change on voltage.
Also I ensured that I connected the wafer within a minute of switching on so it recognised the Booster. Be nice if there was some indicator on dashboard to say its receiving power from AC or external batteries.
as long as it charges at least once a day to 2.46 V I would be happy.
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The PBA accepts AC or DC voltage as input as long as the voltage is in range of the spec.
From the PBA help pagge:
- Other power source options include…
- Any other 1A+, 6-24V power adapter
- 6V, 12V, 24V solar panel (no solar regulator required )
- 6V, 12V or 24V external battery system
- 12V AC landscape lighting system
- 24V AC security system
- or whatever is available in the above range
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Reading this thread, an number of questions pop up:
- how/where can I read the firmware-version of my (probably 1st generation) Tempest?
- drop-out of rain&wind-reading occurred, because I forgot to refresh the batteries in my PBA, and sensor-battery dropped out to PowerSave.
PBA equipped with 4AA Alkaline batteries and linked to Tempest-sensor by normal PBA-cable + PBA-extension-cable.
After refit of PBA with fresh 4AA-Alkaline it took 2 days to get sensor-battery for 2.5VDC till the ‘normal’ 2.71VDC: is that normal?
Can power-up be of sensor accelerated by putting 8AA in PBA-batteryholder?
What happens if the 230V-powersupply is connected to PBA? Even faster loading than with 8AA in PBA?
BTW, no dielectric gel was included in the received PBA-package (although described in the PBA-manual) , and therefore have to install/operate with ‘ungelled’ contacts.
Hi @antonvann,
For question 1, go to Settings, Stations, station name, Status.
For question 2, you can find your answers here, https://help.weatherflow.com/hc/en-us/articles/4414460312603-Power-Booster-Accessory, about halfway down the page. The key point when using batteries is that the Tempest does not charge until it’s voltage drops to 2.42V. Charge rate, once it starts charging, doesn’t appear to be any different on battery or external power. Also, don’t input over the 24V max of the PBA. It is ok to use a 230V to 6-24V adapter, if that is what you meant.
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