ID-4001 Help Needed

[Joel Miller]

Hey, Gary:

Sounds like you've got a bad phototransistor in the wind direction sensor.
After having my 4001 in service for nearly 20 years, I lost a couple of the
transistors recently.  Their demise might have been helped along by years of
RF bombardment on the tower!  I looked and looked for original-type
components, but could not find them.

Because I didn't want to worry about more of the devices failing in the near
term, I replaced all of the UV LEDs and phototransistors in both the wind
speed and direction sensors.  Ordered them from Digi-Key <www.digikey.com>.
Used Panasonic LNA2801L LEDs and PN168 Phototransistors.  4 of each in the
direction sensor, and one of each in the anemometer.

I had to enlarge the mounting slots on the circuit boards slightly to
accommodate the wider leg spacing of the new parts, and also needed to add
1/8" black shrink-tube sleeves over each device to narrow their radiation and
pickup angles.  But all is well and functioning great!

Sure missed those indicators for a few weeks waiting to repair them.  You get
used to electronically monitoring how bad you're being pummeled, especially
in Oregon in the winter with all the wind and rain!

Hope this helps!

Joel
W7PDX

>Date:    Wed, 2 Feb 2000 14:40:53 -0600
>From:    Gary Booker <gbooker at PRIME-EQUIP.COM>
>Subject: ID-4001 Help Needed

>I have just pulled my ID-4001 Weather Computer out of an eight year >storage
period.  When checking it out I found that everything worked >fine except
that the wind direction indicator only displays from ESE >to West.  If you
continue to rotate the weather vane in the same >direction the indications
just reverse direction and go from West >back to ESE.

>Does anyone have an idea what is causing this or can you give me an >idea
where to start troubleshooting?

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