How to Build an Electronic Weather Station

In this age of low-cost, highly accurate electronic weather instruments, building a homemade weather station no longer has to include actually building the sensors you'll use to collect data. With today's equipment you just have to select the system that meets your budget and interests and set up the sensors in the right place.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electronic weather station
• Hammer and nails (if needed for mounting sensors)
• Computer (optional)
• Internet connection (optional)

1. Decide how much you're willing to spend. Walmart.com has more than a half dozen simple weather stations in the $15 to $30 range. At the other end of the spectrum, assembling a professional grade station from individual components can run into the thousands of dollars. In between, you can get very capable stations in the $75 to $200 range.

2. 
   This wireless data receiver can be wall mounted

   Determine how you'll get power to your station and data from it. Most stations's sensors (thermometer, barometer, anemometer, rain gauge) are powered either by batteries or by solar power. While you need to keep the thermometer and barometer in the shade you'll want solar cells to be exposed to the southern sky for maximum charge rate. Solar powered sensors usually also contain batteries to supply power at night and for prolonged cloudy periods.
   
   You don't have to go to your sensors to collect the data. A wired or wireless connection to an indoor control panel or your personal computer will allow you read your data without venturing out into the heat or cold (or humidity or wind or whatever your instruments tell you it's doing out there).

3. Select your locations. To capture temperature and barometric pressure you can place your sensors just about anywhere out of direct sunlight to get accurate readings. If you're also collecting wind speed and direction and rainfall amounts, you'll need those sensors to be unobstructed in all directions.

4. Decide whether you want to share your weather data. Part of the fun of weather watching these days is that you can share your observations with the world via the Web. Besides your weather station, a computer and an Internet connection, you'll need Internet software that handles the transport to a Web weather site like Weather Underground. Some programs, like Weather Exchange, are free and even include free online hosting of your weather data. Other programs sell for between $50 and $75.

5. 
   This integrated sensor suite can be roof mounted

   Set up your sensors outside and your display panel inside. If you're going to be sharing your weather data over the Web, install the software on your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Use caution and common sense when climbing on roofs to install sensors

Resources

• Weather Underground's list of weather hardware and software
• Weather Exchange software page at Ambient Weather
• Citizen Weather Observer Program
• Walmart