DIY wind speed and direction

[slawosz]

Hi,
inspired by recent RPi topic, I wonder if someone with proper electronic knowledge would like to collaborate on open source wind speed and direction device. There are already some guides and examples all over internet, it just need design of the moving, 3d printed parts (I can do that), designing the hardware and circuits (I can do that, but have no experience so would appreciate help as I know there are people with knowledge here) and writing or copying (if license allows) already existing software, ideally on something like Arduino Nano (I can do that). What do you think?

 

[NormanS]

I have little bits of ribbon on my shrouds. ?

 

[GHA]

Hi,
inspired by recent RPi topic, I wonder if someone with proper electronic knowledge would like to collaborate on open source wind speed and direction device. There are already some guides and examples all over internet, it just need design of the moving, 3d printed parts (I can do that), designing the hardware and circuits (I can do that, but have no experience so would appreciate help as I know there are people with knowledge here) and writing or copying (if license allows) already existing software, ideally on something like Arduino Nano (I can do that). What do you think?

There was some discussion over on the openplotter forums, they're more into that kind of thing over there.
One thrad, pretty sure there are others

Ultrasonic Anemometer

 

[GHA]

I have little bits of ribbon on my shrouds. ?

2nd post, bang straight in there

 

[slawosz]

I have little bits of ribbon on my shrouds. ?

If the ribbon could change color depending on wind strenght, that would be something!

 

[Refueler]

Occasionally I have a brain storm and look through home based Weather Stations with WiFi displays ..... and wonder if could be adapted to on-board use ?

 

[TSB240]

I have been looking at using the Onwa KW 360 for a repair project today.

I assume this is ultrasonic as it has no moving parts.
If you scroll down on the linked page below you can download their Windows software for presenting the output including wind speed, direction, barometric pressure and temperature.

Can you reverse engineer their MHU and make it for less than £350?

KW-360 - ONWA Marine Electronics Co. Ltd.

 

[Refueler]

I have been looking at using the Onwa KW 360 for a repair project today.

I assume this is ultrasonic as it has no moving parts.
If you scroll down on the linked page below you can download their Windows software for presenting the output including wind speed, direction, barometric pressure and temperature.

Can you reverse engineer their MHU and make it for less than £350?

KW-360 - ONWA Marine Electronics Co. Ltd.

Looks a nice piece of kit .... but it is wired which some may not like.

Would be nice if it was Android capable as well ... but seems only Windoze so far. I also assume - it needs its own SW to sort the info into display.

 

[thinwater]

If the ribbon could change color depending on wind strenght, that would be something!

• Straight down. Very light winds.
• Drooping just a little. Uncover the sails and head out.
• Horizontal. A nice breeze.
• Snapping at the ends. Reef.
• Gone. Lower sails. Now.

In fact, with yarn it pretty much works that way. And look at the water.

The only use I have for electronic wind is if it interfaces with the autohelm. Otherwise, it's kind of obvious.

 

[Refueler]

• Straight down. Very light winds.
• Drooping just a little. Uncover the sails and head out.
• Horizontal. A nice breeze.
• Snapping at the ends. Reef.
• Gone. Lower sails. Now.

Did you know that the Aero Windsock has the orange / red bands that when originally designed and made in the material and weights etc - they would give indication of wind strength by the bands ? Trouble is todays windsocks fail to do it .....

 

[GHA]

The only use I have for electronic wind is if it interfaces with the autohelm. Otherwise, it's kind of obvious.

Luckily we are allowed both.
Never had wind sensor data until recently, then splashed out on a CVC-7, need some accurate data for a Pypilot to do it's best anyway, and very handy with opencpn watchdog for alarms single handed.. Just fantastic. But no more bragging bout 60Kts in few minutes...the numbers don't lie

 

[GHA]

Did you know that the Aero Windsock has the orange / red bands that when originally designed and made in the material and weights etc - they would give indication of wind strength by the bands ? Trouble is todays windsocks fail to do it .....

Volmet is useful for that, if you have an HF receiver. Can be very handy.

 

[Kelpie]

The only use I have for electronic wind is if it interfaces with the autohelm. Otherwise, it's kind of obvious.

When you're cowering under the spray hood in 45kt and hailstones the size of grapes, using the engine to counter a dragging anchor off a lee shore, it's very nice to have a good wind instrument. Impossible to steer by any other means in those conditions.

It's only happened to me a couple of times but it's changed my attitude to the wind instrument. I now view it as absolutely essential.

 

[Sandy]

I have little bits of ribbon on my shrouds. ?

I have an even less technological bit of kit. I turn my face into the wind and, through years of experience, know its speed. I do have a speed and direction sensor onboard, but that is to check that I am correct.

 

[Neeves]

2nd post, bang straight in there

I now understand why I like celery and cannot understand people who reject it.



Jonathan

 

[Beneteau381]

Luckily we are allowed both.
Never had wind sensor data until recently, then splashed out on a CVC-7, need some accurate data for a Pypilot to do it's best anyway, and very handy with opencpn watchdog for alarms single handed.. Just fantastic. But no more bragging bout 60Kts in few minutes...the numbers don't lie

I was there that day! Violent storm rages through Portugal boatyard – 60-knot winds from the top of a boat cradle! - Practical Boat Owner
S

 

[thinwater]

When you're cowering under the spray hood in 45kt and hailstones the size of grapes, using the engine to counter a dragging anchor off a lee shore, it's very nice to have a good wind instrument. Impossible to steer by any other means in those conditions.

It's only happened to me a couple of times but it's changed my attitude to the wind instrument. I now view it as absolutely essential.

Mostly I was joking. My PDQ has a full suite. But I never motored up against an anchor. Never felt the need, and never felt it took strain off the rode in a reliable way (if you are thrown back, mostly likely side to wind in the process, the resulting impact force will be worse than relying on a good, elastic rode and snubber).

Instead, I would have preemptivly set a second anchor in a V. Takes only a few minutes with practice. I have done this a good many times, always worked (and I did have an inch of hail in the cockpit once).

 

[BobnLesley]

If the ribbon could change color depending on wind strenght, that would be something!

It doesn't need to, there are only three wind speeds - not enough/that's about right/time for a reef - and if you can't judge those without an electronic screen, you probably shouldn't be out on your own.

 

[Kelpie]

Mostly I was joking. My PDQ has a full suite. But I never motored up against an anchor. Never felt the need, and never felt it took strain off the rode in a reliable way (if you are thrown back, mostly likely side to wind in the process, the resulting impact force will be worse than relying on a good, elastic rode and snubber).

Instead, I would have preemptivly set a second anchor in a V. Takes only a few minutes with practice. I have done this a good many times, always worked (and I did have an inch of hail in the cockpit once).

I've only done because I was already dragging. Least worst option at that point.
And if it had been forecast, then I wouldn't have been there.

Having dragged a few times this summer in the Med, generally due to unforecast sudden changes in wind speed and direction, I've been extremely glad to only ever had one anchor set at the time. In a crowded anchorage there's a lot to be said for simplicity, and being able to get out of there asap. It might be someone else who is dragging...

 

[slawosz]

Occasionally I have a brain storm and look through home based Weather Stations with WiFi displays ..... and wonder if could be adapted to on-board use ?

I think it should be quite an easy job.

I have been looking at using the Onwa KW 360 for a repair project today.

I assume this is ultrasonic as it has no moving parts.
If you scroll down on the linked page below you can download their Windows software for presenting the output including wind speed, direction, barometric pressure and temperature.

Can you reverse engineer their MHU and make it for less than £350?

KW-360 - ONWA Marine Electronics Co. Ltd.

On the OpenMarine forum there are rummors about £130 unit. But not sure how well suited they are for sailing.

Did you know that the Aero Windsock has the orange / red bands that when originally designed and made in the material and weights etc - they would give indication of wind strength by the bands ? Trouble is todays windsocks fail to do it .....

According to the rules, the sock is fully extended at 15 knots which is crosswind limit of small aircrafts.

It doesn't need to, there are only three wind speeds - not enough/that's about right/time for a reef - and if you can't judge those without an electronic screen, you probably shouldn't be out on your own.

I can't live without gizmos. I used to put 2 reefs on force 1 and hoist spinnaker on force 7 before I got my wind instruments!