Bumbershoot Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I thought I'd circle back and report on the CAO Wireless Water/Moisture Sensors that I deployed last year to assist with yard irrigation. I purchased 5 of these tags in the middle of March 2017. I have 4 still in operation. These tags were installed out-of-doors, which is not an approved use for them. On 4 of them, I covered the electronics of the tags with a desiccant pack and a plastic bag and tie-wrapped the bag around the body of the tag so as to keep moisture/condensation from the circuit board. One was left out in the weather on it's own. The tag that was left exposed to the weather ultimately died due to interior moisture/corrosion, which was apparent when I pried the case open. It lasted approx. 4 months. The four others survived the irrigation season fine, until three of them were removed and placed in a drawer for the winter. One was left in place in a relatively exposed planter box all winter. All of the surviving tags were placed on a 4 hour update schedule early on in their deployment. After 13 months of use, the reported battery voltages are as follows (which I'm surprised and delighted at): Tag 1 - left outside all winter currently reports 2.977 volts. Tag 2 - indoors all winter currently reports 3.011 volts. Tag 3 - indoors all winter currently reports 3.011 volts. Tag 4 - indoors all winter currently reports 3.01 volts. The winter here was not especially difficult. Temperatures stayed at freezing or below for weeks at a time, but temperatures never dipped below 0°F. Snow coverage was generally light - no more than 12 inches at a time. The batteries are NOT replaceable in the tags, so I'm happy that they withstood a year, with what appears to be plenty of juice to get through the upcoming summer. I have re-calibrated the 4 remaining tags and have placed them back into service in the yard. Also, I abandoned the KUMO app / URL Calling methods of injecting data into the ISY in favor of the Polyglot Wireless Tag nodeserver, which provides a much broader data set for these tags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryllix Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Thanks for that Bumbleshoot! I have none of that type of Tags but seven of the standard types. I have one non-pro unit with only 8? bits of resolution and no memory. I use it in my glove compartment to detect the car is near the house. I have three Pro units with 13? bits of resolution and memory. One was sold as "Weatherproof". I see absolutely no difference in the construction of that unit. "Weatherproof" is no longer advertised. I recently acquired three more Pro units with Lux sensing. Mine all have replaceable batteries. CR2032. MY "Weatherproof" unit has been outside, under my eaves, for about three years now. I recently replaced it with a Lux sensing unit. It began to complain last year about being immersed most days when it would rain as it always registers 98-101% RH while raining. It wasn't getting wet. The Lux unit may have gotten wet this week with recent the violent winter storm. Will inspect next battery change The three year Pro unit (outside) still functions fine. I see no damage when changing the battery. (yet) I have found the battery voltages dip dramatically when the temperature is very cold (mine dips to just above -30C on odd days. The battery voltage may show 2.68 Vdc, but when warmed up the battery voltage will return to 2.8-2.9 again without any functional interruption. I am getting about 10-11 months out of my batteries using kumoapps updating every 15 minutes each. I am using cheap Sony CR2032 batteries I buy on eBay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bumbershoot Posted October 20, 2018 Author Share Posted October 20, 2018 For anyone interested, I pulled my four CAO Wireless Water/Moisture Sensors from the ground today, and will store them inside for the winter. I winterized my irrigation system, so I have no more need to monitor my soil conditions. Amazingly, all four tags are still in operation, and I'll very likely get a third season out of them. As a reminder, I placed a desiccant pack in a plastic bag and tie-wrapped it to the sensor to keep the weather and water out of the electronics. Working like a charm... Below is a screenshot of the same tag as shown above, only seven months later. Note the 74% battery level! After two years of service, I'm very impressed with these tags! EDIT: Many thanks to @Jimbo for great Wireless Tags NodeServer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryllix Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 As a note of interest. I just replaced my weatherproof Tag's battery for the first time. The original battery lasted about 7-8 months. Although they do not advertise a "WeatherProof" Tag now, the case and seal doesn't seem any different than any other Tag I own. However, the PCB inside has a solid black coating on it. This one stays out all winter hanging off a MS light just below the eaves hangover. No problem so far except the complaints when the humidity goes over 99% (sometimes = 101%, it was calibrated to a mid-range standard) that it may be in the rain and destroy itself. (it is not). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmorse305 Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 Recently the battery on my moisture sensor died, so I figured there was no harm in trying to change the battery. I removed the dead battery and added a battery holder on the outside of the case. Back in business again. Not very pretty but I hide it in a potted plant anyway. I got the holder on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M1IB8CN/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokegrub Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 I have several tags, one of which is not the rainproof version. I have that tag on my mailbox. I ran a very light seam of silicone caulk around the tag's seam and it has worked flawlessly even through heavy rain. Others may not realize the same outcome. I Iove these tags! If only it were easier to move tag data into the ISY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryllix Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 I have one "weatherproof" Tag and I see no difference in construction between it and the "normal" Tags, inside or outside. However I see they do not offer a "Weatherproof" Tag anymore. I have mine hung under my eaves off an arm of my motion sensor light with the two flood light fixtures for the last 2-3 years without problem. I have changed the batteries a few times. The KumoApp software keeps warning me against immersing in rain or water when the summer humidity gets here at over 97%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokegrub Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 My "rainproof" tags had a clear plastic film covering them. Of course, as soon as I changed the battery that film was destroyed making the feature useless. It would be much more effective if a gasket was employed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryllix Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 47 minutes ago, smokegrub said: My "rainproof" tags had a clear plastic film covering them. Of course, as soon as I changed the battery that film was destroyed making the feature useless. It would be much more effective if a gasket was employed. I believe that film was the manufacturing covering to protect against plastic case scratches before delivery to the end user. Mine came off immediately to use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokegrub Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Mine were very difficult to remove. I had to use a knife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryllix Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 1 hour ago, smokegrub said: Mine were very difficult to remove. I had to use a knife. Wow! Mine were packaged all the same, "weatherproof" or not. Was it some sort of shrinkwrap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokegrub Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Yes. They were purchased some time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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