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27-11-2023, 17:52
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: On the boat, somewhere in Australia.
Boat: Swanson 42 & Kelly Peterson 44
Posts: 9,395
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Reliable wind sensors?
Hi all,
I’m starting from scratch with the boat instruments. I’m looking for a reliable wind sensor, does not matter which brand and does not matter what sort of data it produces. I just want it to work for a reasonable amount of time.
So far I’m seeing lots of problems with B&G, but not sure if those problems have been solved.
The old Raymarine senders from the ST60s seem good, but will require some extra electronics to convert the signal to something readable.
Not too fussed about super accuracy, but something god for one or two degrees would be nice.
Suggestions?
Matt
__________________
Refitting… again.
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27-11-2023, 18:51
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: EC
Boat: Cruising Catamaran
Posts: 1,354
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
Our Navman (bought by Simrad I think) lasted at least 12 years, the 3 Raymarines lasted about 4 years each - their problem was moisture getting past the O ring in the sensor and possibly lack of maintenance on my part to do an annual check on them.
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27-11-2023, 19:02
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Portland, ME
Boat: McCurdy & Rhodes 56
Posts: 246
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
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27-11-2023, 21:24
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Canada
Boat: Grampian 30
Posts: 318
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
I have no first hand experience, but ultrasonic wind sensors have interested me for a while. I like the idea of having no moving parts and fairly bird resistant. The common sailing ones seem to be Maretron and Airmar, although there are many others. This Cruisers thread covers a lot of info: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ind-94565.html
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28-11-2023, 02:20
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Home port Berlin, now at sea
Boat: Amigo 40, 31ft double ender
Posts: 241
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
We have the ultrasonic wind sensor from LCJ Capteurs. Pretty great to not have any moving parts. Outputs standard NMEA0183 (which we convert to N2K inside the boat).
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Lille Ø - Follow our adventures as we explore the coasts of the Baltic Sea and beyond!
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28-11-2023, 03:44
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#6
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2014
Boat: Shuttleworth Advantage
Posts: 2,734
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bergius
We have the ultrasonic wind sensor from LCJ Capteurs. Pretty great to not have any moving parts. Outputs standard NMEA0183 (which we convert to N2K inside the boat).
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LCJ gets my vote. Persevered for years with Raymarine, bearings, circuit boards, breakages from birds.
LCJ produces NMEA by default but comes with an array of converters including RM that works out of the box. After sales support is also excellent. Been up there 9 years so far.
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28-11-2023, 18:23
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: On the boat, somewhere in Australia.
Boat: Swanson 42 & Kelly Peterson 44
Posts: 9,395
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
Those ultrasonic models do look interesting. I’ll see how easy they are to find down here in Oz.
__________________
Refitting… again.
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28-11-2023, 18:48
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Western Australia
Boat: S&S Swift 40 ketch
Posts: 19
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
We also have the LCJ Captuers with the barometer sensor NMEA2K plug. We got it a few years ago. We can recommend it. We are in Aus but cant clearly remember where we got it. May have contacted the company in France to purchase. I think they gave us a distrubuter's contact details???
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28-11-2023, 18:59
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#9
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always in motion is the future
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 19,799
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
LCJ Capteurs hard to get in the US and even in Holland. There’s a Spanish option: Calypso and they have a US distribution.
https://calypsoinstruments.com/shop/...#attr=38,71,65
__________________
“It’s a trap!” - Admiral Ackbar.
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28-11-2023, 19:16
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: NZ
Boat: S34 Bob Stewart - 1959 Patiki class. Re--built by me & good mate.
Posts: 1,126
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
Airmar PB200. In eight years and has been flawless.
Superceeded by WS20x. Not racing standard Im told.
True wind checks out most of the time on B&G zeus 2 and Tritons.
Heel does not seem to effect it.
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29-11-2023, 00:30
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Barcelona
Boat: Dufour 365 Grand Large
Posts: 154
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
It seems in my case the connections are the most problematic part of the mast top wind. Connection at mast top, bottom of mast, and into the network/wind instrument.
Do the ultrasonic instrument address these issues in a constructive way? The connection blocks that came with my Raymarine look rinky dink at best.
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30-11-2023, 09:39
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Beaufort, NC
Boat: Corsair 24, Creekmore 40
Posts: 45
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
The wind sensors that are often put on offshore buoys are usually from RM Young. The sensor has an analog output, so you will need one of their interface boxes as well if you want serial data. I've used the compass with serial interface box in the past. They also make ultrasonic sensors, but I've been using Airmar which are not as accurate, but close enough for my (non-sailing) needs. The Airmars get a B grade for reliability.
__________________
Corsair F-24 mk2
Beaufort, NC
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30-11-2023, 09:59
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2023
Location: Cruising
Posts: 493
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
Another vote for LCJ Captuers. Mine is been constantly turned on for must be nearly 3 years now.
Available at https://www.svb24.com/en/lcj-capteur...t-version.html in a few days in Europe, they prob ship worldwide as well. Records 24/7 to a Raspberry Pi. Love it!
Edit - site says they will ship worldwide.
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30-11-2023, 10:05
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#14
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always in motion is the future
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 19,799
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
Quote:
Originally Posted by barcoMeCasa
Another vote for LCJ Captuers. Mine is been constantly turned on for must be nearly 3 years now.
Available at https://www.svb24.com/en/lcj-capteur...t-version.html in a few days in Europe, they prob ship worldwide as well. Records 24/7 to a Raspberry Pi. Love it!
Edit - site says they will ship worldwide.
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Well yes, they have three in stock now but were out of stock before, so better grab them if you want one
__________________
“It’s a trap!” - Admiral Ackbar.
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30-11-2023, 10:07
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2023
Location: Cruising
Posts: 493
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Re: Reliable wind sensors?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailer_Med
It seems in my case the connections are the most problematic part of the mast top wind. Connection at mast top, bottom of mast, and into the network/wind instrument.
Do the ultrasonic instrument address these issues in a constructive way? The connection blocks that came with my Raymarine look rinky dink at best.
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The LCJ Captuers I bought had no connections, just 3 core wire for power & nmea0183 so no connections outside. They went 0183 for simpler wiring with adaptor available to convert to N2K
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