Stevenson Shelter

[bigtiller]

AKA... little house for an outdoor thermometer. Does anyone have one or ever use one? I am going to build one this winter and have it ready for use as soon as the ground thaws this spring. But I was wondering what preparations, if any, are needed to keep the snow from drifting in and skewing the readings next winter. Or does that never happen? Is it kind of like a 3 sided shed never drifts full because they are several inches above the ground.

Also, do you have any step by step building plans? I have never seen one and am just designing it from pics in the internet.

 

[mikim]

I took mine down because it needs paint....but I can take pics and send you measurements. Are you wanting the larger shelter that is about 3' x 3' x3' or do you want just a thermometer shelter that you put both a dry bulb and wet bulb thermometers in for temp / dew point? I have the small one. The small one is really small and easy to build. The big shelter can get quite involved with an exhaust fan & horizontal mount thermometers, etc. They used the small one like I have on board ships at sea to take observations for NWS. It's all gone higher tech now.

 

[bigtiller]

A small one for just a temp. sensor for now. I seen a pic of one that was 7" square and about 14" tall.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I bought this one from Ambient Weather:
Ambient Weather SRS100LX Temperature and Humidity Solar Radiation Shield

 

[bigtiller]

Hi quicksand, how do you like it? Seams small at 2x4x7, but if it keeps the heat out, that's all we want. I was thinking some where around 10x10x14 if I were to make it from wood. One source suggested using 1" thick wood. Another said double thickness for the top.

 

[jrepp44]

I have the Ambient Weather shield. It's working fine.
I painted it camo green, didn't like the way it stood out in the front yard.
Check out this video for a DIY shield.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOBt7sxtx0Y

 

[mikim]

got busy today - but putting pics on my "first thing in the a.m." list for tomorrow. Need pics of a wood stove I'm gonna sell too - and they're both in the barn. I'll git er done first thing and post it...sorry for the delay.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Hi quicksand, how do you like it? Seams small at 2x4x7, but if it keeps the heat out, that's all we want. I was thinking some where around 10x10x14 if I were to make it from wood. One source suggested using 1" thick wood. Another said double thickness for the top.

It seems to keep the heat out. Readings seem accurate.

 

[mikim]

bigtiller -- this box came from the NWS office when I retired. They don't use 'em much anymore with all the new high tech and they had some excess. It is 3" deep 6" wide and 18" tall made from 1/2" material and the holes are 1/4". The size of the box is really not an issue, as long as the thermometers have good air flow and are out of direct sunlight and bad weather. The thermometers I have are dry / wet bulb and they even have a chart attached for relative humidity to save you the math. The box should be mounted in the sun with no obstructions near and painted white (you can see mine needs a repaint really bad)

 

[bigtiller]

Thanks for the pics, that helps. It looks like the 1/4" holes were board at a 90 degree. I am thinking making them bigger and angled down and back a little on the sides and straight on the back side. I am thinking of going bottom-less and just hanging a wire from the top. Do you think the height matters much? Just big enough for the instruments or taller to get a chimney affect?