ECOWITT HP2551 User manual

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PROFESSIONAL WIFI WEATHER STATION
Operation Manual
Model: HP2551
Thank you for purchasing this Professional WIFI Weather Station! This
device provides accurate weather readings and is Wi-Fi capable to stream
data from the weather station to Internet based weather services.
This manual will guide you, step-by-step, through setting up your weather
station and console, and understanding the operation of your weather station.
Use this manual to become familiar with your professional weather station
and save it for future reference.

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1 Table of Contents
1 TABLE OF CONTENTS......................................................................................2
2 WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS........................................................................... 5
3 UNPACKING.........................................................................................................6
4 OVERVIEW........................................................................................................... 8
4.1 DISPLAY CONSOLE.......................................................................................... 8
4.2 INDOOR SENSOR............................................................................................. 9
4.3 FEATURES........................................................................................................9
5 SET UP GUIDE.................................................................................................. 11
5.1 PRE INSTALLATION CHECKOUT.................................................................... 11
5.2 SITE SURVEY................................................................................................ 11
5.3 SENSOR PACKAGE ASSEMBLY.....................................................................12
5.3.1 Install U-bolts and metal plate.......................................................... 13
5.3.2 Install wind vane..................................................................................14
5.3.3 Install wind speed cups......................................................................15
5.3.4 Install Batteries in sensor package.................................................. 15
5.3.5 Mount assembled outdoor sensor package....................................16
5.3.6 Reset Button and Transmitter LED.................................................. 19
5.4 INDOOR SENSOR SET UP.............................................................................19
5.5 MULTI-CHANNEL TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY SENSOR (OPTIONAL)....... 20
5.5.1 Install batteries.................................................................................... 20
5.5.2 Sensor Placement.............................................................................. 22
5.6 BEST PRACTICES FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION.................................. 23
5.7 CONSOLE DISPLAY....................................................................................... 25
5.7.1 Initial Display Console Set Up.......................................................... 27
5.7.2 Key functions....................................................................................... 28
5.7.3 Main interface icons explain..............................................................29
5.8 MULTIPLE CHANNEL SELECTION AND SCROLL MODE................................ 31
5.9 HISTORY MODE.............................................................................................32
5.9.1 View and Reset MAX/MIN................................................................. 32
5.9.2 History Record Mode..........................................................................33

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5.9.3 Graph Mode......................................................................................... 36
5.9.4 Optional Sensor Display Mode......................................................... 37
5.10 SETTING MODE...........................................................................................37
5.10.1 Date and Time setting......................................................................39
5.10.2 Time Format setting......................................................................... 40
5.10.3 Date Format setting..........................................................................41
5.10.4 Temperature unit setting..................................................................41
5.10.5 Barometric unit.................................................................................. 41
5.10.6 Wind speed unit................................................................................ 41
5.10.7 Rainfall unit........................................................................................ 41
5.10.8 Solar Rad. Unit..................................................................................41
5.10.9 Multi Channel Sensor.......................................................................41
5.10.10 Backlight setting..............................................................................43
5.10.11 Longitude: Latitude setting............................................................45
5.10.12 Barometric display..........................................................................46
5.10.13 Rainfall season (default: January)............................................... 46
5.10.14 Storing Interval (1-240minutes Selectable)................................ 47
5.10.15 Weather Server...............................................................................47
5.10.16 Connect Console to Your Router: Wi-Fi scan............................62
5.10.17 Background..................................................................................... 64
5.11 ALARM SETTING MODE.............................................................................. 65
5.12 CALIBRATION MODE................................................................................... 66
5.13 MORE.......................................................................................................... 71
5.14 FACTORY RESET......................................................................................... 75
5.14.1 Re-register indoor transmitter......................................................... 75
5.14.2 Re-register outdoor transmitter...................................................... 75
5.14.3 Automatic Clear Max/Min................................................................ 75
5.14.4 Reset to Factory................................................................................76
5.14.5 Clear History......................................................................................76
5.14.6 Clear Max/Min................................................................................... 76
5.14.7 Backup data.......................................................................................77
5.14.8 About information..............................................................................77
6 OTHER CONSOLE FUNCTIONS................................................................... 78
6.1 BEAUFORT WIND FORCE SCALE..................................................................78

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6.2 WEATHER FORECASTING............................................................................. 79
6.3 LIGHTNING ALERT..........................................................................................79
6.4 WEATHER FORECASTING DESCRIPTION AND LIMITATIONS........................ 80
6.5 MOON PHASE................................................................................................80
7 MAINTENANCE................................................................................................. 82
8 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE........................................................................ 84
9 SPECIFICATIONS............................................................................................. 87
10 WARRANTY INFORMATION........................................................................89

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2 Warnings and Cautions
Warning:
Any metal object may attract a lightning strike, including your
weather station mounting pole. Never install the weather station in
a storm.
If you are mounting the weather station to a house or structure,
consult a licensed electrician for proper grounding. A direct
lightning strike to a metal pole can damage or destroy your home.
Installing your weather station in a high location may result in
injury or death. Perform as much of the initial check out and
operation on the ground and inside a building or home. Only install
the weather station on a clear, dry, day.

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3 Unpacking
Open your weather station box and inspect that the contents are intact
(nothing broken) and complete (nothing missing). Inside you should find the
following:
QT
Item Description
1
Display Console
1
Outdoor Sensor Body with built-in: Thermo-hygrometer / Rain
Gauge / Wind Speed Sensor/ Wind Direction Sensor, Light and UV
sensor, Solar panel
1
Wind speed cups (to be attached to outdoor sensor body)
1
Wind vane (to be attached to outdoor sensor body)
1
Indoor sensor unit(temp/humidity/pressure)
2
U-Bolts for mounting on a pole
4
Threaded nuts for U-Bolts (M5 size)
1
Metal mounting plate to be used with U-Bolts
1
Wrench for M5 bolts
1
AC adapter
1
User manual (this manual)
Table: Package content
If components are missing from the package, or broken, please contact
customer service to resolve the issue.
Note: Batteries for the outdoor sensor package are not included. You will
need 2 AA size batteries, alkaline or Lithium batteries (Lithium
recommended for colder climates).
Note: The console operates using an AC adapter. The included adapter is
a switching-type adapter and can generate a small amount of
electrical interference with the RF reception in the console, when
placed too close to the console. Please keep the console display at
least 2 ft. or 0.5 m away from the power adapter to ensure best RF
reception from the outdoor sensor package.
Note: The console can store historical data on a memory card. This
memory card is not included. If you want to use one you will need

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a microSD memory card. The supported max capacity of the card is
32G (Format: FAT32). A 1GB card will store more than 10 years’
worth of data, so you do not need a very large capacity card. There
is also no requirement on the speed class of this card as data writing
happens infrequently and is not speed critical.

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4 Overview
4.1 Display console
Figure 1: Display console screen
Figure 2 Display console side views
Note: The USB port in the console of weather station is only for firmware
update, not for data communication (USB cable not included).
memory card slot
Power jack
reset
USB port

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You can use a SD card for the firmware update.(SD card not included).
Update firmware process: visit www.ecowitt.com for available update, copy
“user.bin” file onto SD card main root. Insert SD card while display in
operation, it will immediately show an update process, follow the
instruction to complete update.
4.2 Indoor sensor
Figure 3: Indoor sensor 2 display variations
The indoor sensor will display indoor temperature, humidity and barometric
pressure alternately.
4.3 Features
7" large TFT (high resolution) colored display console
Two background (dark/light) themes selectable
Indoor temperature, humidity
Absolute and Relative barometric pressure
Wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, outdoor temperature and humidity,
solar radiation and UV.
Calculates dew point, wind chill, heat index, moon phase and
sunset/sunrise time
Weather forecast & alarm

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View historical records of sensors and graph directly on the console
Collects sensor data from various supported wireless sensors.
Additional/optional sensors:
Up to 8 WH31 multi-channel temperature and humidity sensors
Up to 8 WH51 soil moisture sensors
Up to 4 WH41/WH43 PM2.5 air quality sensors
Up to 4 WH55 water leak sensors
One WH57 lightning sensor
Pushes sensor data to cloud weather services:
https://www.ecowitt.net
https://www.wunderground.com
https://www.weathercloud.com/
https://www.wow.com
Custom own server data hosting possible when server data
exchange is compatible with either Wunderground or Ecowitt
protocol.
Manage sensor calibration setup.
Manage sensor via sensor ID.
Data storage service on Ecowitt server: https://ecowitt.net
Stores data for past year days at 5-minute intervals
Stores data for past 2 years at 30-minute intervals
Note: The optional sensors can be purchased separately. If more info
needed, please visit our website: http://www.ecowitt.com. Make
sure to select the model of the units with the same RF frequency as
your gateway (the frequency is different for various countries
because of regulations).

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5 Set up Guide
5.1 Pre Installation Checkout
To complete assembly you will need a Philips screwdriver (size PH0) and a
wrench (size M5; included in package).
Note: We suggest you assemble all components of the weather station,
including console in one location so you can easily test functionality.
After testing, place the outdoor sensor package in the desired
location. Note, however, that movement during assembly, and
movement after assembly can cause the rain sensor to “falsely”
register rain. It is therefore best if you do not connect the console to
any Internet services until you have reset these false readings using
the console. The errant values may be hard to remove from Internet
services if you do not reset first.
Attention:
Follow suggested order for battery installation (outdoor sensor first,
console second)
Ensure batteries are installed with correct polarity (+/-)
Do not mix old and new batteries
Do not use rechargeable batteries
If outdoor temperature may go below 32F or 0C for prolonged periods,
Lithium based batteries are suggested over alkaline type batteries for the
outdoor sensor array
5.2 Site Survey
Perform a site survey before installing the weather station. Consider the
following:
1. You must clean the rain gauge every few months and change the
batteries every 2-3 years. Provide easy access to the weather station.
2. Avoid radiant heat transfer from buildings and structures. In general,
install the sensor array at least 5’ or 1.52m from any building,

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structure, ground, or roof top.
3. Avoid wind and rain obstructions. The rule of thumb is to install the
sensor array at least four times the distance of the height of the
tallest obstruction. For example, if the building is 20’ or 6.10m tall
and the mounting pole is 6’ or 1.83m tall, install the sensor array 4 x
(20 – 6)’ = 56’ or 4 x (6.1-1.83)=17.08m away.
4. Mount the sensor array in direct sunlight for accurate temperature
readings.
5. Installing the weather station over sprinkler systems or other
unnatural vegetation may affect temperature and humidity readings.
We suggest mounting the sensor array over natural vegetation.
6. Wireless Range. Radio communication between receiver and
transmitter in an open field can reach a distance of up to 330 feet or
100 meter, providing there are no interfering obstacles such as
buildings, trees, vehicles and high voltage lines. Wireless signals
will not penetrate metal buildings. Under most conditions, the
maximum wireless range is 100’ or 30m.
7. Radio Interference. Computers, radios, televisions and other sources
can interfere with radio communications between the sensor array
and console. Please take this into consideration when choosing
console or mounting locations. Make sure your display console is at
least five feet or 1.52 meter away from any electronic device to
avoid interference.
5.3 Sensor Package Assembly
See Figure 5 to locate and understand all the parts of the outdoor sensor
package once fully assembled.

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Figure 5: Sensor assembly components
1. Wind Speed cups
7. Antenna
2. Wind Vane
8. U-Bolts
3. Thermo- and hygro-meter sensors
9. Battery compartment door
4. Rain collector
10. Reset button
5. Bubble level
11. LED (red) to indicate data transmission
6. Solar panel
12.Light sensor and UV sensor
Table: Sensor assembly detailed items
5.3.1 Install U-bolts and metal plate
Installation of the U-bolts, which are in turn used to mount the sensor
package on a pole, requires installation of an included metal plate to receive
the U-bolt ends. The metal plate, visible in Figure 6 on the right side, has
four holes through which the ends of the two U-Bolts will fit. The plate
itself is inserted in a groove on the bottom of the unit (opposite side of solar
panel). Note that one side of the plate has a straight edge (which goes into
the groove), the other side is bent at a 90-degree angle and has a curved
profile (which will end up “hugging” the mounting pole). Once the metal
plate is inserted, remove nuts from the U-Bolts and insert both U-bolts
through the respective holes of the metal plate as shown in Figure 6 .

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Figure 6: U-Bolt installation
Loosely screw on the nuts on the ends of the U-bolts. You will tighten these
later during final mounting. Final assembly is shown in Figure 7 .
Figure 7: U-Bolts and nuts installed
The plate and U-Bolts are not yet needed at this stage but doing this now
may help avoid damaging wind vane and wind speed cups later on.
Handling of the sensor package with wind vane and speed cups installed to
install these bolts is more difficult and more likely to lead to damage.
5.3.2 Install wind vane
Push the wind vane onto the shaft on the bottom side of the sensor package,
until it goes no further, as shown on the left side in Figure 8 . Next, tighten
the set screw, with a Philips screwdriver (size PH0), as shown on the right
side, until the wind vane cannot be removed from the axle. Make sure the
wind vane can rotate freely. The wind vane’s movement has a small amount

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of friction, which is helpful in providing steady wind direction
measurements.
Figure 8: Wind vane installation diagram
5.3.3 Install wind speed cups
Push the wind speed cup assembly onto the shaft on the opposite side of the
wind vane, as shown in Figure 9 on the left side. Tighten the set screw, with
a Philips screwdriver (size PH0), as shown on the right side. Make sure the
cup assembly can rotate freely. There should be no noticeable friction when
it is turning.
Figure 9: Wind speed cup installation diagram
5.3.4 Install Batteries in sensor package
Open the battery compartment with a screwdriver and insert 2 AA batteries
in the battery compartment. The LED indicator on the back of the sensor
package (item 9) will turn on for four seconds and then flash once every 16
seconds indicating sensor data transmission. If you did not pay attention,
you may have missed the initial indication. You can always remove the

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batteries and start over, but if you see the flash once every 16 seconds,
everything should be OK.
Figure 10: Battery installation diagram
Note: If LED does not light up or is on permanently, make sure the battery
is inserted the correct way and inserted fully, starting over if
necessary. Do not install the batteries backwards as it may
permanently damage the outdoor sensor.
Note: We recommend Lithium batteries for cold weather climates, but
alkaline batteries are sufficient for most climates. Rechargeable
batteries have lower voltages and should never be used.
5.3.5 Mount assembled outdoor sensor package
5.3.5.1 Before you mount
Before proceeding with the outdoor mounting detailed in this section, you
may want to skip to setup instructions in section 5.7 and onwards first,
while you keep the assembled outdoor sensor package nearby (although
preferably not closer than 5 ft. from the console). This will make any
troubleshooting and adjustments easier and avoids any distance or
interference related issues from the setup.
After setup is complete and everything is working, return here for outdoor
mounting. If issues show up after outdoor mounting they are almost
certainly related to distance, obstacles etc.

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5.3.5.2 Mounting
You can attach a pipe to a permanent structure and then attach the sensor
package to it (see Figure 11). The U-Bolts will accommodate a pipe diameter of
1-2 inches (pipe not included).
Figure 11: Sensor package mounting diagram
Make sure the mounting pipe is vertical, or very close to it. Use a level if
needed.
Finally, place the sensor package on top of the prepared mounting pipe. The
U-Bolts should be loose enough to allow this but loosen the nuts as
necessary. Once placed, hand tightens all four nuts, taking care to do so
evenly. Do not use a wrench yet!
Now you will need to align the whole package in the proper direction by
rotating it on top of the mounting pipe as needed. Locate the arrow labeled
“WEST” that you will find on top of the sensor package right next to the
light sensor, on the opposite side of the solar panel. You must rotate the
whole sensor package until this arrow points due west. To achieve proper
alignment, it is helpful to use a compass (many cell phones have a compass
application). Once rotated in the correct orientation, lightly tighten the bolts
a little more (use a wrench) to prevent further rotation.
Note: The orientation to WEST is necessary for two reasons. The most
important one is to position the solar panel and light sensor in the
most advantageous position for recording solar radiation and

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charging internal capacitors. Secondly it causes a zero reading for
wind direction to correspond to due NORTH, as is customary. This
orientation is correct for installations in the northern hemisphere. If
you are installing in the southern hemisphere, the correct orientation
to achieve the same optimal positioning is to have the “WEST”
arrow actually point due EAST! This has the side effect, however,
of lining up the 0 reading of the wind direction with SOUTH. This
needs to be corrected using a 180-degree offset in the calibration
settings (see section 5.12 Calibration Mode).
Now look at the bubble level. The bubble should be fully inside the red
circle. If it is not, wind direction, speed, and rain readings may not operate
correctly or accurately. Adjust the mounting pipe as necessary. If the bubble
is close, but not quite inside the circle, and you cannot adjust the mounting
pipe, you may have to experiment with small wooden or heavy cardboard
shims between the sensor package and the top of the mounting pole to
achieve the desired result (this will require loosening the bolts and some
experimentation).
Make sure you check, and correct if necessary, the westerly orientation as
the final installation step, and now tighten the bolts with a wrench. Do not
over tighten, but make sure strong wind and/or rain cannot move the sensor
package.
Note: If you tested the full assembly indoors and then came back here for
instructions and mounted to sensor package outdoor you may want
to make some further adjustments on the console. The
transportation from indoor to outdoor and handling of the sensor is
likely to have “tripped” the rainfall sensing bucket one or more
times and consequently the console may have registered rainfall that
did not really exist. You can use console functions to clear this from
history. Doing so is also important to avoid false registration of
these readings with weather services.

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5.3.6 Reset Button and Transmitter LED
In the event the sensor array is not transmitting, reset the sensor array.
Using a bent-open paperclip, press and hold the RESET BUTTON (see
Figure 12) to affect a reset: the LED turns on while the RESET button is
depressed, and you can now let go. The LED should then resume as normal,
flashing approximately once every 16 seconds.
Figure 12: Reset button and Transmitter LED location
5.4 Indoor Sensor Set Up
Note: To avoid permanent damage, please take note of the battery polarity
before inserting the batteries. Looking at Figure 13 from left to right
the left-most (or bottom) battery is to be installed with its + terminal
pointing down, and the other battery with its + terminal pointing up.
Remove the battery door on the back of the sensor by sliding it in the
direction of the arrow. Insert two AA batteries as described and put
compartment door back and slide it in the opposite direction to lock.
Figure 13: Indoor sensor battery installation

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5.5 Multi-channel temperature and humidity sensor (Optional)
5.5.1 Install batteries
1. Remove the battery door on the back of the transmitter(s) by sliding
down the battery door, as shown in Figure 14 .
Figure 14 Battery installation for Multi-channel sensor
2. BEFORE inserting the batteries, locate the dip switches on the
inside cover of the lid of the transmitter.
3. Channel Number: The device supports up to eight sensors. To set
each channel number, change Dip Switches 1, 2 and 3, as
referenced in Figure 15 .
4. Temperature Units of Measure: To change the transmitter display
units of measure (°F vs. °C), change Dip Switch 4, as referenced in
Figure 15 .
Switch in down position. Switch in up position.