La Crosse Technology WS-1517 Dimensions

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WS-1517 FAQS
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CONTENTS
WS-1517 FAQS......................................................................................................................... 1
Batteries ................................................................................................................................... 3
Weather Station Factory Restart............................................................................................. 3
Quick Connect.......................................................................................................................... 3
Remote Transmitters............................................................................................................... 4
Power requirements ............................................................................................................... 4
Compatible outdoor transmitters............................................................................................. 4
Dashes shown for outdoor temperature/humidity.................................................................... 4
Inaccurate outdoor temperature/humidity ............................................................................... 4
Intermittent outdoor temperature/humidity .............................................................................. 4
Thermohygro transmitter fell, and does not work.................................................................... 4
Thermohygro transmitter drains batteries quickly ................................................................... 5
Outdoor temperature/humidity is stuck or OFL ....................................................................... 5
Thermohygro transmitter stops working when hot .................................................................. 5
Humidity shows OFL but temperature works .......................................................................... 5
Fahrenheit/Celsius.................................................................................................................. 5
Temperature alerts................................................................................................................. 5
Dew Point temperature........................................................................................................... 6
MIN/MAX temperature readings ............................................................................................. 6
Wind Transmitter ..................................................................................................................... 6
Cups spinning slow or not spinning ........................................................................................ 6
Replace wind cups and set wind direction.............................................................................. 6
Wind direction is working wind speed is 0.00.......................................................................... 7
Wind reading is intermittent or shows dashes......................................................................... 7
Wind speed is inaccurate........................................................................................................ 7
Wind reading is OFL............................................................................................................... 7
Understanding wind readings................................................................................................. 7
Wind area on the weather station is blank (no dashes or numbers)........................................ 8
Wind direction shows dashes................................................................................................. 8
Wind direction is incorrect....................................................................................................... 8
Wind transmitter is frozen....................................................................................................... 8
Wind alerts............................................................................................................................. 8
Wind MIN/MAX....................................................................................................................... 8

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Wind Chill only reads in Fahrenheit........................................................................................ 9
Wireless Rain Transmitter....................................................................................................... 9
How to view rain on the weather station ................................................................................. 9
Reset rain............................................................................................................................... 9
Rain readings......................................................................................................................... 9
Rain reads 0.00...................................................................................................................... 9
Rain reads dashes.................................................................................................................. 9
Rain reads OFL.....................................................................................................................10
Rain transmitter drains batteries quickly................................................................................10
Rain area on the weather station shows blank (no numbers or dashes)................................10
Rain reads low.......................................................................................................................10
Rain reads high.....................................................................................................................10
Rain alerts.............................................................................................................................11
Winter storage for rain transmitter .........................................................................................11
Mounting/Positioning outdoor transmitter...............................................................................11
Mounting/Positioning wind transmitter ...................................................................................11
Mounting/Positioning rain transmitter.....................................................................................12
Position weather station ........................................................................................................12
Distance/Resistance/Interference..........................................................................................12
Weather Station.......................................................................................................................13
12-Hour or 24-Hour time format.............................................................................................13
Power requirements ..............................................................................................................13
Manually set time: Program Menu.........................................................................................13
Change display......................................................................................................................13
Set time alarm.......................................................................................................................14
Activate/Deactivate time alarm ..............................................................................................14
Snooze..................................................................................................................................14
Pressure inaccurate...............................................................................................................14
Change or set altitude (local pressure)..................................................................................15
Change or set Sea Level pressure ........................................................................................15
Sea Level pressure history....................................................................................................15
Bar Charts: pressure, temperature or humidity......................................................................15
Forecast Icons inaccurate......................................................................................................15
Moon phase ..........................................................................................................................16
Moon phase history...............................................................................................................16
Backlight................................................................................................................................16
Comfort statement.................................................................................................................16

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Weather station has missing segments .................................................................................17
Weather station is dim...........................................................................................................17
Weather station has distorted display....................................................................................17
Weather station display is frozen...........................................................................................17
Weather station is blank: No letters, numbers or dashed lines...............................................18
City Codes-Time zone...........................................................................................................18
Batteries
Half of all warranty issues can be resolved with fresh batteries of the appropriate voltage.
We suggest name brand Alkaline batteries for indoor displays such as weather stations.
Use batteries dated at least six years in advance of the current year. Batteries dated earlier than six
years from now may still work, but may be unstable in performance.
Alkaline batteries manufactured this year will have an expiration date 10 years in the future. Battery
technology has improved and batteries will maintain voltage longer in storage. However, the
environment the batteries reside in for the 10 years can deplete the power.
Good name brand batteries make less noise, which reduces the chance of RF (radio frequency)
interference from the battery compartment. A minimum voltage of 1.48V for each battery is necessary
for proper performance.
Outdoor Transmitter: Use Alkaline batteries or Lithium for temperatures below 32°F, 0°C.
Weather station: Use A/C power cord and/or Alkaline batteries. Overpowered or underpowered
batteries may cause loss of indoor readings, missing segments, dim display etc.
Weather Station Factory Restart
1. ERASE MEMORY: Hold the SNOOZE and UP buttons together for about 5 seconds until the
backlight flashes. Press the SET button to clear the memory. The weather station will start beeping.
Wait for the beeping to stop.
2. REMOVE POWER: Remove batteries from the Thermo-hygro (outdoor) sensor, Rain sensor, Wind
sensor and the A/C cord and batteries from the weather station.
3. WAIT 15 MINUTES. Let all units sit without batteries for 15 minutes.
4. INSTALL BATTERIES INTO SENSORS: Insert the batteries into the Thermo-hygro sensor, Wind
sensor and Rain sensor first.
5. IMPORTANT: Allow sensors to run for at least 2 minutes.
6. Note: It is important that the sensors be at least 5 feet from your base during the restart.
7. WEATHER STATION: Return to the weather station and press any button 20 times. Verify that the
weather station is completely blank before proceeding. Connect the A/C cord and/or install batteries
into weather station.
8. WAIT 15 MINUTES: Do not press any other buttons for AT LEAST 15 MINUTES while the station
completes its startup sequence.
9. SET WIND DIRECTION: Set wind direction to North. Manually point the wind direction vane to the
North and press the SET opening inside the battery cover of the wind sensor one time only.
10. Follow the program menu to set language and city code, then any custom settings desired.
Quick Connect
Check batteries in the transmitters.
Hold the DOWN arrow button for 4–5 seconds on the weather station to search for the remote
transmitters.

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Remote Transmitters
Power requirements
2-AAA batteries power the Thermohygro transmitter
2-AA batteries for the Rain transmitter
2-AA batteries for the Wind transmitter
We recommend Alkaline batteries for the transmitters.
You may choose to use lithium batteries for temperatures below 32°F (0°C).
Compatible outdoor transmitters
TS21 Thermohygro
TS805 Wind
TS906 Rain
The above 433MHz transmitters will read to this weather station.
Dashes shown for outdoor temperature/humidity
Dashes means the connection is lost between the weather station and the outdoor transmitter.
Batteries often resolve the connection.
Distance/Resistance can cause loss of connection between the transmitter and the weather station.
Reorientation of the weather station 90 degrees towards the thermohygro transmitter may provide
better reception by the antenna.
Complete a factory restart.
Inaccurate outdoor temperature/humidity
The thermohygro transmitter reads the environment. When the transmitter reads high during the day
but not at night it is a mounting problem.
Side-by-side test: Bring the thermohygro transmitter in the house and place it next to the weather
station for 2 hours.
Compare indoor and outdoor temperature. The temperatures should be within 4 degrees to be within
tolerance. The humidity should be within 10% to be within tolerance.
If the transmitter reads correctly when next to the weather station, try a different location outside.
Look for heat sources such as sunlight, door or window frames, or reflected heat.
Intermittent outdoor temperature/humidity
RF (radio frequency) communication may come and go occasionally. This can be normal in some
environments (e.g. moister climates). If transmitter signal is lost, please wait 2-4 hours for the signal
to reconnect on its own.
Move the remote transmitters to a location closer to the weather station.
Indoor distance test: Please complete the Restart with transmitters and weather station 5-10 feet
apart and inside to establish a strong connection.
After 15 minutes if there is a reading in the outdoor temperature area, move the transmitter to another
room with one wall between the transmitter and the weather station. Observe to see if the remote
readings remain on consistently for 1 hour.
If the remote reading remains on while in the house then it is likely a distance/resistance issue.
Move the transmitter to different locations outside to find a location where the remote readings will
hold.
Distance/Resistance can cause loss of transmitter signal.
Check Batteries.
Thermohygro transmitter fell, and does not work
The fall may not have caused internal damage if there is no physical damage.
A thermohygro transmitter that has fallen into a puddle or other standing water or snow may have
water damage.

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Transmitters are water resistant, not waterproof.
A fall can shock the transmitter or the batteries in the transmitter.
Batteries that have fallen on a hard surface may be damaged and unable to function properly.
Complete a Restart with fresh batteries.
Use Batteries dated at least six years in advance of the current year. Batteries dated earlier than six
years from now may still work, but may be unstable in performance.
Thermohygro transmitter drains batteries quickly
Test a new set of Alkaline batteries. Write down the date of installation and the voltage of the
batteries.
When the batteries fail, please note the date and voltage again. This is helpful in determining the
problem.
Check the distance and resistance between the transmitter and weather station. Transmitters at the
end of the range may work while batteries are fresh but not after they drain a bit.
Check for leaking batteries, which may damage the transmitter.
Outdoor temperature/humidity is stuck or OFL
Check Batteries. Overpowered or underpowered batteries can cause this reading.
Replace outdoor transmitter.
Thermohygro transmitter stops working when hot
Thermohygro transmitters show Dashes or OFL when the temperature reaches a certain degree, but
returns to normal readings when the temperature cools down; please check:
BATTERIES: At higher temperatures, batteries can overheat causing transmitter failure. Older and
weaker batteries are more likely to fail in hot weather. Try a fresh set of batteries to see if the issue
is resolved.
DISTANCE/RESISTANCE: When the Thermohygro transmitter is at the edge of the distance range
and the temperatures are very hot, the batteries can loose strength and the connection may be lost.
Humidity shows OFL but temperature works
Complete a restart with fresh batteries.
Replace the thermohygro transmitter.
Fahrenheit/Celsius
With temperature and humidity icon flashing, hold the SET button to alternate between temperature in
Fahrenheit (ºF) or Celsius (ºC).
Temperature alerts
Set Temperature Alarm
1. With temperature and humidity icon flashing, press and release the ALARM/CHART button once
selecting the desired alarm limit–-Upper or Lower.
2. Hold the ALARM/CHART button until the temperature alarm icon starts flashing.
3. Use the UP or DOWN arrows to select the temperature alarm value. Press and hold either button for
fast digits advance.
4. Press the ALARM/CHART button to confirm selection and return to the temperature Alarm selection
screen.
Note: The temperature alarms have a 1°F (0.5ºC) deviation to prevent false alarms due to small
temperature fluctuations. Temperature has to fall below (or above) the programmed level(s) to
activate the alert.
Disable the Temperature Alarm
1. With temperature and humidity icon flashing, press and release the ALARM/CHART button once to
select the high or low temperature alarm.

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2. With the alarm icon showing, press and release the UP or DOWN buttons until the alarm reads OFF.
3. When the temperature shows with the high or low alarm icon, the alarm is active.
4. When the temperature shows without the alarm icon, the temperature alarm is off.
High temperature alarm active Low temperature alarm active High and low
Dew Point temperature
Dew point is the saturation point of the air, or the temperature to which the air has to cool in order to
create condensation (100% humidity). Dew Point Temperature reflects the point at which
condensation and evaporation are equal. Dew Point Temperature is the accurate measure of the
quantity of water vapor in the air.
Dew Point Temperature does not change with air temperature changes. It only changes with moisture
content changes with barometric pressure stable.
Note: Dew Point is lower than the actual temperature.
Note: A Frost Point occurs when the Dew Point Temperature is below freezing.
MIN/MAX temperature readings
View: With the temperature and humidity icon flashing, press the MEMORY button to recall a current
temperature and humidity, minimum temperature and humidity or maximum temperature and humidity
at the remote location.
Reset: Hold the MEMORY button for five seconds to clear all MIN/MAX readings.
Wind Transmitter
The wind sensor reads directly to the weather station. It is not dependent on the thermohygro sensor
for signal reception.
2-AA batteries power the wind sensor.
Cups spinning slow or not spinning
Check for debris or ice in cups.
Be sure cups are below mast holder.
Check mounting location. Look for obstructions that prevent the wind from reaching the transmitter.
The mast should not be more than 1¼ inch thick.
The wind transmitter needs to be 4 to 6ft above the highest point on the roof to read accurately.
A 50-foot clearance in all directions is best.
Push up firmly on the center of the cups to reseat them. Occasionally they drop a bit.
Cups are replaceable.
Replace wind cups and set wind direction
Replace wind cups
The cups attach with a single screw through the side of the wind cups.
Loosen the screw.
Gently and firmly pull the cups straight down to remove.
Notice the metal stem where the cups attach.
There is a flat spot on one side of the stem. It is important that the screw be aligned with the flat spot
to prevent them from dropping in high winds.
Install replacement wind cups aligning the screw with the flat spot on the stem.
Tighten the screw.
Test to assure the wind cups are securely mounted on the anemometer shaft and spin freely
Note: If wind speed shows 0.00 but direction works, check that the wind cups did not drop.
Set Wind Direction
Check that all the sensor readings are received by the weather station.
Remove the battery cover (not the batteries) from the wind sensor.
Manually point the wind direction vane to the North (use a compass or map if necessary).

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Press the SET opening located inside battery compartment with a paper clip or similar tool. This will
set the local wind direction to North.
Only press set once. Continued presses of the SET opening, toggles the wind direction between the
factory defaults preset or manual set direction.
Note: Repeat this procedure every time when changing the batteries.
Watch for the next update on the weather station to ensure the direction changed to North.
Wind direction is working wind speed is 0.00
Check that the wind cups attach to the transmitter. Occasionally they can come off.
Check that the cups seat properly by pushing up in the center of the cups.
Check that the cups spin freely.
Wind reading is intermittent or shows dashes
RF (radio frequency) interference is normal; the occasional outage is possible.
Check for sources of RF (radio frequency) interference such as ham radios or electric transformers
nearby.
Move the weather station away from cordless phones, wireless routers, etc.
Check the environment for unusual moist/humid conditions (moisture reduces RF (radio frequency)
signal in electronics).
Distance/Resistance can cause loss of transmitter signal.
Relocate the Wind transmitter closer to the weather station.
Mounting on a metal or white PVC pole may cause RF interference or static.
Please note if there are certain times of the day or night that the unit lose signal. Details are helpful in
resolving the problem.
Check that your batteries are fresh.
Complete a factory restart.
Wind speed is inaccurate
Check the unit of measure (MPH, KM/H or M/S).
Check to see if the weather station receives the same repetitive wind speed recording from the
transmitter multiple times.
Confirm the direction is working correctly.
Mounting on a metal or white PVC pole may cause RF interference or static and inaccurate readings.
Check that the cups turn freely.
Check for insects or debris preventing free movement.
Be sure the cups are below the mast holder.
Check that the cups have not dropped. Push up firmly in the center of the cups to seat properly.
Check for obstructions.
Check mounting. In most cases, the wind sensor needs to be 6 feet or more above the highest point
on the roof in order to clear nearby obstructions and read accurately. A 50 foot clearance in all
directions is best.
It is helpful to send pictures of the sensor mounting, if you need to contact customer support.
Check that your batteries are fresh.
Wind reading is OFL
Check batteries. This is often a power issue.
Understanding wind readings
Wind Speed is “sampled” every 11 seconds. The current wind speed viewed on the display is the
average wind speed over the past 10 minutes.
Wind Gust is “sampled” every 11 seconds. These readings are sent to the weather station every 33
seconds as current wind gust. You may find the wind gust helpful for readings updated more often
than the 10-minute average wind speed.
Wind Chill is a combination of wind speed and the outdoor temperature recorded by the wind sensor.

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Wind area on the weather station is blank (no dashes or numbers)
Check that other areas of the weather station read properly.
Check batteries in the weather station.
The weather station and wind sensor need testing.
Wind direction shows dashes
If the speed is working, then the wind transmitter is bad.
Wind direction is incorrect
Reset Wind Direction.
Remove the battery cover (not the batteries) from the wind sensor.
Manually point the wind direction vane to the North (use a compass or map if necessary).
Press the SET opening located inside battery compartment with a paper clip or similar tool. This will
set the local wind direction to North.
Only press set once. Continued presses of the SET opening, toggles the wind direction between the
factory defaults preset or manual set direction.
Note: Repeat this procedure every time when changing the batteries.
Watch for the next update on the weather station to ensure the direction changed to North.
Wind transmitter is frozen
Freezing rain and wet snow can clog the wind transmitter and prevent it from reading speed or
temperature.
Bring the transmitter in the house for 2-3 days. The transmitter will need to thaw out and dry out for
prevent refreezing.
Wind alerts
The weather station provides the option to set Wind Speed Hi alert and Wind Gust Hi alert.
To set alerts:
1. With the wind icon flashing, press ALARM/CHART button to select the desired alarm.
2. Hold the ALARM/CHART button until the wind alert and corresponding icon flash.
3. Set the alert using UP or DOWN arrow button.
4. Press and hold either button for fast digits advance.
5. Press ALARM/CHART button to confirm your selection and return to the wind alert selection
screen.
To disable alerts:
1. Press the ALARM/CHART button to view the wind alert.
2. Press the UP or DOWN arrow button until the wind alert reads OFF.
Note: The wind speed alert is set at 5 mph default and the wind gust alert is set to 7 mph default to
prevent false alerts from small fluctuations.
Wind MIN/MAX
The weather station records the maximum wind speed and wind gusts collected during the day. Alerts
for wind speed and wind gust are programmable.
View: With the wind icon flashing, press and release the MEMORY button to view:
Current average wind speed
Daily maximum wind speed
Gust speed
Daily maximum gust speed
Reset: With the wind icon flashing, hold the MEMORY button to reset all wind statistics.

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Wind Chill only reads in Fahrenheit
The wind chill will only read in Fahrenheit. The outdoor and indoor temperatures can be switched to
Celsius in the Temperature section.
Wireless Rain Transmitter
How to view rain on the weather station
View: With the rain icon flashing, press either the SET or the MEMORY button to recall a rain
statistics for the past hour, past 24 hours, yesterday, past week or past month.
Note: Last Hour rainfall value displays as a rate of rain in either “inch/hr.” or “mm/hr.”
Reset rain
With the rain icon flashing, press and hold the MEMORY button to reset all rainfall statistics.
Rain readings
For all measurements, it is important time and date are set correctly on your weather station.
1-HOUR RAIN: The 1-hour rain reflects rain that has fallen from current time and back 1-hour. The
hour is not a fixed clock time measurement. It is literally an ongoing “last 60 minutes” timer.
24-HOUR RAIN: The 24-hour rain reflects the rain that has fallen from current time and back 24-
hours. This is not a midnight-to-midnight measurement. The day is not a fixed clock time
measurement. It is literally an ongoing “last 24 hours” timer.
YESTERDAY: This reflects the rain that has fallen from midnight to 23:59. This is a midnight-to-
midnight measurement. The day is a fixed clock time measurement.
WEEKLY RAIN: The amount of rainfall from the previous week. The week is midnight Sunday to
midnight Saturday.
MONTHLY RAIN: Monthly rain reflects the previous month’s rain and will update 12AM the first day of
the month.
Rain reads 0.00
Check that the pin the rocker tips on is all the way to the back and that the rocker tips freely.
Check the funnel and the inside of the rain transmitter for insect nests or debris that may cause loss
of rocker motion.
Check for proper battery installation.
Check the battery cover is on firmly.
Mount the rain transmitter level and check that the mounting screws are not too tight (most common
issue).
Use the eraser end of a pencil to manually tip the rocker of the rain transmitter 10 times (five each
way).
Wait at least 2 minutes for all the rain to collect.
Check the Total Rain on the weather station for a reading.
Complete a factory restart.
Rain reads dashes
The weather station and rain transmitter are not connected.
Complete a factory restart.
Check that the Wind and Temperature are still working. If Wind and Temperature are not working
then it may be a weather station issue.
Distance/Resistance can cause loss of transmitter signal.
Check batteries in the rain transmitter and the weather station. This is our primary warranty issue.
Orient the weather station 90 degrees towards the rain transmitter for better reception.

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Rain reads OFL
OFL indicates that the weather station is receiving a signal from the transmitter.
The weather station will read OFL if it has counted more inches of rain (from testing, etc.) then it is
designed to read. Last week/last month rain 0 to 787.3 (0 to 9999 mm) 1-hour, 24-hour, yesterday
rain 0 to 78.73” (0 to 999.9 mm). Check for sources of interference such as other wireless rain
transmitters, Ham radios, or large electrical transformers. This may cause rain to add up when there
is no rain.
Check batteries in the rain transmitter and the weather station. This is our primary warranty issue.
Rain transmitter drains batteries quickly
If batteries are good when first inserted, batteries should last one year or more. If the batteries in the
transmitter are not lasting that long, please try these tips:
Test a new set of Alkaline batteries. Write down the date of installation and the voltage of the
batteries.
When the batteries fail, please note the date and voltage again. This is helpful in determining the
problem.
Complete the restart and confirm that everything is working after a battery change.
Battery leakage may cause a transmitter to drain batteries quickly.
Rain area on the weather station shows blank (no numbers or dashes)
Check that other areas of the weather station read properly. There may be a problem with the
weather station.
Rain reads low
Low rain readings indicate the rain transmitter and weather station are connected.
Check that the pin the rocker tips on is all the way to the back and that the rocker tips freely.
Check the funnel and the inside of the rain transmitter for insect nests or debris that may cause loss
of rocker motion.
Check for proper battery installation.
Check the battery cover is on firmly.
Be sure to mount the rain transmitter level and that the mounting screws are not too tight (most
common issue).
Complete a Manual Tip Test and a Water Tip Test and compare them:
Manual Tip test: Write down the Total Rain reading or reset the Rain Total to 0.00. Use the
eraser end of a pencil to manually tip the rocker of the rain transmitter 10 times (five each way).
Wait at least 2 minutes for all the rain to collect.
Water Tip Test: Write down the Total Rain reading or reset the Rain Total to 0.00. With Rain
Transmitter mounted, slowly pour water into the funnel to tip the rocker of the rain transmitter 10
times (five each way). Wait at least 2 minutes for all the rain to collect.
Compare these tests. If they are the same, then the rain is reading correctly. If the rain readings are
different, repeat the test 3 times to avoid human error. Then look for causes such as mounting too
tight or debris clogging the funnel.
Check batteries in the rain transmitter and the weather station. This is our primary warranty issue.
Rain reads high
Check for sources of RF (radio frequency) interference such as ham radios, electric transformers, or
other rain transmitters nearby.
Keep the weather station six feet from cordless phones or wireless routers etc.
Complete a Manual Tip Test and a Water Tip Test and compare them:
Manual Tip test: Write down the Total Rain reading or reset the Rain Total to 0.00. Use the
eraser end of a pencil to manually tip the rocker of the rain transmitter 10 times (five each way).
Wait at least 2 minutes for all the rain to collect.