After a few days of testing with the latest firmware for the unit itself and the relevant beta firmware for the Vera3, things look mostly positive (but by no means guaranteed). So I am now thinking ahead to what mounting options I have for the total number of 2-3 that I will purchase pending the rest of the testing going OK. The plastic mount that the unit comes with is a bit flimsy, does not fit tightly, and doesn’t protect it from someone quickly making off with it (they could also unscrew it I realize), or a strong gust of wind potentially blowing it up out of the mount. One option is to get a longer screw for the ball joint and extend it into the unit by drilling a hole through the back half of the case. Was wondering whether anyone had any other more clever ideas. I am more concerned with a secure and stable mount against the elements than theft/vandalism.
I agree about the mount being rather flimsy and I also found that the unit had the potential to slip too easily off the mount. You shouldn’t have to drill any holes. I ended up just putting some tape onto the surface of the mount plate that fits into back mount hook of the unit. This just adds a little thickness to the plate makes the two pieces fit a little more snugly together. The unit won’t slip off easily but I also wanted to be able to separate the unit later for changing batteries. I just used what I had handy (painters tape) and I think it took two layers to get a good fit. Maybe electrical tape would be a better choice. Just be careful it’s not too tight as you might break the plastic sliding the pieces together.
This of course doesn’t prevent someone from taking the unit if they really want it. I think you just want to mount it as high as you can to get it out of easy reach. I put mine up under an eave to give it some protection from the elements.
Just making sure that you did push the sensor all the way into the mount until it ‘clicks’ (there’s 2x2 little tabs on the mount that slide over the edge of the sensor into 2 matching notches to hold it in place).
Hmm… I didn’t notice this when I was mounting my unit. It just seemed to be a very loose fit when I slid the unit onto the mount. I’ll have to take another look at it. It will be another couple of weeks before I get to my condo where this is located though…
OK; that definitely sounds like the sensor was not pushed onto the mount far enough. I can grab it by the mount and shake it, without anything happening to it.
Yep… I finally got another look at the mount and found that with enough pressure on the sensor, it just snaps into place onto the mount. I never would have guessed it would have taken that amount of force. I suppose it will get a little easier after attaching and de-attaching the unit a few times.
I suppose it will get a little easier after attaching and de-attaching the unit a few times.
It does. I've also had trouble opening/closing (some of) the sensors, after they've been outside for a few months. Remains to be seen how things hold up over time.
Actually the few times I have had to open the device up I have found that it is easier to just unscrew the swivel attachment than to try to separate the unit from the slide mount. Maybe that was the intent. It’s up in a corner of the eave overhang and the wall and I didn’t really leave enough room to get my fingers behind it. I have also found it a bit difficult to open the two halves of the unit. It doesn’t help that my USB cable is a little thick for the opening they provide. I may try spraying a little silicone lubricant onto the plastic pieces to see if that helps (maybe when it is a little warmer outside)…
I ended up routing the USB wire to it from the other side of the wall for power so I don’t need to get to it much now. I think I have noticed a disadvantage to this mounting arrangement though… I have been tracking the temperature readings over time and I also use the Wunderground plug-in to track the temperature at a nearby weather station (maybe about 3-4 mikes away). I have found the readings can be fairly close (it helps to set a moderate polling interval). The readings typically track 2-3 degrees apart or less with the 4-in-1 being a little higher. But I have noticed when it gets really cold outside (below ~25degF) the disparity increases to as much as 5-7 degrees.
Of course there are many possible reasons for differences in readings between two sensors separated by distance, but my theory is this may be due to heat loss off the side of the building in spite of the fact that the wall is fairly well insulated and the space behind it is heated to only ~45-50degF. I’ll probably get a better idea about this as temperatures start to warm up in the spring.
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