Whether you are living off-grid, or, trying to cut down the cost of utilities; or probably, you are an eco-conscious person; however, if you want to still enjoy the accurate reading provided by a weather station, then getting a solar powered weather station should give you all the accurate weather updates you need without the need of you connecting it to an electrical source. Well, with so many options available, we know how confusing it can be to choose the right one for you, which is why we have written this post.
In this post, we have carefully researched and gathered 7 of the best solar-powered weather stations to help you choose the one that best fits your budget and meteorological needs. So, if this is what you came for, then let’s dive right into the list.
Having said that, let us point out that these weather stations can differ from one another in regard to their build quality, user interface, and general design. To get a better understanding of what’s out there, we put together a list of the ten best solar power weather stations money can buy.
Table of Contents
Reviews of the Best Solar Powered Weather Stations
Smart Solar Powered Weather Station
Ambient Weather WS-2000
If you are new to weather stations and you want a weather station that gives you the reading of most meteorological elements, then the Ambient WS-2000 weather station is for you. This weather station features smart technology for both local and remote reporting; this means via the Ambient weather app, you can view the real-time weather report recorded by your weather station wherever you are.
The outdoor sensor array of the weather station is equipped with 7 powerful sensors which measure wind direction and speed, rainfall, UV and solar radiation, temperature, and humidity. Once the data is collected, the outdoor unit wirelessly transmits the readings to the indoor console over a distance of up to 330 feet of the unobstructed line of sight.
Talking about the console, the console features an intuitive HD TFT LED screen, which is sectioned into a multi-screen display. The screen combines the readings provided by the station to provide other advanced readings such as dew point, ‘feel-like’ temperature, moon phase, and many more.
Unfortunately, this weather station doesn’t come with an indoor sensor; however, with the indoor sensor, you can measure indoor elements such as barometric pressure, indoor temperature, and indoor humidity levels. Also, you have the option of adding other sensors such as an indoor and outdoor air quality sensor, 8 thermo-hygrometers, a soil meter, a lightning detector, and a leak detector for more advanced readings which will all be displayed on the screen.
WiFi Solar Powered Weather Station
Sainlogic 5-in-1 Outdoor Sensor
If you are looking to purchase a weather station that wouldn’t cost much but is durable and provides accurate results, then we have a recommendation for you. The Sainlofic professional WiFi weather station is a budget-friendly option for weather-enthusiast. This weather station is designed with a 5-in-1 outdoor sensor array that measures all the essential weather elements.
With an ideal transmission distance of 300 feet, you can be assured to get your readings delivered to your console anywhere in your room. The console features an in-built sensor that is capable of reading the indoor temperature and indoor humidity, so there is no need of getting an extra indoor sensor as you would with Ambient weather.
The console features a LED display that displays all the metrics mentioned above with other readings such as weather tendency indicator, dew point, calendar, wind chill, and many more. Users can set their maximum and minimum levels, which is a feature that alarms you whenever weather readings reach or exceed those levels.
Finally, users can download the Sainlogic app to get access to all their readings and also, upload all their weather readings to WeatherCloud.
Advanced Solar Powered Weather Station
Tempest Weather System with Built-in Wind Meter
The Tempest Weather system features a unique design unlike other weather stations on our list. The design features no moving parts, which means the sensors are all concealed to form a simple outdoor unit that requires nearly no maintenance. The outdoor unit can be powered by solar or electricity, giving you the option to switch between the two based on your needs.
The outdoor unit can forecast and provide comprehensive readings of various weather elements such as temperature, relative humidity, solar irradiance and UV index, lightning activity, wind speed, and direction, together with other advanced readings such as ambient light, rain onset, and many more.
One main feature we love about this system is that it uses machine learning to gather and analyze readings about your vicinity to produce a more accurate reading that never drifts out of calibration. The weather system is smart-home ready and it can easily sync with your smart home per the weather forecast. It can control your indoor heating/cooling systems, light systems, irrigation system, and other smart systems to provide you with optimal indoor conditions, which is a good way to save on utilities.
Finally, it is compatible with other smart assistants such as Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, and many more.
Solar Powered Weather Station
La Crosse Technology S81120-INT Wireless
If you just need a weather station that can read basic weather elements without breaking the bank, then the La Crosse Technology s81120-INT is for you. This weather system features a simple indoor and outdoor unit, which measures 4 weather elements: indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction.
With its price, this weather system has impressive functionalities. First of which is that the outdoor sensor array is capable of transmitting readings to the console over a distance of 300 feet. Also, the console is capable of providing reading in four different languages, including English, French, German and Spanish. It also displays certain advanced readings such as ‘feels-like’ temperature, and the user can input certain customizable alerts with special notifications.
Professional Grade Solar Powered Weather Station
Davis Instruments 6163 Vantage Pro2 Plus
The Davis Instruments 6163 Vantage Pro2 Plus is a professional weather station that features a robust design to give the most accurate reading. This weather system is designed to withstand the most adverse weather and environmental conditions; therefore, if you live in areas with extreme conditions which keep interrupting the functioning of your weather station, then this might be a pick for you.
The unique design of the instrument is such that it is durable and functional. Starting with, the outdoor unit comes with two protective mechanisms for maximum longevity: the first is that the temperature and humidity sensors are protected from UV rays by the 24-hour fan-aspirated radiation shield which also ensures that the reading of the temperature and humidity sensors aren’t affected for accurate readings. Secondly, the rain gauge is protected by a rain gauge bird spike to deter birds from settling on your weather station and defecating on the weather system; over time, this can cause the system to produce inaccurate readings, and it can cause you to perform more maintenance than usual.
Another great feature of this is that the outdoor unit updates the console every 2.5 seconds ensuring that the user is provided with real-time reading. And the communication range between the outdoor unit and the sensor can be up to a distance of 1000 feet. The console of the weather station is easy to read, and users can access more advanced and detailed reports such as 80 different weather graphs, 8 moon phases, storm warnings, over 70 alarms, and many more.
WiFi Smart Solar Powered Weather Station
Ambient Weather WS-2902
Finally, on our list, we have the Ambient WS-2902 weather station. At first glance, you might think it is a replica of the WS-2000 from Ambient; well, while they may look similar, the WS-2902 is a toned-down version of the WS-2000. Therefore, if you still want most of the features the WS-2000 offers but not all the features, then the Ambient 2920 might be for you.
Similar to the WS-2000 the WS-2902 comes with a 7-sensor array outdoor unit for measuring temperature, rainfall, wind direction, wind speed, UV index, solar irradiance, and humidity. The difference between the two; however, is that the WS-2902 doesn’t have the same expandability as the WS-2000, which is why I said it is a “toned-down” version. With the WS-2902 you can only add 8 thermo-hygrometers with 2 air-quality sensors.
Another difference is the display. The WS-2902 console will not display any of the mentioned additional sensors added; any reading from additional sensors can be viewed on their app. Also, the console of the WS-2902 is intuitive; however, it is an LCD screen as opposed to the full HD TFT LED screen of the WS-2000.
Besides the screen and expandability, the WS2902 shares most of the great features of the WS-2000, making it a great alternative if you have the money.
Factors To Consider When Choosing a Solar-Powered Weather Station:
1. Backup/Alternative Power
The first thing to consider when choosing a solar-powered weather station is backup power. In terms of alternative power sources, we have electricity and batteries. If you live completely remote or off-grid then getting a solar-powered weather station with a battery backup source will be a good option; however, if you live in the city, getting a solar-powered weather station that uses electricity–such as the La Crosse Technology S81120– isn’t a bad choice either.
2. Additional Sensors
Additional sensors become crucial when you want to measure more weather metrics such as soil moisture content if you are a farmer, and lightning if you are an angler. Therefore, you must check out the number and type of additional sensors the weather station you choose might be compatible with. If you are looking to add more sensors to your weather station some great options will be the Ambient WS-2000 and the Davis Instruments 6163 Vantage Pro2 Plus.
3. Transmission Distance and Time
Ensure that the weather station you are purchasing has at least a transmission distance of 300 feet and a transmission update time of at most 10 minutes for a real-time update experience. All our recommendations provide you with a good transmission distance and update time.
4. Accuracy
Ensure that the weather station you are purchasing doesn’t compromise on accuracy. An accurate weather station ensures that you plan your day or event accordingly to prevent any unexpected atmospheric change. For this, we recommend that the accuracy of your device should be between 75-95% accurate. Generally, the pricier the weather station, the more accurate it is.
Why Trust The Weather Weasel?
At Weather Weasel, we are passionate about helping you find the best solution for your needs. We provide up-to-date information and reviews on all the latest Solar Powered Weather stations so that you can make an informed decision when making a purchase. Our team of experts is highly knowledgeable in all aspects of Weather Technology, from selecting the right one to installation and maintenance. We are here to provide you with all the information, advice, and guidance you need to get the most out of your weather station!
If you have read our buying guide, you will be able to narrow your choices based on our reviews of the best solar weather stations. In case you aren’t able to afford a good solar powered weather station, I recommend you read our Review guide for the best home weather stations I’ve reviewed.
