Davis 6382 Wireless Temperature & Humidity Monitoring Station

Overview

The Davis 6382 Wireless Temperature & Humidity Monitoring Station is a field-deployable environmental sensing unit engineered for long-term, unattended monitoring of ambient air temperature and relative humidity in industrial, agricultural, academic, and facility management applications. It operates on the principle of passive radio telemetry, transmitting calibrated analog sensor outputs via a licensed 868 MHz ISM-band radio link to a compatible Davis VP2 console or Envoy data logger. The station integrates a precision thermistor for temperature measurement and a polymer-based capacitive humidity sensor housed within a naturally aspirated, solar-radiation-shielded enclosure—designed to minimize thermal lag and radiative error under direct sunlight. Its robust, UV-stabilized PVC housing ensures structural integrity and material stability across extreme outdoor conditions, while its low-power architecture enables continuous operation for up to eight months on a single CR123 lithium battery—without requiring external power infrastructure.

Key Features

• Multi-channel capability: Supports up to eight independent 6382 stations per VP2 console or Envoy unit, enabling spatially distributed environmental profiling.
• Radiation-optimized sensor placement: Temperature and humidity elements are mounted inside a double-louvered, white-painted radiation shield that conforms to WMO guidance for passive ventilation and solar load mitigation.
• High-stability sensing elements: Thermistor with ±0.5 °C accuracy over –40 °C to +65 °C; thin-film capacitive RH sensor with ±3% RH accuracy (0–90% RH) and drift specification of ≤±2% RH/year—suitable for GLP-aligned long-term trend analysis.
• Configurable logging intervals: User-selectable sampling rates from 1 minute to 120 minutes, with onboard 128 KB non-volatile memory capable of storing up to 2560 timestamped records.
• Regulatory-compliant RF design: Operates within the EU’s 868 MHz SRD band (ETSI EN 300 220), with output power limited to ~8 mW and channel agility supporting co-location of multiple units without interference.
• Industrial-grade environmental rating: IP65-equivalent ingress protection achieved through sealed electronics compartment and gasketed battery access—validated for continuous outdoor deployment across –40 °C to +65 °C operating range.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The 6382 station is designed exclusively for ambient air monitoring and is not intended for immersion, pressurized, or corrosive gas environments. Its sensor configuration meets fundamental requirements for ISO 7726 (Ergonomics of the thermal environment) and ASTM D5465 (Standard Practice for Determining Relative Humidity in Buildings). While not certified to IEC 61000-4 immunity standards as a standalone unit, its RF emissions comply with ETSI EN 301 489-1/17 for radio equipment electromagnetic compatibility. When integrated into a Davis VP2 console system, full audit trails—including time-stamped sensor readings, battery voltage logs, and transmission status flags—are retained in non-volatile memory, supporting basic 21 CFR Part 11 readiness when paired with validated third-party data export workflows.

Software & Data Management

Data retrieval occurs via serial communication (RJ-11 interface) between the VP2 console or Envoy and a host PC running Davis WeatherLink software (v6.x or later). The software supports configurable baud rates (1200–19200 bps), automatic time synchronization, and CSV/Excel-compatible export with UTC timestamps. All logged records include metadata such as station ID, sensor type, battery status, and radio signal strength—enabling traceability and post-hoc QA/QC filtering. For integration into enterprise SCADA or LIMS platforms, WeatherLink offers an HTTP API (with optional CloudLink subscription) delivering JSON-formatted payloads at user-defined intervals. Raw binary dumps from the 128 KB memory buffer are also accessible for custom parsing, ensuring full data sovereignty and reproducibility.

Applications

• Environmental compliance monitoring in pharmaceutical cold chain storage facilities (e.g., warehouse zoning validation per WHO TRS 961 Annex 9).
• Microclimate mapping across greenhouses, vineyards, and research farms to correlate RH/temp gradients with crop phenology.
• Long-term HVAC performance verification in LEED-certified buildings, where ASHRAE 55-2023 thermal comfort thresholds must be documented.
• Baseline environmental logging in museum storage vaults and archival repositories—supporting ISO 11799 and PAS 198 preservation guidelines.
• Field calibration reference for portable hygrometers and thermometers during ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory audits.

FAQ

What is the maximum number of 6382 stations a single VP2 console can receive?
A VP2 console supports up to eight wireless transmitters simultaneously—including 6382 stations, anemometers, rain gauges, and leaf wetness sensors—each assigned a unique channel ID.
Does the 6382 require periodic recalibration?
While the capacitive RH sensor exhibits ≤±2% RH/year drift, Davis recommends annual verification against NIST-traceable reference standards in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 6.6. No field-adjustable calibration is provided; verification is performed by comparing logged outputs to a certified reference hygrometer under controlled conditions.
Can the 6382 operate indoors without line-of-sight to the console?
Yes—the 868 MHz band provides reliable penetration through drywall, wood, and concrete. Typical indoor range is 75–120 meters depending on wall count and material density; metal structures or reinforced concrete may reduce effective range.
Is the data logger memory volatile if the battery fails?
No—the 128 KB memory is non-volatile flash storage. All recorded data persists even after complete battery depletion and replacement.
What file formats does WeatherLink support for export?
Native exports include CSV (with customizable delimiter and timestamp format), Excel (.xlsx), and XML. Third-party integrations may consume JSON via the WeatherLink Cloud API.