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What is the Acurite 01024M
What sets this weather station apart from Acurite’s other models is the lightning detection capacity and the color High Definition TFT display.
The Acurite 01024M combines the Acurite Pro+ 5 in 1 outdoor sensor, with its dual solar panels, their top of the line color HD TFT indoor display, and a separate lightning detector.
This weather station is NOT internet ready. If you would like to add internet capability later, just pick up an Acurite Access unit and you’re ready to go.
Here is the Acurite 01024M. The Pro+ 5 in 1 sensor makes up the backbone of the Acurite line. Your display is a top of the line Hi-Def TFT screen that can be read from almost anywhere. Also included is the lightning detector and power adapter.
What you get
- Pro+ 5 in 1 outdoor weather sensor with dual solar panels.
- High definition TFT indoor display
- A/C power adapter for the display
- Separate and portable lightning detector
- Associated manuals
Benefits
While the benefits of having your own home weather station are many, the peace of mind you get from owning a weather station from a reputable company is rarely brought up. Acurite has been around a long time and their 5 in 1 sensor has been a proven success over and over. Can you tell I like this sensor?
TFT displays, like the one included with the Acurite 01024M, are used now in all the highest quality weather stations. TFT displays have crystal clear and crisp read outs, and unlike the cheaper LCD displays, you can read them from almost any viewing angle.
Do you live in a lightning prone area? The lightning detector gives you advanced warning, before you hear and see anything. You have time to get the kids in, warn your golf or hiking partners, and otherwise just batten down the hatches. Personally, I love the light show!
- Know the weather conditions at your own home within seconds.
- Durable and accurate, you’ll get reliable weather information from a sensor that will stand up to almost anything mother nature throws at it.
- Never have a thunderstorm sneak up on you again. They sure pop up fast sometimes!
- The high tech TFT display can be seen from almost any angle and it’s very clear.
- 1 year limited warranty from AcuRite.
The AcuRite 01024M can also help you save your electronic devices like TVs and computers from lightning damage by giving you time to unplug everything. Of course, you already have all your sensitive devices plugged into surge protectors, right?
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Proven and high quality weather station
Intelligent and portable lightning detector
Top of the line TFT display
Cons:
Not internet, but can be added
Cannot add more sensors, but if you add internet you can
TFT display must be plugged in
How the Acurite 01024M works
Pro+ 5 in 1 outside sensor
The 5 in 1 sensor collects this weather information:
- Outside temperature
- Outside humidity
- Wind speed
- Wind direction
- Rainfall
This is an upgraded sensor called the Pro+ 5 in 1 meaning you get a two solar panels to run the fan rather than the single panel on the earlier models. You’ll get better temperature readings with the Pro+ sensor. Most people agree that the accuracy of this sensor is very good and it holds up well.
A mounting bracket is included that can be used in several ways. This makes installing your Acurite weather station very easy. Mount the Acurite weather station on the bracket and then mount the whole thing on top any pole with a 1″ outer diameter, such as schedule 40 PVC, or install the weather station and bracket on wooden post by using lag bolts.
Another feature this weather station has, that many don’t, is a removable screen in the rain gauge to keep debris out of the inner workings. This doesn’t get you out if cleaning it out when necessary, but you can keep big stuff from going in deeper.
The weather data collected by the outdoor sensor is sent by 433Mhz wireless signal to the inside display. The lightning detector also sends its info to the display.
Wind speed is sent every 18 seconds, and the rest of the data is sent every 36 seconds.
Acurite says that you can expect your 4AA batteries to last about 2 years. Buy high quality batteries! I always use lithium batteries. If you live in a place that gets temperatures below 0 degrees, lithium batteries are a must. The outdoor sensor and the lightning detector take 4AA batteries each.
Speaking of batteries, AcuRite offers a remote battery accessory that makes changing batteries easy and safe. Avoid batteries altogether with a similar AC adapter, providing you have a power outlet nearby.
Wireless range from the Pro+ sensor to the display
Your 5 in 1 sensor has to be within the maximum transmit range of 330′. This max range is rarely achieved. I would expect half the distance to work well, but the closer, the better. I have my weather station set up about 100′ away from the display with only a window in between it and my display. I never lose the signal.
The FCC sets maximum power limits on devices like this to intentionally limit their range to avoid interference with other devices. All home weather stations have this issue.
Speaking of interference, each part of the Acurite 0124M has an A-B-C selector switch that can be changed if you are experiencing any interference yourself. Just make sure that the sensor, lightning detector, and the display are all set the same!
Pro+ sensor has a solar powered fan
These solar panels run a fan that brings in fresh air to keep the internal thermometer accurate. The Pro+ sensor models have twin solar panels to help catch more of the sunlight throughout the day. Without the fan the sun tends to heat the body of the weather sensor up and that can affect the temperature reading.
The solar panels run the fan only, they don’t charge the batteries. The batteries power the weather sensors and the transmitter 24/7. This is the reason that the 5 in 1 sensor uses 4AA batteries instead of 2.
There is a benefit to a battery powered weather station in that you can use the Acurite 0124M in places that are often cloudy or have long winter nights. Most other brands of weather stations don’t do well under these conditions.
Add internet connectivity at any time with the Acurite Access.
Lightning Detector
The AcuRite lightning sensor is a small device that must be placed outside to work properly. Install 4 high quality AA batteries for the best performance. The lightning detector picks up the EMP pulse of lightning from up to 25 miles away and instantly sends that information to your indoor display.
This detector sends an alert to any type of lightning strike, whether its a cloud to ground strike or a cloud to cloud strike. So you can’t really tell where the lightning occurred, but the display will tell you how far away it happened and shows a running total of strikes.
Being a battery powered stand-alone device, you can take it with you to the park, golf course, or your next camping trip.
The detector has both a flashing light and an audible alarm so you’ll know when there is a lightning strike within a 25 mile range. Keep it nearby and you’ll notice one or the other.
Lightning detectors in general are known for giving erroneous alerts because of electrical interference in the area. AcuRite has developed a hi-tech algorithm to help reject interference. Just keep the lightning detector more than 3′ away from the outdoor 5 in 1 sensor, as the transmitter could cause false alerts.
Hi-Definition TFT Display
Acurite’s 01024M has an illuminated High Definition display using color TFT technology. This display allows for clear viewing from almost any angle. More and more home weather stations are offered with this type of display due to their popularity.
To make sure all the data on the display screen is easy to read, the information is presented in three display presentations that you toggle through. The three presentations are: current conditions, indoor conditions and comfort, and the weather station historical records. You can run through the screens manually or automatically.
TFT displays must be plugged in as they draw more power than batteries can handle. So far I’ve never seen one with batteries.
One problem with these TFT displays is they lose the settings you put in if the power is off for more than a couple of minutes. An uninterruptible power supply would help with this issue. You could also plug your computer into the UPS.
UPS devices offer some lightning protection, so if you live in a lightning prone area, this might be a good idea.
The Acurite 01024M TFT display can do a lot of things that the common LCD cannot. You can adjust the brightness, tint, and contrast. Also, the back-light can be set to auto-dim with the setting of the sun and then get very dim in sleep mode. While you can still read the display in sleep mode, it’s not bright enough to disturb your sleep. I’m not sure how many people sleep in the same room as their weather station display anyway. But if you do…
Self Calibrating Forecasting
An innovative feature that Acurite has is Self-Calibrating Forecasting. With this feature you don’t have to know your altitude or current barometric pressure when you set up your weather station.
Over a period of about two weeks to a month, the Acurite 01024M figures it out for you.
Weather station forecasts are done by using the barometer and other information measured by the weather station. Barometric pressure goes down with increasing altitude. So with other brands of weather stations, you’ll have to know your altitude or use a nearby airport reading to set up your barometer.
Acurite’s Self-Calibrating Forecasting feature eliminates the need for you to know how high above sea level you are. Self-Calibrating Forecasting uses a unique algorithm to analyze changes in pressure over a time period (called Learning Mode) to determine your altitude. After 14 to 30 days, the self-calibrated barometer is tuned in to your location and the unit is ready for accurate weather prediction.
Customer satisfaction
As with a lot of weather stations, the people who follow the clear set up instructions are very happy, and then there are the know-it-alls who “don’t need no stinkin’ instructions”; they’re not always so happy.
AcuRite is the top seller of home weather stations because they make a lot of people happy. Read and follow the installation instructions, you’ll be happy.
Remember, this weather station does not connect to the internet right out of the box. You’ll need the Acurite Access to connect. Not everyone wants to connect their weather station to the internet. This surprises some people…
Wrap up
If you want a professional weather station that has a long history of reliability, a top-shelf display, and a portable lightning detector all in one package, the AcuRite 01024M is for you.
If you would like to compare the 01024M with other Acurite weather stations, check out my page here.
Alternatives
The AcuRite Atlas model 01007M is similar. You can read my review here.
Another similar weather station is the Acurite 01022M that has a single panel sensor and an LCD display instead of the much nicer TFT.
Specs
PRO+ 5-in-1 Weather Sensor
| Temperature Range | -40°F to 158°F |
|---|---|
| Temperature Accuracy | +/- 2°F |
| Humidity Range | 1% to 99% Relative Humidity +/- 3% |
| Wind Speed | 0 to 99 mph |
| Wind Speed Accuracy | +/-2 mph below 10 mph +/- 3 mph from 10 to 30 mph +/- 4 mph from 30 to 50 mph +/- 5 mph from 50 to 99 mph |
| Wind Direction Indicators | 16 point rose |
| Rainfall | 0.01 inches (0.25 mm) and up |
| Rain Gauge Accuracy | +/- 0.05″ per inch of rainfall |
| Wireless Range | 330 feet |
| Wireless Signal | 433 MHz |
| Power | 4 AA lithium batteries |
| Data Reporting | Wind Speed: 18 second updates Wind Direction: 36 second updates Temperature and Humidity: 36 second updates |
| Size | 10.8″ High x 5.6″ Wide x 13.8″ Deep |
HD Display Specifications:
| Indoor Temperature Range | 32°F to 122°F |
|---|---|
| Temperature Accuracy | +/- 2°F degrees Fahrenheit |
| Humidity Accuracy | +/- 3% from 20% to 80% Relative Humidity |
| Wind Direction Indicators | 16 point rose |
| Power | 5V power adapter (included) |
| Size | 5.5″ High x 7.6″ Wide x 0.6″ Deep |
Lightning Detector Sensor Specifications
| Lightning Detection Range: | 1 to 25 miles (1.6 – 40 kilometers) |
|---|---|
| Wireless Range | Up to 330 feet unobstructed line of sight |
| Power: | 4 AA lithium batteries |
| Data Reporting: | 24 second updates during normal conditions; 8 second updates once lightning detected |
| Size | 5.875″ High x 2.625″ Wide x 0.9″ Deep |
Other Pages You May Find Useful:
How and where to install your weather station