TSL2561 over?

Sensors Environmental
1

I run a ESP8266 based weather station along other sensors with a TSL2561 in a waterproof, translucent housing.

It has worked well for about 6 years, but more and more often the sensor is only giving 0 values in the morning during sunrise, although it worked nice the evening before. If I restart the ESP8266 it works again.

Since yesterday the TSL2561 gives only the same values after each measurement, and they are far too low and also a restart dosn’t help.

I suspect the sensor is gone, but still wanted to ask if there are similar experiences that these sensors have a limited lifetime.

thanx

FünfHT

2

Six years seems like a pretty good run, especially if outdoors and exposed to large variations in temperature, humidity, etc.

3

Check the PCBs carefully for corrosion.

It is nearly impossible to prevent water vapor from getting into enclosures, and condensation induced by temperature changes can very rapidly degrade solder connections on powered PCBs.

PCBs operating out of doors need to be “conformally coated”, or completely potted in silicon compound, which helps to avoid such failures.

4

Yes, thanks, I think also that is most likely because of some condensation.

I have ordered a new sensorboard right now and will protect it in some way.