Welcome to our Acurite 0150M review, where we investigate what makes this model a great option for home weather enthusiasts.
In the past, Acurite had a reputation for trying to appeal to a very broad audience with its budget weather sensors. This is all changing as they upgrade their technology to target more weather-savvy customers.
The Acurite 01540M is a 5-in-1 model that includes sensors for temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and rain.
You can pair it with AcuRite’s smartHUB to check your weather data on their web platform or through the mobile app.
AcuRite 01540M 5-in-1 Weather Station (Our Review)
The Acurite 01540M is great if you’re a relatively savvy weather buff who understands the basics of weather stations but wants an affordable, all-in-one gadget.
As we mentioned, the sensor measures temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and rain. If you want to expand on these, you can buy accessory sensors that plug into any of the above sensors’ expansion ports.
The water sensor has the capacity to link multiple sensors to its main port, meaning you can place any number of sensors wherever you expect water to appear. The expansion ports also allow you to add a separate sensor at a later stage if one of the original five fails.
We found the readings to be satisfyingly accurate for the model category. The temperature reading fluctuated at times when the device was in direct sunlight, but the water and wind sensors were on point.
One of the greatest draws of the Acurite is the connection to the MyAccurite web portal and app through the smartHUB. Both mediums are top class in how they measure and present your data. That said, this model does not interface with your smart-home platform at all, which is a considerable downside given how well-thought-out their own tech is.
Pros
- 5-in-1 sensor
- Internal fan keeps temperature readings accurate
- Two solar panels provide power over a long period
- Top class web portal and app
- Data can be shared through Weather Underground
Cons
- Wi-fi connectivity is unreliable
- Not compatible with smart-home platforms
Detailed Analysis
Design & Features
The AcuRite PRO+ 5-in-1 features a rain collector, temperature and humidity sensors, a wind speed anemometer, and wind direction sensors.
The unit has two solar panels, one facing southeast and the other facing southwest, that keep the internal fan running, which allows airflow to cool the device and keeps the temperature readings accurate.
The rain collector has a filter to catch debris like leaves and seeds.
The device transmits weather data to the smartHUB every 18 to 36 seconds using a wireless connection. There is some question around the wireless range, which is advertised as 330 feet in open spaces. We found the signal to waver at considerably less distance with the smartHUB secured inside, but it didn’t drop out.
The sensor runs on 4 AA batteries. The manual recommends good quality alkaline batteries or lithium batteries for temperatures below -4ºF / -20ºC.
Ease of Setup
The device comes with a mounting bracket and instruction manual for installation. Screws are included to attach the sensor to the bracket, but you will need to drill the holes yourself, which is not ideal as it’s not made clear when you buy it.
The instructions say to install your sensor as high as possible in a place where nothing will obstruct the wind and rain. Aside from the drilling, we found the physical installation to be fairly straightforward.
Like other reviewers online, we experienced some difficulty connecting the smartHUB to the Acurite website. Instead of connecting the smartHUB straight to your wifi, you need to first connect at least one of the sensors to the smartHUB. Once this is done, you can register the hub and access your online dashboards.
Price
The Acurite 5-in-1 is not only affordable, it is the best value for money in this category of home weather stations. It is a cut above what you’ll find at retail level and better than all of its competitors in this price range.
App & Website
The MyAcurite app and website are among the best we’ve ever used. They are both easy on the eye and it’s clear a lot of thought has gone into the user experience. You can use your data to produce graphs and you can set up notifications for any or all of your reading variables.