Weather stations: Choosing the right housing design

Weather stations play a central role in building automation: they record wind, rain, brightness and other climatic influences so that shading, ventilation and protective functions work reliably. Many models from Elsner Elektronik offer very similar sensor technology. In addition to the question ‘What does the weather station measure, calculate and control?’, the question ‘Which housing type is suitable for my area of application?’ also arises.

This page gives you a clear overview of the four housing types – with their strengths, typical areas of application and the technical features that make a difference in practice.

Regardless of their housing, all weather stations serve the same purpose: they provide the relevant environmental data for safe and convenient building automation. This includes precise brightness measurements for shading, rapid rain detection for awning and window control and, depending on the model, GPS for calculating the position of the sun and time synchronisation.

The main differences lie primarily in the type of wind measurement: mechanical in the Windancer KNX(-GPS), electrical and therefore wear-free in the sl/P04 and P03, or via ultrasound including wind direction in the Suntracer pro.

The following overview shows which housing is best suited for which application. The evaluation takes into account typical project requirements such as design requirements, robustness, wind measurement precision, budget and maintenance costs. This allows you to see in a matter of seconds which weather station is best suited to your building, your application and your priorities.

Die vier Gehäuseformen unterscheiden sich auch beim bevorzugten Montageort. sl/P04 und P03 lassen sich sowohl an der Wand als auch auf dem Dach montieren und liefern in beiden Szenarien stabile Werte. Suntracer KNX pro ist hingegen klar für die Dachmontage ausgelegt, da sein Ultraschallring nur bei freier Anströmung präzise arbeitet. Windancer KNX(-GPS) ist flexibel nutzbar und kann an Wand oder Dach montiert werden, solange genügend Abstand zu Hindernissen besteht.

The four housing types differ primarily in terms of where they can be mounted and what they are designed for. sl/P04 is the right choice if you want the weather station to be visually unobtrusive on the façade. P03 is suitable if a particularly robust housing is required. Suntracer pro is designed for roof mounting and projects involving wind direction. Windancer KNX(-GPS) is useful if simple mechanical wind measurement is sufficient. Once you know where the weather station can be located and what measurement accuracy your project requires, you can quickly find the right housing type.

Do I need wind direction detection for every project?

No. Wind direction is only relevant if façades and slats are to react depending on the direction of the wind. For classic shading or protective functions, wind speed is sufficient.

Which housing design is the most durable?

Housing designs without mechanical parts – i.e. sl/P04, P03 and Suntracer pro – generally require less maintenance, as there are no moving components that can wear out.

Does the size of the building really matter when it comes to the housing shape?

Yes. For many façades or large differences in height, sensor concepts such as the ultrasonic ring of the Suntracer KNX pro provide more consistent and precise values.

Can I switch from one housing shape to another at a later date?

Technically yes, provided that the installation location and cabling are compatible. In practice, however, it is advisable to determine which requirements must be met (e.g. wind direction, design, budget) during the planning stage.

Are there any dependencies between KNX functions and the housing shape?

The KNX functions themselves hardly differ. The decisive differences lie in the measurement method, the precision and the typical area of application of the housing shapes.

Author: Elsner Elektronik Editorial Team | Last updated 12/2025