mode ceasing all transmitting and sensor readings but reading battery voltage every 8 minutes shutdown mode remains in effect until battery voltage 108 is greater than 11 1 vdc at 10 5 vdc the battery 35 has a minimal amount of remaining energy this strategy allows the solar panel 12 to return the battery 35 to approximately 20 capacity before transmission resumes the battery voltage 108 and times shown represent characteristics of a given battery 35 transducer circuitry and transmitter 132 combination times and voltage 108 would be varied to optimize the system for different components accumulated data values are transmitted in bursts as described below to drive a change in the displayed or peripheral interfaced values every 2 seconds by reading the data string for each function contained in the burst the next transmission will normally occur as the display 89 shows the last set of values in the previously received data string while this is not a real time data display it does allow the user to observe trends in conditions without requiring continuous data transmission which in turn would require more power than the solar panel 12 and battery 35 are capable of supplying on a continual basis due to constant powering of the transducers the microprocessor 136 and the transmitter 132 as noted above under special circumstances such as weather emergencies the invention can be programmed to transmit immediately if a threshold condition is met.