Rain Collector Sensor - Rainfall Sensor

Rain Collector Sensor Rainfall Sensor
This self-emptying, tipping bucket style rain collector utilizes an 8" diameter openning to meet NWS specifications for statistical accuracy. Rainfall is gathered in the collecting bucket and funnels through a small openning into a tipping mechanism. When the mechanism has 1/100th of an inch of water in it, it tips.  A count is then transmitted to an indicator and the water emptys from the tipping mechanism, through the bottom of the collector bucket to the outside.

Rain Collector Sensor Rainfall Sensor
Tipping bucket, self-emptying rain collector.  8" diameter openning meets NWS specifications for size and accuracy.
Dimensions: 8.63" O.D. x 7.88" Deep
Weight: 1.77 lbs.

The rainfall collector requires no manual emptying. Each tip of the bucket is equivalent to 1/100th of an inch of rain. It utilizes a normally open circuit that is momentarily closed each time it tips.  As such, it can be connected to any simple counting circuit, including Maximum's Rainwatch indicator.

Rain Collector Sensor Rainfall Sensor Features
Outside rainfall collector meets NWS specifications for size and accuracy, and is self-emptying for your convenience.
The collector bucket can remain outdoors year-round.  Freezing weather will not damage the collector, but readings of snow or freezing rain are not to be considered accurate readings of rainfall.
Ships complete with 60', 22 AWG, 2-wire, UV protected cable.

Rain Collector Sensor Rainfall Sensor Specifications 
* Type: Tipping bucket, self-emptying
* Dimensions: 8.63" O.D. x 7.88" Deep
* Weight: 1.77 lbs.
* Cable: 60', 22 AWG, 2-wire, UV protected
* Collector Diameter: 8.00"
* Collector Height: 8.00"
* Mounting Diameter: 9.60"
* Housing Materials: ABS Plastic
* Housing Color: Dark Green or Black
* Accuracy: +/- 1% at rates of rainfall up to 1" per hour if collector is properly maintained.
* Required Maintenance: Keep the collecting area and screen free of debris (leaves, branches, etc.). Glean the tipping bucket surfaces and the external surfaces of the collector occasionally with a mild detergent.
* Counting Mechanism: Self-draining, tipping bucket design. The mechanism is factory calibrated so that it automatically tips every 0.01" when installed on a level surface. As the bucket tips a magnet passes back and forth in front of a reed switch. The reed switch is activated as the magnet passes by causing a normally open circuit to be closed momentarily. Each time the circuit is closed the digital readout counts up 0.01".
* Electrical Characteristics :
     Switched current: max 500 mA
     Switched voltage: max 200 VDC
     Contact Resistance: max 100 mOhm
     Contact Capacitance: max 0,25 pF