Anyone got any thoughts on rainsensors.com - Rain Gage - RG-11

[iisfaq]

August 15th - Still waiting - at home - snowing!

Anyway I have been thinking about interfacing it to the PC.

Something simple - well since it is a relay that means it goes from 0v to say 24v (I need to get the unit to work out this properly - maybe it will be 12v if input is 12v?)

But if the output is say 24v then a voltage divider with a couple of resisters should drop it to 12v.

Then connect the unit to a 9 pin serial connector.

I have taken a female 9 pin d connector and soldered a wire between Pin 1 (Data Carrier Detect) & pin 4 (Data Terminal Ready)

http://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/cable/RS-232.html

I then connect a switch across Pin 1 (Data Carrier Detect) and Pin 6 (Data Set Ready)

By using a switch between Pin 1 and Pin 6 this toggles the PinChanged event in my source code in c# - it triggers the DSR pin changed event.

I am assuming that the switch can be a simulator for the relay?

Code:

   class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            
            SerialPort sp = new SerialPort("COM11", 19200, Parity.None, 8, StopBits.One);
            sp.DtrEnable = true;
            sp.PinChanged += new SerialPinChangedEventHandler(sp_PinChanged);
            sp.Open();
            while (Console.KeyAvailable == false)
            {
                System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(500);
            }
            sp.Close();
        }

        static void sp_PinChanged(object sender, SerialPinChangedEventArgs e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(String.Format("{0} - Pin changed : {1} - State = {2}", DateTime.Now, e.EventType, (sender as SerialPort).DsrHolding));
        }

So from the looks of things (without the unit) I can simulate what it is doing for some modes.

When the rain sensor is in bucket tip mode (Mode 0) it output will pulse ON for 50mS each time 0.01" (depends on settings) of
water accumulates, just as a tipping bucket would.

In Mode 1 (Its Raining) it turns on turns on when a given rate of rainfall is detected, and turns off after it has dropped below a threshold.

In Mode 2 (Condensation sensor) the relay closes when the condensation occurs, and opens when the condensation goes away.

In Mode 3 (Wiper) maybe not used

In Mode 4 (Irrigration Control) should be useable

Mode 5 - Missing from manual so no idea what it is!

Mode 6 - (Drop detector) - Pulses for each drop

Now I just need to receive it to determine if this is all doable.

chris

[Skywatch]

Seems like a cool rain sensor. So do you just remove the reed switch and tipping bucket mechanism and put this guy in? For 99$ I'm thinking of getting one. Seems like it would be much more accurate.

[wxtech]

Seems like a cool rain sensor. So do you just remove the reed switch and tipping bucket mechanism and put this guy in? For 99$ I'm thinking of getting one. Seems like it would be much more accurate.

It is much less accurate than a tipping bucket rain gauge.  Although it is more rugged with no moving serviceable parts.  Comparing with a tipping bucket gauge, quoting the mfr: Typically, most readings will be +/- about 30%, with some readings varying 2:1.  This is not, however, a guaranteed limit. 
It is a controller device intended to be part of a larger engineered system, not a rain accumulation sensor.

[Skywatch]

Seems like a cool rain sensor. So do you just remove the reed switch and tipping bucket mechanism and put this guy in? For 99$ I'm thinking of getting one. Seems like it would be much more accurate.

It is much less accurate than a tipping bucket rain gauge.  Although it is more rugged with no moving serviceable parts.  Comparing with a tipping bucket gauge, quoting the mfr: Typically, most readings will be +/- about 30%, with some readings varying 2:1.  This is not, however, a guaranteed limit. 
It is a controller device intended to be part of a larger engineered system, not a rain accumulation sensor.

Okay thanks for the heads up. As for drop detection, my leaf wetness sensor pretty good on that. Although not an actual count of drops.

[SLOweather]

It is a controller device intended to be part of a larger engineered system, not a rain accumulation sensor.

10-4. I encourage anyone interested in this device to download and read the instruction sheet here and study ALL of its modes as I mentioned in a previous post.

    *  Tipping Bucket Emulation-- Replace your tipping bucket with a low maintenance alternative.
    * "It's Raining"-- Close a skylight at the first sign of rain, and open it when it stops raining.
    * Condensation / Frost Sensing
    * Wiper control
    * Irrigation Control-- No more watering during a downpour!
    * Drop Detection