27-05-2015, 11:52
How have most got on with the rain sensors we use from Fine Offset? I purchased one new and have just in the last week put it out properly. When I tested it by pouring water out of my manual rain gauge, I was getting no-where near accurate readings.
What I discovered is that the switch is not being activated on each pass of the magnet.
To test this I removed the cover, and rocked the bucket by hand. I found that if I pulled the buckets on their pivot toward me as I rocked them (which works out to be away from the switch assembly, the gauge reliably registered 1mm for every three tips, give or take 0.1 - 0.2 each set. Which I believe equates to what I read is around 0.300mm per bucket.
Then if I rocked the buckets on their natural pivot level, I was lucky to even see 0.300mm advancement.
I know the gauge is set level as I used a spirit level when setting its bracket. Has anyone else encountered this, and how did you resolve it? I will hopefully have time at the end of the week to look at it more closely, and see if any adjustments can be made without compromising the rocking motion. Otherwise I may have to cut my losses and try another unit.
What I discovered is that the switch is not being activated on each pass of the magnet.
To test this I removed the cover, and rocked the bucket by hand. I found that if I pulled the buckets on their pivot toward me as I rocked them (which works out to be away from the switch assembly, the gauge reliably registered 1mm for every three tips, give or take 0.1 - 0.2 each set. Which I believe equates to what I read is around 0.300mm per bucket.
Then if I rocked the buckets on their natural pivot level, I was lucky to even see 0.300mm advancement.
I know the gauge is set level as I used a spirit level when setting its bracket. Has anyone else encountered this, and how did you resolve it? I will hopefully have time at the end of the week to look at it more closely, and see if any adjustments can be made without compromising the rocking motion. Otherwise I may have to cut my losses and try another unit.