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Raingauge Inaccuracy - Watson W-8681 Fine Offset

For discussion of DIY weather equipment - sensors, accessories, improvements to existing kit etc
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caerhays
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue 15 Jan 2019 11:04 am
Weather Station: Watson W8681
Operating System: Windows 10 Home

Raingauge Inaccuracy - Watson W-8681 Fine Offset

Post by caerhays »

I've been running my station now since mid January with no issues regarding the hardware until this last weekend.

We had a storm pass through Cornwall on 10th March and in the evening I recorded gusts of 44 mph with average wind speeds in excess of 25 mph. not unusual for here and I expect we'll have several like this over the year. However I did notice that my rain gauge started to read rainfall when the wind was averaging 20 mph plus and when it dropped below this about 6 hours later the gauge returned to normal, with no readings. During this time there was no actual rainfall at all !. I looked at the gauge which sits on top of a 2.4m tall 100mm square wooden post secured rigidly to a concrete wall . The gauge itself was vibrating along with the plastic arm it is mounted on. I think that there is a point at which the level of vibration upsets the tipping mechanism to give false readings. The fault lies in that the plastic arm to which it is attached is not rigid enough. This is not helped by the fact that the prevailing wind direction is from the west (the Atlantic) and the arm of the rain gauge is at right angles to this ie. north - south.

I had a total rainfall registered that was over 90 mm in six hours when there was none.

So I think that my solution will be to mount the gauge directly off the square wooden post on a rigid metal arm that does not vibrate, about 60 cms below its existing position and then wait for the next storm to see how it behaves.

I don't know if any other enthusiasts have had a similar experience but I pass this on for information.

Regards, Phil
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beteljuice
Posts: 3292
Joined: Tue 09 Dec 2008 1:37 pm
Weather Station: None !
Operating System: W10 - Threadripper 16core, etc
Location: Dudley, West Midlands, UK

Re: Raingauge Inaccuracy - Watson W-8681 Fine Offset

Post by beteljuice »

Yup - vibration will do !

... rattles the reed-switch !!!!

Rain guage ideally should be securely mounted on a firm base a couple feet off the ground (to reduce any 'splatter') and in an open space (so there are no wind 'shadows').
Image
......................Imagine, what you will KNOW tomorrow !
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