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FO Rain Gauge - Test
Posted: Sun 09 Sep 2012 2:41 pm
by ScottVan
I've unfortunately mounted my instruments high above my roof peak on my amateur radio masts. Currently experiencing a rain gauge outage. Have re-linked the transmitter, re connected etc. It did work fine just two days ago.
Is there a way to test the rain gauge by simply plugging in a RJ-14 plug into the transmitter and touching the wires together? That would rule out a transmitter question. Otherwise I need to pull down the mast or...buy another rain gauge from Weatherwise and mount it more sensibly near the ground.
http://weatherwiseinstruments.com/repla ... gauge.html
All other funcstion seem to be in order.
Scott
P.S. Sounds like I'm just looking for validation to to the latter.
Re: FO Rain Gauge - Test
Posted: Sun 09 Sep 2012 3:13 pm
by bruce45
the rain gauge should be the middle two contacts on the rj11 connector. shorting them out should work just like the reed relay.
when testing the rg11 rain gauge that was how it was connected. i used the outer contacts for the dc power so that i only needed to have one cable to run to it.
Re: FO Rain Gauge - Test
Posted: Wed 12 Sep 2012 5:16 pm
by ScottVan
I tested this - correct. It read a click or two. I plugged it back in and ran my tape measure up to the guage and tapped it a few times (13 ft up from my back roof!).
It clicked again. So I thought there might be some debris inor on top of it. I contrstructed a 10 ft long "air blower" out of PVC pipe, aball valve some clamped connections. This gave me the ability to blow some air through the guage and across the top of it. It read several tips during this process.
Now of course, it won't rain till Friday(this "maintenace" occured Sunday).
We'll see.
Scott
Re: FO Rain Gauge - Test
Posted: Sun 16 Sep 2012 5:42 pm
by ScottVan
ScottVan wrote:I tested this - correct. It read a click or two. I plugged it back in and ran my tape measure up to the guage and tapped it a few times (13 ft up from my back roof!).
It clicked again. So I thought there might be some debris inor on top of it. I contrstructed a 10 ft long "air blower" out of PVC pipe, aball valve some clamped connections. This gave me the ability to blow some air through the guage and across the top of it. It read several tips during this process.
Now of course, it won't rain till Friday(this "maintenance" occured Sunday).
We'll see.
Scott
Rained...worked. Also cleaned my gutters out at the same time! I think I will order another gauge tho and get ready for a lower installation.