Question about the rain editor

[Grumpy Moose]

Actually, the question also centers on how Cumulus collects rain data as well. Is it a cumulative total, or absolute? (best way I could phrase it)

For example using hypothetical numbers: Say my Davis console has recorded 1.00 inches of rain. I then use the rain editor and modify Cumulus to display 1.02" (add .02). It then rains a bit more and the bucket tips once, causing the Davis console to now display 1.01". Does Cumulus:

1. Simply increment it's (modified) total by .01", now showing 1.03"
2. Ignore the new value because the console (1.01") is still below it's (modified) value of 1.02"
3. Display the actual console value of 1.01", thus effectively rolling back .01" of rain from 1.02.

Number 1 seems the most likely to me, while number 3 the least likely (it would actually negate the purpose of having a rain editor at all), but I've learned not to assume anything so I better ask to be sure.

Thanks!

[steve]

Yes, it's number one (effectively).

Cumulus works out rain totals on any station based only on one figure, a 'total' figure which the station keeps incrementing every time the gauge tips. Most stations supply the actual counter from the gauge, which just keeps going up until (I assume) it wraps around, or it gets reset. With Davis stations, the nearest I can get to that is the annual total, which gets reset once a year, and Cumulus copes with that, more or less.

At the end of each day, Cumulus stores the current value of that counter in today.ini (the Start= figure) and then every time it gets a rain reading, it subtracts the start of day value from that to get today's total. All the rain editor does is modify the start of day figure so that the calculation comes out to the value you want it to be.

[Grumpy Moose]

Great, thanks Steve! A bit more complicated behind the scenes than I thought, but as long as it works I'm happy!