Hydreon RG-15 Optical Rain Gauge
Features
- Features nominal accuracy of within 10% compared with tipping bucket
- Low power consumption makes it well-suited for solar charged applications
- RS-232 serial communications for configuration and data collection
- Expedited repair and warranty service
- Lifetime technical support
- More
Overview
The Hydreon RG-15 Solid State Tipping Bucket is a rainfall-measuring device intended to replace conventional tipping buckets. The RG-15 is rugged, reliable, maintenance-free and features a nominal accuracy of within 10%. The RG-15 is designed to replace tipping bucket rain gauges in many applications where their maintenance requirements make them impractical.
Design
The RG-15 uses beams of infrared light within a plastic lens about the size of a tennis ball. The round surface of the lens discourages the collection of debris, and the RG-15 has no moving parts to stick to, and no water-pathways to clog. The device features an open-collector output that emulates a conventional tipping bucket, as well as serial communications that provide more detailed data and allow for configuration of the device.
Mechanics
The RG-15 may be configured through the serial port, or optionally via DIP switches. Power consumption of the RG-15 is very low, and the device is well-suited to solar-power applications. Dip Switches can control the units (inches or millimeters) and resolution (0.01″/0.2mm or 0.001″/0.02mm) of the device. Commands can also be sent via the RS232 serial port to override them.
Nominal Accuracy | ±10%1 |
Input Voltage | Range 5-15 VDC 50V surge on J1 Reverse polarity protected to 50V Alternative 3.3VDC through pin 8 on J2 |
Current Drain | 110 μA nominal. (No outputs on, dry not raining) 2-4 mA when raining |
Output | NPN Open Collector Output 500 mA / 80V / 300mW Max |
Operating Temperature | -40°C to +60°C (Will not detect rain when freezing) |
Output Resolution | 0.01in / 0.2mm Alternative 0.001in / 0.02mm |
RS232 Port | 3.3V |
Supported Baud Rates | 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600 |
1Field accuracy will vary
In The News
Combating Water Insecurity in Saskatchewan with Real-Time Data
The prairies of Saskatchewan can be described as one of the least water-secure parts of Canada, making water quality monitoring essential for informed resource management in a region already facing water insecurity. While natural physical properties worsen some of the poor water quality conditions in the region, others are connected to land use. 
 
Having grown up spending summers on the shores of Lake Huron, Helen Baulch, an associate professor at the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan , has always been dedicated to the protection of water resources. 
 
Looking back fondly at her childhood playing along the shore, Baulch also recalls the invasion of quagga mussels during her teenage years and watching the lake change as a result.
Read MoreSeametrics Turbo Turbidity Logger: Boost your Turbidity Monitoring
The Seametrics Turbo Turbidity Logger is a self-cleaning turbidity sensor capable of internally logging over 260,000 data records. The sensor enables researchers, compliance officers, and contractors to monitor turbidity in various applications, from construction and dredging sites to wastewater effluent. 
 
 Due to its narrow width, this device can be deployed in a range of areas, from small well spaces to rivers and streams. The stainless steel housing and built-in wiper allow the sensor to withstand long-term deployments and reduce the need for maintenance trips. 
 
 The logger accurately records temperature and turbidity up to a depth of 50 meters.
Read MoreCollecting Data at the Top of the World: How Scientists Retrieve Glacial Ice Cores
A helicopter touches down in the small town of Sicuani, Peru, at an elevation of 11,644 feet. Earlier that day, a boxcar brought fuel, drills, food, and other equipment for a glacial expedition. The year is 1979, and glaciologist Lonnie Thompson is preparing to lead a team to the Quelccaya ice cap in hopes of becoming the first scientists to drill an ice core sample from this glacier. 
 
 The only problem? The glacier is located at 19,000 feet in one of the most remote areas of the world. The helicopter takes off from the town, but the thin atmosphere at that elevation does not allow it to safely touch down on the ice– due to the aircraft’s weight, and it becomes unstable when the air is less dense.
Read More