Rain gauge resetter

[Ed Sowell]

From Post #1:"An irritating "feature" is battery replacement causes the history to be cleared." Are we talking about the battery in the indoor data logger or in the remote tilt bucket?
Ken

My original post was about the indoor unit because it's the one that when pulled wipes out the stored data. In one of my posts I mentioned the one in the out door unit. When it fails any rain that occurs before I notice the problem doesn't get counted.

I also brought up the outdoor unit because if one wanted to implement an auxiliary device to run up the total rain that could probably make use of the RF transmitter already incorporated there. Simply generate pulses with a timer IC (right name?) and use it to emulate the read switch, which presumably turns the RF transmitter on and off. I did something like that once to build a tester for the electronic fueling injection system for my '76 Jaguar.

 

[KMoffett]

Are you willing to crack open the tilt bucked remote to link in a pulse generator to meet your simulator?

 

[Ed Sowell]

Are you willing to crack open the tilt bucked remote to link in a pulse generator to meet your simulator?

Yes. As a matter of fact I am thinking about opening it up today. I'll look it over to see how hard it might be. Also thinking if I can can identify the RF transmitter component and track down the frequency I'd consider building a stand-alone project box with a pulse generator and IR incorporated.

 

[KMoffett]

"My friends sometimes accuse me of always finding the most difficult way of fixing things."
Your friends are right.

 

[AnalogKid]

Yif I can can identify the RF transmitter component

Without seeing the electronics inside the sensor it is impossible to say for sure - BUT - there is a good chance that the sensor is sending some data rather than a simple RF burst. This would prevent the receiver from counting extraneous RF sources.

ak

 

[KMoffett]

Could also modulate the RF burst with a single audio frequency, and demodulate at the receiver. I've done that. But that seems too primitive with today's technology.

 

[Ed Sowell]

I took apart the collector today and took some photos: album
Those boards are awfully small. Sorry to say so, but I don't think my eyes or soldering skills are up to the task. Now leaning to plan B: a stand alone box with a pulse generator an RF transmitter. The first task would be to determine the carrier frequency. Any ideas?

 

[Ed Sowell]

Without seeing the electronics inside the sensor it is impossible to say for sure - BUT - there is a good chance that the sensor is sending some data rather than a simple RF burst. This would prevent the receiver from counting extraneous RF sources.

ak

Don't think so. See the photo album in my other reply today.

 

[Ed Sowell]

Could also modulate the RF burst with a single audio frequency, and demodulate at the receiver. I've done that. But that seems too primitive with today's technology.

Wouldn't know where to begin

 

[KMoffett]

From the Wizard of OZ: "Begin at the beginning!"

On the attached copy of one photo I indicated a reed switch with a big red arrow. On another of the tilt bucket I point to a magnet with a big red arrow. Every time the bucket tilts, the magnet passes the reed switch, causing it to momentarily pulse closed. This sends a pulse to the other circuit PCB indicating an event. Now, I would recommend you measure the voltage with a DMM across the reed switch. One measurement with the bucked at either extreme and one measurement with the bucket horizontally level so the reed switch remains closed. This may be the place to interface your "external pulser."

Ken

 

[Ed Sowell]

Works as you expected it would: See video

So, maybe I should try getting a few turns of wire around reed switch leads and solder on the exposed side of the board? Or would it be best to try attaching on the other side?

Then I would propose run those wires to a connector of some type mounted on the collector cover.

 

[KMoffett]

How is your electronics? Simple, a SPST push button switch wired in parallel to the reed relay. Or to automate, SPST relay contacts wired in parallel to the reed relay, with a pulser circuit driving the relay.

 

[Ed Sowell]

How is your electronics? Simple, a SPST push button switch wired in parallel to the reed relay. Or to automate, SPST relay contacts wired in parallel to the reed relay, with a pulser circuit driving the relay.

As usual, I was thinking about something more complex but maybe the push button would work. One issue is how many button pushes it would take to run the total up several inches of rain, as would be necessary if the total was 5-10" when the battery failure occurred. Typically, the display goes up in 0.04" increments. It would be easier if the circuit could send a stream of pulses, the number of which could be set with a knob or the like.

 

[Ed Sowell]

How is your electronics? Simple, a SPST push button switch wired in parallel to the reed relay. Or to automate, SPST relay contacts wired in parallel to the reed relay, with a pulser circuit driving the relay.

As usual, I was thinking about something more complex but maybe the push button would work. One issue is how many button pushes it would take to run the total up several inches of rain, as would be necessary if the total was 5-10" when the battery failure occurred. Typically, the display goes up in 0.04" increments. It would be easier if the circuit could send a stream of pulses, the number of which could be set with a knob or the like.

My experience with electronics is fair. Took a class or two in college and have done a few hobby-related things, including using (as I recall) the 555 timer IC. I'm ok on a project board but replacing components on a tiny board is beyond my skill and equipment.

 

[KMoffett]

If you now want a preset for the pulses you might want to invest your effort in learning and construction of a devise based on the Arduino micro-controller. Tons of information out there on programing functions like interfacing displays, keypads, and relays. If you are looking for a challenge and valuable learning experience, that's a way to go.

How do you know how much rain you missed, to add back in? Perhaps a cylindrical rain gauge in the back yard? Does the base station plot the amount against time/date? If so, you're going to report a deluge!

Ken

 

[Ed Sowell]

If you now want a preset for the pulses you might want to invest your effort in learning and construction of a devise based on the Arduino micro-controller. Tons of information out there on programing functions like interfacing displays, keypads, and relays. If you are looking for a challenge and valuable learning experience, that's a way to go.

I have an Arduino kit that someone gave me years ago. I looked at it once or twice but didn't follow through. I did a couple projects that required pulse generation and learned how to use the 555 IC by studying example circuits and asking questions, so no need to learn the Arduino. But, I have far more experience programming than electronics... from machine code on up, so maybe I should look into that.

How do you know how much rain you missed, to add back in? Perhaps a cylindrical rain gauge in the back yard? Does the base station plot the amount against time/date? If so, you're going to report a deluge!

We have always enjoyed seeing how we we doing for the year and comparing it with the newspaper, so at any give time we can remember it within a quarter inch or so. In the last episode was when the indoor unit battery corroded at one of the contacts. The display was still showing the stored rainfall but the outside temperature wasn't showing. Knowing that pulling the batteries would require a reset, I wrote it down. When I cleaned up the contacts and replaced the batteries it showed the temperature but 0 rainfall.

 

[KMoffett]

What is the model # of your rain monitor?

 

[Ed Sowell]

What is the model # of your rain monitor?

RGR126N

 

[Ed Sowell]

Does the base station plot the amount against time/date? If so, you're going to report a deluge!

Ken

No plot. The indoor unit (Ok, Base Station) saves the daily totals for previous 9 days that are displayed by successive button pushes.

BTW, I've ordered some Arduino components and have been reading up on it.

 

[KMoffett]

Something to do while "sheltering in place".