The rain[e]H3 precipitation sensor measures precipitation amount and intensity. The rain[e]H3 combines the advantages of the latest weighing technology with a self-emptying precision collection vessel. This achieves high resolution and precision with a significantly smaller overall volume. Thus, the rain[e]H3 offers higher resolution and precision than conventional precipitation sensors with a tipping bucket measuring principle, while being significantly smaller than conventional weighing sensors because it does not require a collection vessel.
The main sensor is a high-precision load cell with overload protection. Its temperature coefficient is determined, if necessary, using a temperature sensor inside the housing. The reed contact pulses triggered by tilting the collection vessel are used to correct errors during periods of high precipitation intensity. In addition, the self-emptying mechanism of the collection vessel allows for uninterrupted weighing.
The rain[e]H3 measures or calculates the following values :
►► Precipitation
The rain[e]H3 displays the rainfall in real time with a maximum resolution of 0.001 mm .
►► Rainfall intensity of the last minute
The rain[e]H3 measures six times per minute and adds these values up in a moving sum - this means that every time a new value is measured, it is added to the previous five and thus generates the new intensity value for the last minute.
►► Precipitation intensity since the last call. The difference in rainfall since the last call is divided by the time since the last call. If the last call was less than 30 seconds ago, the intensity of the last minute is automatically used.
►► Rainfall since last retrieval Difference in amount between the new and the last retrieval.
►► Minimum precipitation intensity of the last x minutes (RS485 interface). For x minutes, the intensity value of the last minute is compared with that of the previous minute, and the lower of the two is retained.
►► Maximum precipitation intensity of the last x minutes (RS485 interface) For x minutes, every minute the value for the intensity of the last minute is compared with that of the previous minute and the higher of the two is retained.
►► Variance of measured values over 4 s
The RS485 interface can be operated in talker or WLASCII mode.
For applications in regions with seasonally or permanently low temperatures, the rain[e]H3 is available as a heated version. The internal heating is divided into three parts: a 40 W heater along the inside of the rain[e]H3's collecting funnel melts solid precipitation, a 70 W ring heater heats the collecting opening, and a 60 W heating plate beneath the protective grille and the collecting vessel prevents the outlet from completely icing over. At its operating temperature of -40...70 °C, the target temperature of the funnel surface of the heated rain[e]H3 is 2 °C. Operational capability is continuously monitored and can be queried via the RS485 interface.
The heating can be deactivated using the rain[e]H3 Commander configuration tool .
The heater is switched on by default. The heater is powered via a separate power cable.
