Product Description
The HeatingSave T3503 is a reliable and cost-effective choice for precipitation measurement, outputting both rain accumulation and intensity. The sensor package is about the size of a tennis
ball and completely sealed from the environment.
A built-in mounting arm allows for convenient mounting to weather station masts, buildings, and other infrastructure. The T3503 senses water hitting its outside surface using beams of infrared
light, modelling the principle used in automotive rain-sensing windshield wiper controls.
The optical gauge bounces the infrared beams within the sensor lens, and as rain drops hit the surface, the infrared light escapes through. Changes in the intensity of the infrared beams during rainfall are directly correlated with the size of the rain drop. The system automatically compensates for condensation and very small drops; it can detect rain drops less than a half millimetre in size!
The T3503 has multiple settings, including the “tipping bucket mode.” By counting each individual droplet and noting its size, the optical gauge correlates the data to that of a tipping bucket.
In many applications, the T3503 may be directly wired in to replace a tipping bucket. The T3503 also has a function referred to as “it’s raining” mode, used to trigger applications that must
be notified immediately once rainfall begins or precipitation hits a specific threshold. This is ideal for wet weather notification systems or for triggering samplers and other monitoring instruments. A built-in DIP switch allows the user to switch to the mode of operation best suited for the application.
The optical sensing technology overcomes many of the shortcomings of conventional tipping bucket rain gauges. The sensor works in mobile environments, there is no collecting funnel to clog with leaves, and the round shape makes it essentially self-cleaning.
KEY FEATURES
- Tipping Bucket – Replace your tipping bucket with a low maintenance alternative.
- “It’s Raining” – Close a skylight at the first sign of rain, and open it when it stops raining.
- Irrigation Control – This mode will measure both rain accumulation and rain intensity.
- Drop Detection – Use this mode if you want to do your own external data interpretation.
- Wiper control – This mode will control the wipers from off through intermittent and steady-slow speeds.
