Our tipping bucket rain gauges are of the highest quality with robust construction that is built to withstand harsh environments, however routine maintenance and inspection can keep your gauge running smoothly for years to come. The location of the installation, the environment around the gauge and even the frequency of rainfall are all factors that must be considered when developing a maintenance schedule.
The site selection of the gauge is the best place to start to ensure that you get consistent and reliable data for many years. To ensure the highest accuracy it is best to install the tipping bucket rain gauge in a location as close to the ground as possible and away from any high rise objects around the gauge. Additionally it is recommended that a bird guard (TB333) be installed in locations where birds will tend to fill the rain gauge with debris and guano. A site visit for service and calibration check every 2 to 3 months is ideal.
Tools that will make the job easier
∗Allen key supplied with the rain gauge
∗Small crescent wrench (adjustable spanner)
∗Spray bottle with denatured alcohol (methylated spirit)
∗Lint free tissue or rag
∗Field Calibration Device (FCD)
∗FCD instruction manual
∗Multimeter to check the reed switch
∗Small Philips head screwdriver
∗Water container
∗Recording pad (digital or manual)
- Watch our tipping bucket rain gauge maintenance video or follow the 15 easy steps below:
Use the Allen key supplied with the rain gauge to loosen the screws and remove the outer enclosure. - On the outer enclosure push the siphon assembly down from the top of the gauge and simultaneously pull from underneath, then use isopropyl alcohol to clean the filter.
- Using a 10 mm wrench to undo the siphon nut from the siphon body and remove siphon stem from siphon body, then clean siphon body with isopropyl alcohol.
- Remove the stem cap and spray with isopropyl alcohol, then spray the stem hole and blow to remove stuck particles.
- Once cleaned reassemble the siphon stem and body and tighten the nut gently.
- Use isopropyl alcohol to clean the siphon enclosure funnel.
- Reassemble filter and siphon enclosure, then push filter and siphon into the enclosure from inside the outer enclosure.
- For the next steps if you do not want the tips generated from testing the reed switch recorded, undo the wires to your data logger.
- Test the reed switches using a multimeter set to buzzer.
- Reassemble the enclosure to base & tighten the screws loosely.
- Unscrew the nozzle of the Field Calibration Device (FCD) and fill with water to the top lip, then screw the nozzle back on.
- (Before you begin the calibration pour 15 ml of water in the funnel to wet the siphon and eliminate the loss) Using the FCD 3-legged adaptor, place the FCD above the funnel and turn the valve on to start the calibration.
- Using the FCD 3-legged adaptor, place the FCD above the funnel and turn the valve on to start the calibration. After opening the valve, 653 ml of water will start flowing through the rain gauge. You can use pen and paper to record the number of tips.
- Check the FCD chart for the proper number of tips.
- Once done, remove the enclosure and reassemble the reed switch wire (if it was removed), then reassemble outer enclosure and use the Allen key to tighten the screws.
