v1rtu0s1ty
Senior Member
Good morning folks. I'm looking for an inexpensive and simple to setup rain sensor that I can configure in my M1. Is there something below $20 and that works very well?
Thanks!
Neil
Thanks!
Neil
looking for rain sensor
- Thread starter v1rtu0s1ty
- Start date
Desert_AIP
Senior Member
Do you just want on/off i.e., "It's raining", or do you want a counter showing you total rainfall?
I use a MiniClik Rain Sensor to signal on/off.
It is inexpensive and has a dry contact output.
Useful for turning off sprinklers, etc.
Counters are more expensive, ~$100 for a wired bucket type with dry contact output, you have to program the logic.
I use a MiniClik Rain Sensor to signal on/off.
It is inexpensive and has a dry contact output.
Useful for turning off sprinklers, etc.
Counters are more expensive, ~$100 for a wired bucket type with dry contact output, you have to program the logic.
v1rtu0s1ty
Senior Member
Yeah, I just need to know when it rains (on/off) so I can turn off sprinklers. I'll visit HD, Lowes or Menards and ask help from the people there. I'll search our archives to figure out how to setup my M1 for it.
Thanks a lot folks!
Thanks a lot folks!
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
I would play around with THIS leaf wetness sensor, possibly an analog zone type and series a resistor inline with it. You would have to write a rule to check this zone so often and look for a voltage change I believe. Been a while since I messed with this stuff but something like that should work for cheap. I just don't have time to 'play' like I used to or I would check this out further for you! 
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
Might want to look into THIS. Davis makes quality equipment, I have a Weather Wizard III, but no RGTB so I don't have 'first hand' knowledge on this device.dgage said:
Of course, you would need to connect this up to something that can 'count' contact closures, or get a weather station with some type of serial interface to home automation software (more expensive, just giving you options as I don't know what your HA infrastructure is like).
Awesome. Thanks for the link to the Rain Collector II as that looks like a great fit for my needs. I was thinking of a Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station but the only place I could put the anemometer was on the roof (walk out basement so 3 stories high in back/side where I would mount it) and dealing with the lightning ground seemed like a major, major ordeal. While I'd like to know more about the wind, this is what I really needed for irrigation purposes.
v1rtu0s1ty
Senior Member
BraveSirRobbin said:I would play around with THIS leaf wetness sensor, possibly an analog zone type and series a resistor inline with it. You would have to write a rule to check this zone so often and look for a voltage change I believe. Been a while since I messed with this stuff but something like that should work for cheap. I just don't have time to 'play' like I used to or I would check this out further for you!
I'm not really that good in electronics but I can follow just like how I was able to setup my whole home security system with the help from you and other folks here.
What do I need? Looks like this is cool since I'll be making them from scratch!
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
Actually, rethinking, you might get away with just connecting that to an Elk zone and have that zone as Normally open with no EOLR and see if a few drops of water would trigger it.v1rtu0s1ty said:I'm not really that good in electronics but I can follow just like how I was able to setup my whole home security system with the help from you and other folks here.
What do I need? Looks like this is cool since I'll be making them from scratch!
I just can't remember what the resistance readings were with this leaf wetness sensor when wet vs not wet. I would order a few just to play around with. If you did need a resistor, it would most likely be in 'parallel' as this is a normally open switch (instead of my initial 'series' statement earlier), but don't even worry about a resistor at first try.
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
FYI, there are wind speed sensors that will give you a contact closure when the wind exceeds an adjustable threshold for just this purpose.dgage said:
pete_c
Guru
Neil,
Do you utilize city or well water for your sprinkling system?
Over the last couple of years I have been playing with a digital rain guage. I also have a weather station (Davis), Dallas rain bucket and Rainbird rain switch.
The device electronics is similiar to what is utilize in automotive rain sensing windshield wiper controls.
It is $59 which is above your budget but works well and is easy to wire.
It is the Hydreon Optical Rain sensor. I have found the rain measurements to be a bit off but it works really nice as an on and off switch for rain in general.
http://www.rainsensors.com/
Do you utilize city or well water for your sprinkling system?
Over the last couple of years I have been playing with a digital rain guage. I also have a weather station (Davis), Dallas rain bucket and Rainbird rain switch.
The device electronics is similiar to what is utilize in automotive rain sensing windshield wiper controls.
It is $59 which is above your budget but works well and is easy to wire.
It is the Hydreon Optical Rain sensor. I have found the rain measurements to be a bit off but it works really nice as an on and off switch for rain in general.
http://www.rainsensors.com/
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
This is a bit off topic but if I had the money, THIS is the ultimate weather sensor that I would get! No moving parts for rain measurement or wind speed sensing! New technology has been incorporated for rain measurement that has moved away from the RGTB, which is great because they are prone to mechanical failure (after many many years) and need cleaned/debris removal occasionally.
pete_c
Guru
Very nice BSR! Ideally no moving parts is the best.
Yup here about 8 months after installation of my Davis Vantage Vue some birds (?) appeared to have chewed off two of three wind cups.
I am only guessing that or they broke off? I did find the rain cups on the lawn a few days after I noticed that they were not on the weather station.
I have another weather station nearby (AAG) and that one is still intact after some 10 years.
Yup here about 8 months after installation of my Davis Vantage Vue some birds (?) appeared to have chewed off two of three wind cups.
I am only guessing that or they broke off? I did find the rain cups on the lawn a few days after I noticed that they were not on the weather station.
I have another weather station nearby (AAG) and that one is still intact after some 10 years.
ControlFreak
New Member
+1 for Hydreon
http://www.rainsensors.com/
I mounted on roof. At first raindrop, all sky vents shut. Works perfectly. Not fooled by fog/condensation (I live at beach). I have it wired to a zone on my HAI (of course you could do same with ELK). "Dries out" immediately if you want, though you can always overcome that with logic.
It has different modes. You probably would use different mode than I am using. I have no affiliation with the company.
From product page:
RG-11 Modes of Operation
http://www.rainsensors.com/
I mounted on roof. At first raindrop, all sky vents shut. Works perfectly. Not fooled by fog/condensation (I live at beach). I have it wired to a zone on my HAI (of course you could do same with ELK). "Dries out" immediately if you want, though you can always overcome that with logic.
It has different modes. You probably would use different mode than I am using. I have no affiliation with the company.
From product page:
RG-11 Modes of Operation
- Tipping Bucket Emulation-- 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.
- Condensation / Frost Sensing
- Wiper control
- Irrigation Control-- No more watering during a downpour!
- Drop Detection
