Good rain sensor solution

[galinette]

I just finished my automated irrigation system with Rain Bird valves and Z-Wave relays. One of the goal was to optimize water quantities depending on rain fall. And then, rain sensor from DarkSky just stopped working. Since WU also fully stopped working last year, I started to consider that online weather services are not a long-term reliable solution, and considered buying a water sensor.

But, reading the reviews of 433MHz rain meters, many users complain about the values being totally off when compared to a classical "vase" rain meter.

What do you think? Is there any device which provides reliable data, and that can be easily connected to Domoticz with network, RFX433 or even ZWave?

Thanks!

[emme]

I'm using a orbit wired rain sensor... not rain meter... I just need to know it is raining or not
a simple NC contact that opens when special disks in it get wet.

Now I'm moving to claber sensor (same usage) because of the rain hole that is much wider....
claber uses a 433Mhz device (CLABER 90831 )

the only isse with those kind of devices is that they send rain switch until they get dry (which is not the same moment it stops raining, but most probably few hours later)
ciao
M

[elythomaslumber]

@emme

I'm also thinking about a rain sensor which should immediately send a signal to close one specific blinds but also to open it soon if raining stops.
What I found is this ready made item: https://www.reichelt.de/rain-sensor-12- ... 8916.html?. It needs a of course a transmitter or directly connected to an RP or something. The good feature here is that it is heated!

Another idea is to combine a rain sensor and an Arduino compatible ESP8266 WiFi transmitter:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01D9JCK6K/ref ... -CbEH8N6JW
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B078J7LDLY/ref ... -CbKCTBMVP

...and a heating foil:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07HR9T8S2/ref ... -Cb85EXWRD

[emme]

I've used tons of those devices and they all gets unusable after few months

The reichelt device is not only a rain sensor: it'a relay with a sensor and needs to be powered with a 12 or 24v Vcc.

I've seen somewhere in the internet an OPTIC rain sensor like this: http://www.pic-control.com/optical-rain-sensor/ but it still needs to be powered with 12v and they are extremely expensive.

Willing to build one by myself, but got no time for

[elythomaslumber]

Thanks for your experience! This optical sensor seems to be just what I need but the price is unaceptable (116€).
However about the simple detector from China it could be a solution to gild them.

[emme]

they are too much expensive too....

I'm wondering if a simple beam sensor under a transparent dome could be enough to understand if it's raining or not... (at least THIS is what an optic rain sensor is!

[elythomaslumber]

Found a discussion in a german forum here: https://www.symcon.de/forum/threads/241 ... egensensor
...and a link...
...here for 59 US$: http://rainsensors.com/
http://rainsensors.com/how-it-works/

[emme]

mmmh... looks great!!!!

[hoeby]

Would it be an option to have that plate pcb design. But than not made from pcb with copper, which stops working after a few months. But make it from carbon plate?

[chrisfraser05]

I'd say this one

https://www.homecontrolshop.com/products/popp-z-rain

[hoeby]

This idea also looks nice, a little nork work to make it a nice functional part, but nothing that can't be done

https://youtu.be/zFDsYRGtoW8

It is that i am going to move i about a month, that i can't try to build it.
But it looks a possible solution to make it with espeasy and a photoresistor.
Will be on my wish list to make this. Looks like a fun project to make

OK, it doesn't measure how much rain-fall.
But those cheap chinese pcb plates also don't measure rain-fall

[kevster]

I still use an Oregon one
https://www.weatherspares.co.uk/oregon- ... -875-p.asp

They are pricey but they work. I have no way of knowing if the volume is correct but graphs look correct against local weather.

[hoeby]

Are there people who are interested, to make a rain gauge, together?
I have some ideas. But doing it together may result in a better result.

The idea is to make a 3d printer rain gauge.
But keep the basic of the design that way, that it is stackable.
This way the idea is to have a radar reflector beneed it and maybe a wind-sensor.
People than can choose to make different setups. Like only wind and pressure sensors. Or the whole package (rain, wind, pressure).
For electonics i was thinking an esp8266/wemos with espeasy. Already a lot of information can be found on this hardware. Which would be no problem to connect it to domoticz.

The rain gauge would be something like this,
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2163969

Wind sensor would be something without moving parts. This will be a challenge, but could be done.
Search for Somfy Netatmo, to get an idea.

What do you guys/ladies think?
Are there people who want to start a project like this, together?

[ahjwinth]

The rain meter is identical to my Davis vantage rain meter. The davis is accurate compared to an ordinary rain meter.
Once the days are shorter I will get my 3D printer up and running and try the meter from thingiverse. I like the design and adding the signal to an rpi Zero together with temperature should make it work.

[rolandtwilt]

I don't know if this forum is still read, I hope so. I bought a simple rain sensor at 433 mhz. Put batteries in and he was recognized.
it is recognized as an on/off switch and that is not the intention .... because it now remains on "on" for a very long time, until the switch has dried up and that sometimes takes hours. Then the rain has stopped for more than 3 hours. How do I do this, help?

[kevster]

Hi

Yes forum is pretty active.

The rain sensors operate on buckets as you probably know. Each time the bucket fills of rain, this equals a certain amount (mm) of rain. This triggers a pulse in the sensor, which is sent via 433mhz.

They all work this way, its just Domoticz knows about certain devices as being rain sensors. Do you know what type and model it has been found as ?

Ids

[rolandtwilt]

it is part of a weather station;Emos Wireless Weather Station.
I have tried to link the station to Domoticz and despite the fact that this set is supported by the RFLink I am unable to link it. can you help me?

[Treve]

Look at this.

https://www.reichelt.nl/nl/nl/regensens ... ensor&&r=1

In combination with a RF switch as Zigbee, Z-Wave or 433MHz you have a good rain sensor with heating.

[alanlsmith]

Look at this.

https://www.reichelt.nl/nl/nl/regensens ... ensor&&r=1

In combination with a RF switch as Zigbee, Z-Wave or 433MHz you have a good rain sensor with heating.

And a 12 volt supply.

I have just started to use one of these, wired to a Raspberry Pi.
Seems to work well doesn’t suffer from corrosion (yet) as it has gold plated contacts and is fully encapsulated and has a zero volt relay. The heating is very ‘mild’ and only on when wet. It’s not adjustable but is pretty sensitive to moisture but the heater should prevent it getting affected by dew, frost etc.
I’ll report back after a while.

[rolandtwilt]

Thanks for your advice!!