rain gauge tipping bucket

0.2 mm is common for hydrological studies where you want to capture light rain and short-duration intensity. 0.5 mm works for basic agricultural or weather station needs where you don't need that fine granularity. There's no extra cost difference—it's just a calibration adjustment. If your project requires high-resolution data for urban drainage studies, go smaller. For general precipitation monitoring, 0.5 mm reduces data volume without losing much practical information.

Almost certainly yes. The gauge outputs a simple contact closure—like a button press—every tip. Most loggers recognize that as a pulse count. You just need to configure the logger to know what each pulse represents. We can provide wiring details and calibration certificates. If you're using something proprietary, we'll check the specs with you.

The main thing is keeping the funnel clean. Leaves, bird droppings, or dust will block the inlet. A monthly check is usually enough. Also, test the bucket balance once or twice a year—a simple pour test with a known water volume. If you're in a dusty or polluted area, you might need to clean the bucket chambers too. The switch itself rarely fails, but we sell replacement reed switch assemblies just in case.

Yes. We add a thermostatically controlled heater under the funnel and around the bucket assembly. It's typically 12V or 24V DC, so you'll need a power source. It won't turn snow into perfect real-time liquid equivalent, but it will melt the catch so you don't get a blocked funnel or frozen bucket.

A manual gauge is cheaper upfront, but you pay in time and travel to collect data. An automatic tipping bucket gauge gives you continuous records without site visits. If you factor in labor over a few years, the automatic one pays off, especially in remote locations. We can help you justify that to your budget team with case examples.