Solid State Rain Gauges

Solid state optical rain gauges based on scintillation technology are among the most accurate available for professional applications. Unlike tipping bucket gauges, they have no moving parts, suffer no evaporation errors, are insensitive to clogging, and measure rain rates from 0.001 to 500 mm/hr with 5% accumulation accuracy and 0.001 mm resolution — even in extreme temperatures from -50°C to 60°C.

Solid state rain gauges use optical scintillation technology with no mechanical parts, eliminating issues like moving-part wear, clogging, evaporation errors, and wind-induced inaccuracies that affect tipping bucket gauges. They require virtually zero scheduled maintenance, operate continuously in all climates, and provide real-time instantaneous rain rate data every 10 seconds.

Yes. OSI's solid state rain gauges operate on nominal 12 VDC with a maximum of 400 mA, making them fully compatible with solar panels and battery power systems. They are designed for unattended remote installations and have been deployed globally, including in Antarctica, on data buoys, and at unmanned weather stations with cellular communication options.

OSI solid state rain gauges support RS-232 as standard, with options for RS-485, Ethernet, MODBUS RTU over serial RS-232, Limited Distance Modems (LDM), and cellular modems. This flexibility allows integration with SCADA systems, automated weather networks, and remote telemetry platforms without additional hardware conversion.

No. OSI's optical scintillation sensors are inherently insensitive to dirt and debris buildup on the optics. No scheduled cleaning is required, and the instruments include built-in continuous self-test and self-diagnostics. Field calibration is typically only recommended every two years, significantly reducing lifecycle maintenance costs compared to conventional gauges.

Yes. OSI's rain gauges and precipitation sensors comply with National Weather Service (NWS) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) weather code standards. The APG and WIVIS sensor families output a minimum of 10 to over 60 NWS/WMO weather identification codes, making them suitable for automated weather observation systems and global-scale climate monitoring programs.