Rainfall Weather Station & Rainfall Sensor: Key Equipment for Precise Precipitation Monitoring

NiuBoL Rainfall Weather Station & Rainfall Sensor: The Key Equipment for Precise Precipitation Monitoring 

Accurate rainfall monitoring is one of the most critical data sources in meteorology, hydrology, agriculture, and water conservancy engineering. From flood early warning to water resource scheduling, agricultural irrigation to urban drainage design, precise real-time rainfall data underpins nearly every major decision. The core devices that make this possible — rainfall weather stations and rainfall sensors — are the foundational infrastructure ensuring stable operation of these systems. 

This article provides a comprehensive guide to NiuBoL’s rainfall monitoring solutions — from definitions, working principles, structural breakdown, installation methods and standards, common troubleshooting, to model selection — helping engineers, system integrators, and end users quickly understand how to select, deploy, and operate a reliable rainfall monitoring system.

Definition of Rainfall Weather Station and Rainfall Sensor 

A rainfall weather station is an automated meteorological observation system that continuously monitors rainfall amount, intensity, and start/end times. It consists of a data logger, rainfall sensor, communication module, power supply system, and can be expanded with wind speed/direction, temperature/humidity, solar radiation, and other sensors. Data is uploaded in real time to the monitoring platform. 

The core component — the rainfall sensor (rain gauge transmitter) — converts precipitation into recordable and transmittable electrical or pulse signals. 

NiuBoL rainfall sensors strictly comply with the following Chinese national standards:  

- SL61-2003 Specification for Hydrological Automatic Data Acquisition and Reporting System  

- GB11831-89 Telemetric Rain Gauge for Hydrological Data Acquisition Equipment  

- GB11832-89 Tipping-Bucket Rain Gauge  

Applicable fields: meteorological stations, hydrological stations, agriculture & forestry, national defense, water conservancy projects, power stations, reservoirs, and automatic hydrological telemetry systems.

Working Principle: Classic Tipping-Bucket Design + High-Sensitivity Trigger 

NiuBoL rainfall sensors adopt the internationally recognized tipping-bucket mechanism. 

Core principle:  

1. Rainwater enters the funnel through the collector mouth.  

2. It flows proportionally into the dual tipping-bucket chamber.  

3. When the bucket fills to the calibrated weight, it tips automatically.  

4. Each tip activates a reed switch, generating one pulse or electrical signal.  

5. The host counts the tips to calculate total rainfall and intensity. 

Each tip = 0.2 mm (6.28 ml) of rainfall. 

Advantages of this design:  

- Extremely stable and reliable mechanical structure  

- No drift over long-term use  

- Virtually maintenance-free  

- Industry-standard and globally accepted

Structural Breakdown: NBL-W-RS Rainfall Sensor 

Core Components  

- Collector diameter: Φ200 ± 0.6 mm (national standard compliant)  

- High-precision dual tipping-bucket mechanism  

- Magnetic reed switch trigger  

- Robust base bracket  

- Corrosion-resistant metal housing

NBL-W-RS Technical Specifications 

Measurement Capabilities  

- Cumulative rainfall (total via tip count)  

- Rainfall intensity (mm/min) via tips per unit time  

- Automatic start/end detection of rainfall events  

- Real-time digital output (RS485) — ideal for direct integration with PLCs, RTUs, DTUs, gateways, or weather station loggers

Installation Standards & Procedures 

To achieve optimal accuracy, follow industry-standard installation practices: 

Installation Standards  

- Height above ground: 0.7–1.5 m  

- No overhead obstructions; minimum distance to obstacles ≥ 4× height  

- Must be perfectly level  

- Collector in well-ventilated, fully open area  

- Avoid hard surfaces nearby that cause splash interference 

Installation Steps  

1. Secure a stable foundation or pole and ensure it is level  

2. Mount bracket and sensor  

3. Connect power and communication cables  

4. Verify free movement of tipping buckets  

5. Perform one calibration using 0.2 mm reference water volume  

6. Connect to NiuBoL logger or third-party data acquisition system

Common Faults & Troubleshooting Guide 

Application Scenarios 

NiuBoL rainfall sensors are widely deployed across industries, far beyond simple “rain measurement”: 

1. Meteorology – National/regional weather stations, university observatories  

2. Hydrology & Water Resources – Hydrological stations, reservoirs, flood warning systems  

3. Agriculture – Irrigation scheduling, smart farming, orchards  

4. Forestry – Forest fire risk assessment, ecological protection zones  

5. Urban Management – Urban drainage, flood-prone area monitoring, sponge city projects  

6. Transportation – RWIS for highways, railways, airports  

7. Hydropower & Energy – Inflow forecasting, PV/wind farm cleaning strategies  

8. Mining – Open-pit slope stability & landslide risk during rainy season  

9. Telecom Towers – Equipment maintenance planning  

10. Scientific Research & Environmental Monitoring  

11. Smart Cities & IoT Platforms

Model Selection Guide (Practical Tips for Integrators & Engineers) 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

1. Does the sensor require calibration?  

   Yes — annual calibration recommended for tipping accuracy. 

2. Can it operate below 0 °C?  

   Heating module required in freezing conditions. 

3. Why is the tipping-bucket design the industry standard?  

   Simple, reliable, highly controllable error. 

4. Can output signals be customized?  

   Yes — pulse, voltage, or RS485 available on request. 

5. What should be paid special attention to during installation?  

   Must be perfectly level and in an unobstructed location. 

6. Is data affected by strong wind?  

   High winds can deflect rain; keep away from buildings. 

7. Maximum RS485 transmission distance?  

   Up to 1,200 m standard; longer with shielded cable. 

8. Can the cable be extended?  

   Yes — use shielded cable. 

9. What if the bucket jams?  

   Power off → open cover → clear debris → check axle. 

10. Suitable for all-weather use?  

    Yes — designed for long-term outdoor exposure. 

11. Does it comply with hydrological standards?  

    Fully compliant with SL61-2003, GB11831-89, GB11832-89. 

12. Can it integrate with third-party platforms?  

    Yes — supports pulse or Modbus-RTU. 

13. What certifications does NiuBoL hold?  

    CE, ISO9001, RoHS, and calibration certificates.

Conclusion 

The NiuBoL rainfall weather station and rainfall sensor series deliver a reliable, standardized, high-precision precipitation monitoring solution. Strictly compliant with national hydrological standards, rugged in construction, accurate in measurement, and flexible in communication, they meet the needs of meteorology, hydrology, water conservancy, agriculture, power stations, and beyond. 

Whether you are bidding on a project, procuring equipment, or rapidly deploying field monitoring points, NiuBoL’s rainfall monitoring solutions guarantee peace of mind, efficiency, and confidence.

Tipping bucket rain gauge data sheet

NBL-W-ARS-Tipping-bucket-rain-gauge-instruction-manual.pdf

NBL-W-RS-Rain-sensors-instruction-manual-V4.0.pdf

NBL-W-DRS-Double-Tipping-Bucket-Rain-Sensor-Instruction-Manual.pdf