V30 / 328-10618 Rain Sensor Questions and Troubleshooting
How Do I Interpret the Rain Readings?
You have the option to have the rainfall timeframe you prefer, to be shown on the station all the time. Simply press and release the RAIN button to select:
• NOW – Shows rainfall for the current rain event. Starts recording when rain begins and stops recording when there has been no additional rainfall for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes this reading reset to zero.
• 1 Hour – Shows rainfall in the past 60 minutes. This is a rolling value for the past 60 minutes and not a set time. As time passes without rain, this values will count down to zero.
• 24 Hours – Shows rainfall in the past 24 hours as a rolling value that updates every hour to show the past 24 hours. As time passes without rain, this values will count down to zero.
• 7 Days – Rainfall for the past 7 days. This is a rolling 7 day period, not a Monday through Sunday record. Updates at midnight each day. As time passes without rain, this values will count down to zero.
• Month - Record is from the first day of the month to the last day of the month. When in the middle of the month, it will show the readings from the first day of the month to the last full day. Example. If today is the 15th of the month, the month rain reading is from the 1st to the 14th. After midnight, the 15th will be included.
Note: Press and release the PLUS (+) button to view up to 11 previous months.
• Year – Shows rainfall for the current month and the past 11 months combined.
• Total – Shows all rainfall from the time the station was setup until the station was powered down or the value was reset. The total rainfall can show years’ worth of data.
Note: As time passes without rain, the 1 hour, 24 hour, and 7 day rain totals will count down to zero.
How Do I Reset the Rain Readings?
Your rainfall readings are reset individually.
1. Press and release the RAIN button to view the history reading you wish to reset.
2. Hold the MINUS (-) button for 5 seconds to reset that rain value to zero.
3. Press and release the LIGHT button to exit.
How Often Does My Rain Sensor Update?
• Your Rain Sensor checks for any change in Rainfall every 45 seconds.
• Any change of 0.2mm of Rainfall will cause the sensor to send a reading.
• If there is no change in rainfall, the sensor will transmit every 3 minutes to preserve battery life.
Why are there dashes for rain readings?
Dashes indicate the connection is lost between your station and the rain sensor.
• My first thought is always to check that my batteries are good. If it has been working and now is not, low batteries are the most common connection problem.
• Next, check your distance, resistance and interference. If everything was working previously at the same location, this is likely not the issue. However sometimes there is new growth on trees or bushes that cause another barrier. Radio Frequency (RF) signal does not travel well through foliage due to the moisture content.
• Occasionally adding a new wireless electronic device to the home will cross the signal path for the sensor. If this occurs try moving your station a few feet or turning the station 90 degrees for a better angle to receive the sensor signal.
• When you have good batteries, and good location, press and release the SENSOR button until you see your sensor ID. Hold the PLUS (+) button for 3 seconds and your station will search for your individual sensor.
• If you regain connection while the sensor is mounted, great. If you do not regain connection, bring the sensor within 10 feet of the station and search again.
Why do my rain readings come and go?
• RF (radio frequency) communication may come and go occasionally. This can be normal in some environments (e.g. moister climates).
• If a sensor goes out, please wait 2-4 hours for it to reconnect on its own. Please be patience – these stations can reconnect on, after many hours out.
• RF (radio frequency) communication is not always 100% on. Certain temporary conditions can cause it to go out for a time (e.g. 100% humidity).
If a miss happens:
• If your rain sensor loses connection to your station for any reason, the station will show dashes after 30 minutes.
• The station will search for 5 minutes every hour to reconnect with rain sensor.
• Be sure you have good batteries. Manually search for your sensor.
Try this:
• Bring your rain sensor within 10 feet of your station and make sure it is connected to the station. Your station will show 0.00 for rain when connected and no rain has occurred.
• After 15 minutes move the rain sensor into the next room with a wall between the sensor and the station for 1 hour.
• If there is no loss of signal in that hour, move the rain sensor just outside.
• Continue moving the rain sensor back to its original location.
• If you lose connection, look for sources of interference.
Why is my rainfall reading low?
Low rain readings indicate the rain sensor and station are connected.
• Check that the rocker tips freely.
• Check the funnel and the inside of the rain sensor for insect nests or debris that may cause loss of rocker motion.
• Be sure to mount the rain sensor level.
Complete a Tip Test:
Write down the Total Rain reading or reset the Rain Total to 0.00. With rain sensor mounted slowly pour water into the funnel to tip the rocker of the rain sensor 10 times. Wait at least 2 minutes for all the rain to collect. Repeat three times.
• Compare these tests. If they are the same, then your rain is reading correctly. If the rain readings are different, repeat the test 3 times to avoid human error. Then look for causes such as mounting too tight or debris clogging the funnel.
Why is my rainfall reading high?
• Check for sources of RF (radio frequency) interference such as other wireless rain sensors, ham radios or electric transformers.
• Keep the station six feet from cordless phones or wireless routers etc.
Complete a Tip Test:
Write down the Total Rain reading or reset the Rain Total to 0.00. With rain sensor mounted slowly pour water into the funnel to tip the rocker of the rain sensor 10 times. Wait at least 2 minutes for all the rain to collect. Repeat three times.
• Compare these tests. If they still read high then contact support.
How can I clean the rain sensor?
1. Remove rain funnel (open locking tabs on both sides and pull off funnel)
2. Gently remove debris or insects inside the rain sensor.
3. Clear debris from drain vents.
4. Clear debris from the rain funnel.
5. Reinstall the rain funnel.
Note: Do not oil the rain sensor.