Single tipping bucket and double tipping bucket rain gauge differences

Tipping bucket rain gauge is an indispensable equipment in meteorological and hydrological monitoring. Through the measurement of precipitation, scientific management and rational utilization of meteorological and land resources can be realized.

For example, in meteorological forecasting and disaster warning, accurate rainfall data can provide important basic support. And in hydrological monitoring, rainfall data can help scientists understand the impact of rainfall on the environment and groundwater resources, so as to better manage water resources.

The tipping bucket rain gauge is divided into single tipping bucket and double tipping bucket two kinds, single tipping bucket rain gauge and double tipping bucket rain gauge are using the principle of tipping bucket to measure the amount of precipitation instrument. The main difference between them lies in the number of tipping buckets, structural design and the resulting differences in measurement accuracy and application scenarios.

1. tipping bucket rain gauge working principle:

1.1 Single tipping bucket rain gauge

The rainwater collected by the water outlet, through the upper cylinder (funnel), injected into the measurement of the tipping bucket - tipping bucket is injection molded with engineering plastics with an intermediate partition divided into two equal-volume triangular bucket chamber. It is a mechanical bistable structure, when one hopper receives water, the other hopper is in a waiting state. When the volume of received rainwater reaches a predetermined value of 0.1mm/0.2mm/0.5mm, due to gravity to make their own overturning, in a waiting state, another bucket chamber in the receiving water working state. When the amount of water to reach a predetermined value, and their own overturning, in a waiting state. In the side wall of the hopper is equipped with magnets, it with the hopper flip from the dry reed switch side scanning, so that the dry reed switch on and off. That is, every time the tipping bucket is tipped over, the dry reed switch will be connected once to send a switch signal (pulse signal).

1.2 Double tipping bucket rain gauge

Rainwater enters the water-bearing mouth, through the funnel into the upper tipping bucket. The upper hopper to bear the amount of water to reach the upper limit (0.2mm/0.5mm), the flip, through the collection of funnel and throttle tube into the measurement of the hopper, the different intensity of natural precipitation adjusted to a more uniform medium intensity precipitation. Measuring hopper flip once for 0.1mm/0.2mm/0.5mm precipitation, followed by rainwater from the measuring hopper into the counting hopper in the middle of the counting hopper is equipped with a small magnet, the top of the magnet is equipped with a reed switch, counting the hopper flip once, the reed switch closes once, generating an impulse signal to the collector in the counter for counting, each counting for 0.1mm/0.2mm Each count is 0.1mm/0.2mm/0.5mm precipitation.

2. Single tipping bucket and double tipping bucket rain gauge structure differences:

2.1 Single Hopper Rain Gauge Structure

For the single tipping bucket rain gauge sensor, it is mainly composed of water bearer, filter funnel, tipping bucket and base. Precipitation through the water carrier, and then through a filter funnel into the tipping bucket, when the tipping bucket into a certain amount of rain, the tipping bucket flip, empty the bucket of water, the other head of the tipping bucket and begin to receive water, the tipping bucket of each flip action through the reed switch into a pulse signal transmitted to the collector.

2.2 Structure of double bucket rain gauge

    The double-dipper rain gauge sensor is mainly composed of water bearer, upper hopper, collecting funnel, measuring hopper and reed switch, etc. The precipitation collected by the water bearer is transmitted to the collector via the upper hopper. The precipitation collected by the water carrier enters the upper hopper through the funnel, and when it reaches a certain amount, the upper hopper starts to turn over, and the water enters the collecting funnel. When the water is injected into the metering hopper, the natural precipitation of different intensity is adjusted to a more uniform precipitation intensity to reduce the measurement error caused by the different intensity of precipitation. When the metering tumbler is subjected to a lower precipitation, the metering tumbler dumps the precipitation into the counting tumbler, causing the counting tumbler to turn over once. When the counting tumbler is turned over, the magnet associated with it scans the reed switch once, and the reed switch closes once instantly due to magnetization. In this way, every time the precipitation reaches a certain amount, a switching signal will be sent automatically.

3. Tipping bucket rain gauge measuring range:

  Single tipping bucket rain gauge: its measuring range is usually small, suitable for measuring smaller scale precipitation, such as showers.

  Double bucket rain gauge: due to its structural design, it can handle a larger range of precipitation, wider applicability, and can measure precipitation from large to heavy rainfall.

4. Tipping bucket rain gauge accuracy:

  Single Bucket Rain Gauge: Since there is only one bucket, if the reset of the bucket is not complete during precipitation or there are other factors affecting it, it may lead to an increase in the measurement error.

  Double Bucket Rain Gauge: The alternating use of two buckets allows for mutual correction, increasing the accuracy and reliability of the measurement. Precipitation can be measured more accurately even under extreme weather conditions.

Double bucket rain sensor on the other hand, the two buckets are tilted in a symmetrical manner, when one of the buckets is filled with rainwater and turned over, the other bucket starts to tilt and wait for the next turn over, so the double bucket rain sensor is more accurate.

5. tipping bucket rain gauge price:

The price of single and double tipping bucket rain gauges will vary depending on the brand, model, specification and supplier. Generally speaking, the price of a single tipping bucket rain gauge may range from $100 to $500, and the price of a double tipping bucket is slightly higher compared to a single tipping bucket, but in areas where high accuracy and data stability are required.

6. Rain gauge application scenarios:

  Single-dipper rain gauge: mostly used for small-scale precipitation observation, such as the basic observation of weather stations, precipitation monitoring in agriculture and forestry.

  Double bucket rain gauge: suitable for a wide range of precipitation monitoring, such as water conservancy projects, urban stormwater management, flood warning and other occasions that require high precision measurement of precipitation.

To summarize, double-bucket rain gauge in the function is more powerful, the measurement range and accuracy have obvious advantages, so in the higher requirements of the occasion is more suitable. The single-topper rain gauge, on the other hand, still has its application value in small-scale precipitation monitoring due to its simple structure and lower cost. When choosing a rain gauge, you should determine which type to use based on specific measurement needs and conditions.

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