Lambrecht 15189 User manual

1
Operating Instruction
Precipitation Sensors (15189) + (15189 HL)
(15189) Precipitation Sensor Operating Instructions
Features
•Precipitation Sensor for automatic weather stations
•Exchangeable, weighing tipping bucket system according to Joss-
Tognini
•2 cm³ (2g water) tipping bucket for precise precipitation measur-
ing in regions with normal rain falls
•4 cm³ (4g water) tipping bucket for precise precipitation measur-
ing in regions with heavy rain falls/ tropical rain
•Connectable to external data logger, e. g. TROPOS
•Winter-fit model (15189 HL) with electronically controlled 2-circuit
heating
•Weatherproof materials (anodized aluminium, stainless steel)
guarantee a long durability
•Funnel according to the WMO Standard No. 8

2
Operating Instruction
Precipitation Sensors (15189) + (15189 HL)
(15189) Precipitation Sensor Operating Instructions
Installation
Mounting of the sensor
The precipitation sensor (15189) must be mounted on a tube
or pole with an outside diameter of 60 mm. A metallic exten-
sion tube with a minimum length of 100 mm is recommend-
ed, if a wooden pole is used.
For easy adjustment place a spirit-level on the upper mea-
suring edge.
Attention! Do not damage the measuring edge !
Place the precipitation sensor (15189) on the end of the pole
until it fits in. By using the provided allen key (4 mm) , tighten
the screws in the mounting pedestal evenly. Adjust the upper
measurement edge to an exact horizontal position. By doing
this, the tipping bucket will automatically be positioned verti-
cally inside the device and will works symmetrically.
Dismounting of the protective covering
Loosening the screw (fig. 1) with the provided 3 mm allen key
until the protective covering can be turned right to the stop
position and take off upward then.
Assembly of the Tipping bucket
To avoid damage to the tipping bucket during trans-
port, it is separately packed and should be insert-
ed in the precipitation sensor (15189) on site only
after mounting the gauge on the mast.
For the assembly first you must remove the pro-
tective covering.
Attention! Do not damage the sharp edges of the
gauge and do not bend the middle dividing plate!
When fitting the tipping bucket, proceed with ut-
most caution so that the sharp edges of the tip-
ping bucket are not damaged and the middle wall
is not bent!
Protective covering
Pole/tube
Mounting pedestal
Fastening screw
Measuring edge
Function
The weighing precipitation sensor (15189) measures the
rain quantity by a tipping bucket developed by Joss-Tognini,
the bearings of which have been arranged for low friction.
Errors that normally occur due to incomplete draining because
of surface tension are automatically compensated by the
specific form of the tipping bucket.
The tipping bucket can hold 2 cm³ (2 g) resp. 4 cm³ (4 g) of
water. The collecting surface of 200 cm² (WMO standard)
means that one bucket charge is equivalent to a precipitation
rate of 0.1 mm resp. 0.2 mm per square meter.
If the bucket is tipped, the reed contact that is integrated in
the sensor will be closed. This pulse output can be electri-
cally scanned, remotely transmitted and recorded.
A bounce-free signal can be achieved by using the correspond-
ing electrically connection. Otherwise the signal of the reed con-
tact can be used directly, not bounce-free, if this function will be
carried out by an appropriate data logger (e. g. TROPOS).
The precipitation sensor (15189) is mounted on a pedes-
tal that is equipped with a connection piece and are attached
to a tube with an outside diameter of 60 mm.
For application in snowfall regions the heater equipped mod-
el (15189 HL) ensures all-year-round measurement. Two sep-
arate controlled heating circuits with lowest hysteresis are
providing an optimal temperature at which snowing up of the
sensor will normally be prevented and evaporation from the
heated surfaces will be minimized.
The precipitation sensor (15189) is made of weather-resis-
tant aluminium and stainless steel. This ensures a long du-
rability.
These high-tech precipitation sensors comply with the regu-
lations WMO.
Dimensional Drawing
Fig. 1
Fig. 2

3
Operating Instruction
Precipitation Sensors (15189) + (15189 HL)
(15189) Precipitation Sensor Operating Instructions
E
F
Attention! In order to protect the tipping bucket the
dirt spiral must be inserted in the collecting funnel
(Fig. 3)
During operation the tipping bucket lies on the precision buck-
et bearings. To reduce the friction, which is produced at one
tipping, the bearings are made of abrasion-resistant delrin.
The mounted tipping bucket is secured against eventual
changes of position by means of two plates.
To insert the tipping bucket, first the relocatable locking plate
C(Fig. 4) must be pushed back.
Now insert the tipping bucket F. Make sure that the magnet E
attached at the middle wall of the tipping bucket rests under
the capsule with the embedded reed contact D.
Finally the tipping bucket must be secured by pushing back
the relocatable locking plate C.
A: Tipping bucket bearings
B: Fixed locking plate
C: Relocatable locking plate
D: Reed contact
E: Magnet (here shown through inclination of the bucket)
F: Tipping bucket
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

4
Operating Instruction
Precipitation Sensors (15189) + (15189 HL)
(15189) Precipitation Sensor Operating Instructions
Electrical connections
The sensor will be connected to the cable by leading the ca-
ble through the conduit gland to the connector inside the sen-
sor housing. Recommended cable type:
2 (4) x AWG 2O CU L sw;
diameter approx. 5.1 mm
The cable should not be longer than 11 m.
When the cable is transferred inside the ground it is
recommended to protect the cable with a protecting
plastic tube.
Use of the bounce-free output signal
(see Fig. 7, page 6)
The usual circuit of the precipitation sensors is suitable for
connection to data loggers without an own bounce-free im-
pulse input. For this application the clamps 3 and 4 are used.
Make sure, that the current supply for the precipita-
tion sensor with usual circuit is not less than 100 μA
(see also technical data).
Use of the direct output signal
(see Fig. 8, page 7)
This circuit variant of the precipitation sensors is suitable for
connection to data loggers with a bounce-free impulse input.
For this application the clamps 1 and 6 are used. In this case
the current supply of the electronics with 100 μA is not nec-
essary.
The LAMBRECHT data loggers (TROPOS and SYNMET) are
equipped with such a bounce-free input. Thus the direct out-
put signal of the reed contact can be used. An additional ben-
efit is a low-current effect.
(15189 HL) Variety with heating
... i. e. with a controlled 2-circuit heating for collecting funnel
and drain pipe.
Electrical connections
For the connection of the heating a 4-core cable is required,
which has to apply and connect to the power supply unit ac-
cording to the connecting diagrams with heating.
The function of the heating elements can be tested also
at ambient temperatures above the control temperature of the
solid-state thermostat. For this simple test a regular magnet
has to be held close to the blue housing of the switching cir-
cuit. When reaching a surface temperature of approximately
50°C the current will be switched off.
Both blue thermostat modules are fitted internally on the fun-
nel surface as well as on the bottom of the housing.
The operational conditions will be indicated with colored light-
emitting diodes (LED) on the thermostatic module:
green: supply voltage
red: heating on
green
red
Fig. 5

5
Operating Instruction
Precipitation Sensors (15189) + (15189 HL)
(15189) Precipitation Sensor Operating Instructions
Initial operation
If the sensor system has been completely mounted and elec-
trically assembled, the sensor will be ready for operation.
An operational check has to be performed.
Maintenance and operational check
The precipitation sensor is nearly maintenance-free. The
sensor should be checked and cleaned periodically in order
to guarantee its proper operation, because dirt accumulation
may cause errors of measurement. The time interval of clean-
ing depends on the local conditions.
The operational check of the sensor may be performed
by the use of artificial precipitation. The volume of a 200
cm³ resp. 400 cm³ (by 4 cm³ buckets ) test container of
water must be piped into the collecting funnel through a
nozzle in such a way that the drops fall into the funnel be-
side the outlet. The nozzle of the test container (approx.
diameter 0.6 mm) should be adjusted to allow a com-
plete water run out into the funnel within 10 to 12 minutes.
After the artificial precipitation has gone through, 100 ± 2
bucket tippings should have counted.
Rinse the sensor thoroughly for cleaning. Clinging parti-
cles of dirt in the collecting funnel or outlet pipe may be
removed with a piece of wood.
If unsatisfying measurement results occur after this
cleaning procedure, the tipping bucket should be disas-
sembled for cleaning.
Absolute care must be taken not to damage the
tipping bucket!
The dismounted tipping bucket can be cleaned by placing it
in warm water with some scouring material and by carefully
scraping off unwanted dirt by using a small piece of wood.

6
Operating Instruction
Precipitation Sensors (15189) + (15189 HL)
(15189) Precipitation Sensor Operating Instructions
00.15189.302 000 (2 ccm) 00.15189.002 000 (2 ccm)
00.15189.304 000 (4 ccm) 00.15189.004 000 (4 ccm)
.. with heating ... without heating
Fig. 7
Connecting diagrams for use of the bounce-free signal output (standard)

7
Operating Instruction
Precipitation Sensors (15189) + (15189 HL)
(15189) Precipitation Sensor Operating Instructions
00.15189.302 000 (2 ccm) 00.15189.002 000 (2 ccm)
00.15189.304 000 (4 ccm) 00.15189.004 000 (4 ccm)
... with heating ...without heating
Connecting diagrams to data logger TROPOS
Fig. 8

8
Operating Instruction
Precipitation Sensors (15189) + (15189 HL)
(15189) Precipitation Sensor Operating Instructions
Quality System certified by DQS according to
DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 Reg. No. 003748 QM 15189HL-ST1_b-de.pmd 44.08Subject to change without notice.
Wilh. LAMBRECHT GmbH
Friedländer Weg 65-67
37085 Göttingen
Germany
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
E-Mail [email protected]
Internet www.lambrecht.net
Accessories
(1518 S4) Stainless steel mast
Id-No. 00.15180.400 000
(1518 S8) Stainless steel concrete foundation mast
Id-No. 00.15180.800 000
(1518 U21a) Protection ring
Id-No. 32.15180.021 010
(1518-49) Dirt pan (spare part)
Id-No. 33.15180.049 000
(15188 U60i) Connecting cable sensor/ data logging
L=7 m Id-No. 32.15188.060 090 (2-core)
For varieties with heating (H-varieties)
(1496 S62) Power supply unit
Id-No. 00.14966.200 000
(15188 U61b) Connecting cable sensor/ power supply unit
for mounting at the mast
L≈1 m; Id-No. 32.15188.061 020 (4-core)
(14622 S22) Holder for power supply unit on the mast
Id-No. 32.14622.220 000
(15188 U61i) Connecting cable sensor/ power supply unit
L=7 m; Id-No. 32.15188.061 090 (4-core)
Technical data
(15189) Variety with 2 cm3 bucket, unheated
Id-No. 00.15189.002 000
Measuring principle Weighing tipping bucket designed
acc. to Joss-Tognini
Measuring range 2 cm³ (2g water) - volume of bucket
0...8 mm/ min
Resolution 0.1 mm
Accuracy ± 2% with intensity correction
Range of application 0...+70°C - measuring
Pulse output Reed contact · polarity protected ·
bounce-free signal
Current consump. Max. 100 μA · typical 50 μA
Supply voltage 4...30 VDC
Load Max. 30 VDC/ 0.5 A
Dimensions See dimensional drawing
Suitable for mounting Ø 60 mm
Weight Approx. 3kg
Standards WMO-No. 8 • VDI 3786 Bl. 7
EN 50081/82 • VDE 0100
(15189 W4) Variety with 4 cm3 bucket, unheated
Data like (15189), but for very high precipitation intensity
Id-No. 00.15189.004 000
Measuring range 4 cm³ (4g water) - volume of bucket
0...16 mm/ min
Resolution 0.2 mm
(15189 HL) Variety with 2 cm3bucket, heated
Data like (15189) 00.15189.002 000, but in additional with con-
trolled 2-circuit-heating:
Id-No. 00.15189.302 000
Heating data Electronic controlled, dual-circuit
Accuracy 4°C ± 2°C, controlled temperature
within a range of -20...+4°C
Heating power 80 W (funnel)
70 W (outlet/ tipping bucket)
Supply voltage 24 VDC / 150 W
Range of application -25...+70°C (no icing, no snowdrift)
(15189 HL W4) Variety with 4 cm3bucket, heated
Date like (15189 W4) 00.15189.004 000, but in additional with
controlled 2-circuit-heating, like (15189 HL)
Id-No. 00.15189.304 000
Safety instructions
This system is designed according to the state-of-the-art
accepted safety regulations. However, please note the follow-
ing rules:
1. Before setting into operation, please read all appropriate
manuals!
2. Please take notice of internal and state-specific guidelines
and/or rules for the prevention of accidents (e.g. the pro-
fessional association). If necessary ask your responsible
safety representative.
3. Use the system according to the manual’s regulations
only.
4. Always leave the manual at hand at the place of work of
the system.
5. Use the system in technically correct conditions only! You
have to eliminate influences immediately, which impair the
security .
6. Please note the loss of warranty and non-liability by un-
authorized manipulation of the system. You need a writ-
ten permission of the Wilh. LAMBRECHT GmbH for
changes of system components. These activities must
be operated by a qualified technician.
7. Prevent the ingress of liquids into the devices without
permission.