INSTALLING THE RAIN GAUGE

Selecting a Location

Select a mounting location for the rain gauge that is:

•a flat, level surface

•outdoors, within 10 feet of where you mount the rain gauge’s solar transmitter

•in an area not blocked on the top or sides, so rain can freely reach the rain gauge (for example, not under an over- hang or too close to a building or fence)

Cautions:

•To prevent false rainfall readings caused by water splashes, do not choose a location that is not level or that is too close to the ground, a swimming pool, lawn sprinklers, or anywhere water might accumulate or run off.

•The screen in the cylinder of the rain gauge filters most debris (such as leaves) that might fall into the rain gauge. To avoid frequent build-up of debris in the cylinder, do not mount the rain gauge too close to trees or plants.

Removing the Packing Tape

Protective packing tape is installed inside your rain gauge to protect it from damage during shipment. Follow these steps to remove the packing tape before you mount the rain gauge.

1.Use a small Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws on the base of the rain gauge.

2.Lift the rain gauge’s cylinder off its base, then carefully remove the packing tape from the bucket assembly.

3.Replace the cylinder on the base, align its screw holes, then reinsert and tighten the screws.

Connecting the Rain Gauge to a Solar Transmitter

1.Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen the screws on the cover of the rain gauge’s solar transmitter, then remove the cover.

2.Install two AA batteries in the compart- ment according to the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked inside.

Cautions:

•Use only fresh batteries of the re- quired size and recommended type.

•Do not mix old and new batteries, dif- ferent types of batteries (standard, al- kaline, or rechargeable), or recharge- able batteries of different capacities.

3.Insert the modular plug at the base of the rain gauge into the modular jack in the rain gauge’s solar transmitter’s com- partment.

4.Align the rubber gasket on the rain gauge’s cord with the groove in the solar transmitter.

5.Replace the cover and secure it with its screws. The indicator on the solar trans- mitter flashes while data is transmitting.

6.Mount the connected solar transmitter in a place that will be close to the rain gauge.

Mounting the Rain Gauge

Important: Before you mount the rain gauge, follow the steps listed in “Removing the Packing Tape” to remove the protective packing tape inside. Otherwise, the rain gauge will not operate properly.

12

Installation