The OTT Pluvio2 is an all-weather precipitation gauge that measures the quantity and severity of rain, snow, and hail using cutting-edge weight-based technology.
Image Credit: OTT HydroMet
The OTT Pluvio2 uses a high-precision load cell and algorithms that account for wind, temperature, and evaporation to ensure the most accurate precipitation readings across a given time period. It was created in collaboration with the foremost meteorological services in the industry.
- Measurement technology: Weighing principle
- Interface: SDI-12 / RS-485, pulse
- Parameters measured: Precipitation intensity, bucket content, and cumulative precipitation in real-time and non-real-time
- Product Highlights: Conforms to WMO guideline No. 8, an all-weather precipitation gauge sans moving parts
Advantages
- Multiple communication interfaces: SDI-12, RS-485, and Pulse Output options
- Virtually maintenance-free operation: Lifetime factory calibration, drift-free metrics, and sturdy protective housing, which reduces the need for field service visits for the instrument
- For highly exposed areas, a wind protection shield is provided
- Accurate measurement: With accumulation and intensity observations and filter algorithms to account for wind, temperature, and evaporation, precipitation accuracy is within 0.004 inches
- Easy installation onto 4” pipes
- Simple software installation and a USB port for PC connectivity
- To stop snow from building up on the sensor, there is a heated ring option
- The device is perfect for distant regions since it has solar panel power choices
Examples of Use
- Monitoring Road Conditions: For a precise representation of driving conditions, general visibility measures are integrated with precipitation amount and composition
- Precipitation Measurement: Assessment of rain, snow, hail, and sleet in all monitoring situations, including distant areas without power supplies, on a continuous, real-time basis
- Early Flood Warning: The Pluvio2 serves as the core of an early flood warning system when paired with water level sensors
Technical Data
Source: OTT HydroMet
| . |
. |
| Types of precipitation |
liquid, solid, and mixed |
| Collecting area |
200 cm² and 400 cm² |
| Collection volume |
1500 mm/m² and 750 mm/m² |
| Measuring range 200 cm² |
|
| Intensity RT / measuring interval 1 minute |
12.00 ... 1800.00 mm/h, 0.20 ... 30 mm/min |
| Amount RT/NRT, amount NRT, amount total NRT |
0.10 ... 500.00 mm |
| Bucket content, RT and NRT |
20.00 ... 1600.00 mm |
| Measuring range 400 cm² |
|
| Intensity RT / measuring interval 1 minute |
6.00 ...1800.00 mm/h, 0.10 ... 30 mm/min |
| Amount RT/NRT, amount NRT, amount total NRT |
0.10 ... 500.00 mm |
| Bucket content, RT and NRT |
20.00 ... 850.00 mm |
| Accuracy (at - 25 ...+45 °C) |
|
| Amount, absolute (60 minutes collection time) |
± 0.05 mm |
| Intensity |
± 0.1 mm/min or ± 6 mm/h |
| Resolution |
|
| Impulse output |
0.1 mm |
| SDI-12 and RS-485 |
0.01 mm/min, 0.01 mm/min or mm/h |
| Times |
|
| Intensity output interval |
1 minute |
| Output delay |
RT 20 seconds; NRT 5 minutes |
| Query interval |
6 seconds .... 60 minutes |
| Interfaces |
|
| USB |
configuration/service mode and firmware update |
| Serial interfaces |
SDI-12 or RS 485 |
| Digital outputs |
impulse 0.1 mm (configurable) and status (0 ... 120 impulses/min; configurable 5 or 2Hz ) |
| Measurement output |
intensity RT; amount RT/NRT, amount NRT, amount total NRT, bucket content RT and NRT; temperature of load cell, status Pluvio², status heating (if present) |
| Electrical and mechanical data |
|
| Sensor element |
sealed load cell |
| Power supply |
10 ... 28 VDC |
| Power/current consumption |
typ. 12 mA at 12 V |
| Ring heating, optional |
Pluvio² 200: 24 VDC / 50 Watt
Pluvio² 400: 24 VDC / 100 Watt |
| Dimensions (Ø x h) |
|
| OTT Pluvio² 200 / 400 |
450 mm x 740 mm / 450 mm x 660 mm |
| Pedestal |
(Ø) 110-120 mm ( 4 ') |
| Weight |
(bucket empty) 15 kg |
| Material for base plate / bucket / pipe housing |
stainless steel, aluminium / polyethylene / ASA, UV- resistant |
| Environmental conditions |
|
| Temperature, in operation |
-40 ... +60 °C |
| Temperature, storage |
-50 ... +70 °C |
| Relative humidity |
0 ... 100% (non-condensed) |
| Protection |
|
| Housing |
IP54, resistant to salt fog |
| Load cell / electronics |
IP67 / IP64 |
| EMC |
EN 61000-4-2/4/5/6, Level 5 (4 kV) EM/EMI EN 61000-4-3, CE conformity |
| RT = real- time; NRT = non real-time ; units can be configured in mm or in (inch) and °C or °F |