Differences Between Piezoelectric Rain Gauges and Other Common Rain Gauges

A rain gauge is an important device used to measure precipitation. With the continuous advancement of science and technology, the types of rain gauges have become increasingly diverse, among which the piezoelectric rain gauge has emerged as a "new favorite" in the market in recent years. Below, I will take Fengtu's rain gauge products as an example to compare the differences between piezoelectric rain gauges and other common rain gauges.

Comparison with Tipping Bucket Rain Gauges

The tipping bucket rain gauge is the most classic rain measurement device. It collects rainwater through an inclined funnel. When a certain amount of rainwater enters the funnel, the funnel tilts and dumps the water inside. At this time, the sensor detects this action, thereby recording a rainfall event. Fengtu's tipping bucket rain gauge has a maximum rainfall intensity measurement range of 4mm/min, an operating temperature generally between 0~50℃, and a measurement accuracy of ≤±3%.

This type of rain gauge has some drawbacks. Due to its mechanical structure, the flipping of the tipping bucket is prone to be affected by the friction of the rotating shaft, water or sediment sticking to the funnel, insects, etc., leading to measurement errors. During heavy rain, the inertia of the tipping bucket makes it unable to flip in time, resulting in the loss of rainwater and distorted data. Moreover, tipping bucket rain gauges require manual maintenance and have high requirements for the installation environment.

In contrast, Fengtu's piezoelectric rain gauge adopts piezoelectric ceramic kinetic rain monitoring technology, which identifies rainfall based on the force of raindrop impact. Its effective piezoelectric panel size is larger than φ200mm, and it can measure a maximum rainfall intensity of 8mm/min, which is twice the range of traditional rain gauges. The piezoelectric rain gauge can accurately monitor the duration of rainfall down to the second, and can also estimate the maximum impact on the ground and the diameter of raindrops, which the tipping bucket rain gauge cannot do. It integrates all components into a single housing with no exposed parts, eliminating the impact of debris such as leaves, dust, and insects on data accuracy. It also does not require on-site manual cleaning, is simple and quick to install, and has no special requirements for the installation environment.