RAIN WATER SENSOR
A rain sensor or rain switch is a switching device activated by rainfall. There are two main applications for rain sensors. The first is a water conservation device connected to an automatic irrigation system that causes the system to shut down in the event of rainfall. The second is a device used to protect the interior of an automobile from rain and to support the automatic mode of windscreen wipers. An additional application in professional satellite communications antennas is to trigger a rain blower on the aperture of the antenna feed, to remove water droplets from the mylar cover that keeps pressurized and dry air inside the wave-guides.
Some irrigation rain sensors also contain a freeze sensor to keep the system from operating in freezing temperatures, particularly where irrigation systems are still used over the winter.Some type of sensor is required on new lawn sprinkler systems in Florida, New Jersey, Minnesota, Connecticut and most parts of Texas.
Rain sensors for irrigation systems are available in both wireless and hard-wired versions, most employing hygroscopic disks that swell in the presence of rain and shrink back down again as they dry out — an electrical switch is in turn depressed or released by the hygroscopic disk stack, and the rate of drying is typically adjusted by controlling the ventilation reaching the stack. However, some electrical type sensors are also marketed that use tipping bucket or conductance type probes to measure rainfall. Wireless and wired versions both use similar mechanisms to temporarily suspend watering by the irrigation controller — specifically they are connected to the irrigation controller’s sensor terminals, or are installed in series with the solenoid valve common circuit such that they prevent the opening of any valves when rain has been sensed.
USE OF RAIN SENSOR:
Rain sensor is use to build a automatic on/off wiper.
It is used in smart irrigation system.
It is also used as an irrigation monitoring quadcopter.
PICTURE OF RAIN SENSOR:
If the D0-LED does not light up check the following:
Is the module hooked up properly?
Sometimes salinity is an issue with these units, this one worked fine with filtered, bottled water, but in some instances you may have to add a bit of salt to increase the waters conduction.
This might be a bit more tricky, but for some reason two different models by two different manufacturers have had defects in their soldering skills. Make sure all of the little SMD’s and connectors have been soldered on properly. IE – are solder joints actually soldered?
If none of the previous makes the D0-LED light up, your sensor may be defective.
Working Voltage: 5V
Output: Digital and Analog
A0.……… Analog output
D0……… Digital output
VCC…… Positive voltage (input: 5v for analog 3.3v for Digital).
Indicator LEDs : Power and Output Indicator
+ ………. Sensor board hookup A
– ………. Sensor board hookup B
2.17 in x 1.57 in x 0.31 in (5.5 cm x 4.0 cm x 0.8 cm)
Materials To Be Required:
- Rain Water Sensor
- Jumper Wire
- Bread Board
CONNECTION WITH ARDUINO:
Rain Sensor …………….. Arduino
A0……………………………. Analog in 0