Manuel Tumanda Tabada, Michael Estela Loretero
This paper evaluates the measurement accuracy of the three designs of an innovative Tipping-Bucket Rain Gauge (TBRG) tip mechanism. A water-level detecting circuit is used to replace the conventional reed switch sensor, which addresses the disadvantages of the magnetic sensing method that became a factor in quantification uncertainties. The TBRG configuration designs were the bucket-feed, which detects the presence of water inside the bucket, and the bottom-feed and the center-feed, which use the tip-impact method in measuring rainfall. The constant flow method is used in the experimentation. The bucket-feed shows potential in precision rainfall measurement for having-3.84% and-2.68% accuracy errors at 6 mL/min and 11 mL/min respectively, without correction algorithm applied. The tip-impact application for the bottom-feed and the center-feed resulted in a higher error percentage from the volumetric flow samples. The result indicates that actual detection in the bucket brings more measurement accuracy than the tip-counting technique. © by the authors.
Engineering Graduate Program, School of Engineering, University of San Carlos, Talamban, Cebu, Philippines; Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, Philippines; Deparment of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of San Carlos, Talamban, Cebu, Philippines
