Rain Sensor

Accurate rainfall measurement has traditionally meant a tipping-bucket rain gauge — a mechanical instrument that needs levelling at installation, clogs with leaves and insects, and fails when its moving parts wear or jam. The Sensorbee Rain Sensor (SB3632) replaces the mechanism entirely: advanced infrared optical technology detects rainfall with no moving parts at all, delivering 0.2 mm resolution with ±10% nominal accuracy from a sealed, maintenance-free unit.

How It Works

The SB3632 measures precipitation optically. An infrared sensor detects raindrops as they pass through the measurement area, resolving both rainfall intensity and accumulated precipitation — without the tipping mechanism that dominates conventional rain gauge designs.

Eliminating moving parts removes the classic failure modes of mechanical gauges: there is no bucket to jam, no bearing to wear, and no funnel to clog with dirt, leaves, or insects. The result is a sensor that outperforms typical tipping buckets in harsh outdoor environments while requiring no scheduled maintenance across its >2 year operational life.

The sensor connects to the Sensorbee base unit through a weatherproof M8 6-pin plug-in connector and accepts a wide 5–24 V supply. Rainfall data joins the station's other measurements in Sensorbee Cloud, with the same real-time access, alerting, and export as every other parameter.

Installation

Mounting is deliberately simple: a universal pole bracket with two metal hose clamps is included. Position the sensor in an elevated location clear of trees, buildings, or other obstructions that would shelter it from rainfall. With no tipping bucket inside, there is no transit band to remove and no precision levelling procedure — fix the bracket, connect the M8 plug, and the sensor begins reporting.

Why Rainfall Data Matters in Environmental Monitoring

Rainfall provides essential context for interpreting other environmental measurements:

• Dust monitoring context — rain suppresses airborne dust. Timestamped rainfall data alongside PM10/PM2.5 readings shows whether low dust levels reflect mitigation measures or simply wet weather, strengthening compliance reporting on construction sites
• Flood warning — real-time rainfall intensity feeds early-warning thresholds for flood-prone locations
• Agriculture — accumulated precipitation data supports irrigation planning and crop management decisions
• Smart city networks — distributed rainfall measurement at street level complements urban air quality networks, capturing the localised downpours that single weather stations miss

Applications

• Environmental monitoring stations — rainfall as meteorological context alongside dust, gas, and noise measurements
• Flood warning systems — rainfall intensity monitoring for drainage and watercourse management
• Agricultural monitoring — precipitation tracking for irrigation and yield planning
• Smart city deployments — street-level rainfall data across distributed sensor networks

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from a tipping-bucket rain gauge?

A tipping bucket measures rainfall mechanically: water fills a small bucket that tips and counts each increment. The mechanism requires precise levelling, clogs with debris and insects, and wears over time. The SB3632 detects rainfall optically with infrared light — no moving parts, no clogging, no mechanical wear — which is why it outperforms typical tipping buckets in harsh environments.

Does the rain sensor need maintenance?

No scheduled maintenance is required. With no moving parts and no funnel to clear, the sensor operates autonomously across its >2 year operational life. This makes it suited to remote and hard-to-access installations where service visits are costly.

How does it connect to the monitoring station?

Through a weatherproof M8 6-pin plug-in connector to the Sensorbee base unit, with a 5–24 V supply range. Installation needs no tools beyond fitting the included universal pole bracket and hose clamps.

What resolution and accuracy does it provide?

The sensor resolves rainfall in 0.2 mm increments with ±10% nominal accuracy — suitable for environmental compliance context, flood warning thresholds, and agricultural decision support.

Can it measure wind as well?

No — the SB3632 measures rainfall only. If your deployment needs wind speed and direction alongside precipitation, the Wind and Rain Combo Sensor combines ultrasonic wind measurement and optical rain detection in a single housing.