VantageVue rain collector delay

[Steve C]

Sorry for the long post, but the details might matter. We had a significant rain event last weekend and my rain gauge responded in a very weird way (which it has done before). It was raining when I got up in the AM, 1/2 inch collected already. After about 3/4in, it POURED and the rain rate slowed to something like .07in/hour. I replaced the rain gauge (with the Davis rehab kit) last fall and went out in the downpour to check the bucket/collector. No blockages, not full of water...

My next door neighbor's device report 2.19" of rain when it ended that day. Mine reported 1.90", however it continued to report .01 or .02 clicks at a time until it finally stopped at .42" the next day (although we had no rainfall) for a storm total of 2.32", not terribly far off from my neighbor's 2.19".  I have attached the chart that illustrates the slow collection- as if the collection was full of water that slowly leaked out (can't be the case).

The very next day we had a brief, heavy thunderstorm. Both my neighbor and I reported the same .30" for the event.

Weewx  4.9.1

Vantage Vue with an IPconnect. 

We're looking at another 1-3" of rain this weekend, and I'd love to hear any suggestions!

Thanks,

Steve

[Tom Keffer]

 What does the console show?

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[Steve C]

Important distinction! I meant to mention that. Yes, the software seems perfectly fine. The console is reporting the 'slow drip' and WeeWX logs it accordingly. Being a hardware issue I can move this to a Davis forum if it is inappropriate here.

[Graham Eddy]

is the outlet from rain bucket partially blocked?

⊣GE⊢

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[Karen K]

I remember such behavior when a spider let the remains of her meals drop into the rain bucket.

[Steve C]

I removed it again yesterday and checked the tip bucket and entrance and exit paths for blockages but found none. The rain ended several hours ago, but my Vue is still counting .01" every few minutes this morning.

http://livefreeorpi.com

[Paul R Anderson]

Very strange blocked rain funnel would be the number one suspect. Only other thing that comes to mind is residual 'rain' falling from a tree canopy, or any other object that could hold rain droplets, and release them long after the rain shower has ended. Wondering if any trees have started to encroach on the area above your rain gauge?

Paul    

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[bgra...@umw.edu]

I think Graham has the answer. About twice a year, squirrels crack nuts into my rain gauge funnel and I get the slow drip.

It must be a very uncomfortable task with all the bird spikes around the outside…

Cheers,

Bob

grattans.org/wx

[Steve C]

The wx station is mounted on a steel pole in an open space in my backyard and is very easy to access. As I mentioned, I disassembled it as recently as yesterday. No birds, no spiders, no nuts, no trees. It is almost like a clock. I am (as of this writing) still collecting .01" every 10 minutes or 6 times an hour.

[Graham Eddy]

is the funnel empty when reading slowly?

⊣GE⊢

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[Steve C]

Not only is the funnel empty, the rain bucket is now sitting on my desk! And yet, I am still collecting .01" every few minutes. The device must have some sort of very weird hardware failure. Thanks everyone-

[Tom Keffer]

Time to call Davis tech support.

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[Gerard Cerchio]

FYI Davis sold me the entire Vantage-Vue guts for around $100 and my station was over 10 years old.