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Re: Hydreon double tips

Discussion of this sensor and its uses
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steve
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by steve »

bruce45 wrote:just a thought would it be any use connecting my unused fo tip bucket rain gauge to the rs232 port to compare the results?
I guess it might provide more information, yes.
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by bruce45 »

ok i wil make a start with the cables and other bits i will be running it on an old dell c400 note book running xp pro. should the os make any difference? it will be direct to the rs232 port how do i set up the logging for it as i cant find any thing other than debug log and ftp logging?
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by steve »

bruce45 wrote:should the os make any difference?
I don't think so.
it will be direct to the rs232 port how do i set up the logging for it as i cant find any thing other than debug log and ftp logging?
If you mean the logging of the detected changes to the DSR level, that goes to the debug log.
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by bruce45 »

If you mean the logging of the detected changes to the DSR level, that goes to the debug log.
yes that was what i was meaning once i have the gauge set up out side and connected i will start the debug log.

should i change the tip size in the .inf file when using the fo gauge? it is set as 0.01 and the station it set to inches
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by steve »

It doesn't really matter what tip size you set if you're just investigating how the serial port behaves, but if you want to set a value you should probably use 0.3 mm.
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by bruce45 »

so instead of 0.01 change it to 0.3 ?

should be up and running in about one hour. will the rg11 info be sent to weather underground?
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by steve »

bruce45 wrote:so instead of 0.01 change it to 0.3 ?

Yes, that's right, to match the actual bucket size of the Fine Offset gauge that you're using.
will the rg11 info be sent to weather underground?
No, it gets displayed on the screen next to the 'normal' rain total, and logged to the monthly log file.
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by bruce45 »

ok thanks for your help Steve

typical scottish weather its stopped raining. done nothing else all day just about ready to set this up and clear skys oh well
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by bruce45 »

ok thats it all connected with the debug log on so just have to wait for some rain to see the results
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by AllyCat »

Hi,

I do appreciate that this is not an "electronics" forum, but you do seem to be making "Heavy Weather" ( :D ) of the RG-11 interface.

Firstly, the two relay contacts (COM + NO) should interface perfectly well with the FO "Rain" input. The contact bounce may be slightly higher than the reed switch inside the FO seesaw, but unlikely to be an issue.

Next, a capacitor can only do anything "useful" when associated with a resistance (or more accurately impedance). The DTR line probably does have some source resistance, but it will depend very much on the specific hardware. If it's, say, 1 kohm then a 10uF capacitor will intoduce a delay (or "filtering") of some milliseconds which may indeed "mask" any contact bounce (but I wouldn't normally consider it necessary). But it will do little/nothing if the DTR line is simply a supply rail voltage, and generally it is consdered "bad practice" to connect any switch contacts (e.g. the relay) directly across a charged capacitor.

But the problem may be that DTR and DSR are very much "legacy" signals from the days when Teleprinters connected to Modems. It became complicated when "Computers" were invented because they were either (or neither) a modem and a Data Terminal. Personally I've never used those signals (in 40 odd years of electronics engineering) but it's possible that the PC (or its serial/USB interface) is itself "pulsing" the lines and producing a double-pulse.
Connectivity is as follows for the 1-Wire
Hydreon RG-11 (relay) ==> Hobby board 1-wire Dual counter (DQ & Ground) ==> Maxim 9097 Serial 1-Wire Device ==> Quatech 4 serial port to IP device == > Computer (W2003)
WOW!

Personally, I plan to use a "PICAXE" microcontroller which has the advantages of very low cost and low power with an easy interface ("RS232" or their own USB "programming" cable). Aimed at "Educational" users, a PICAXE chip, a prototyping PCB and serial adapter cable comes in at under £10 (or rather more for the USB adapter cable), but you do need to use a soldering iron. My plan is to connect the PICAXE to the RG-11's "J2" connector, of course to the two relay contacts and to the DTR/DSR pins if required. The PICAXE will (initially) connect directly (via a cable!) to the PC's COM port to give full access to the relay state, read/write four of the DIP switch settings (not sure about the other four yet) and the serial "diagnostics" data from the RG-11.

I have yet to "play" with a RG-11 but expect to be able to "steal" power from it to supply the PICAXE, and use the "very sensitive rain bucket" mode to signal "It's Raining", and then divide down locally to a more typical "bucket" size if necessary. But there's also the "DIY" mode and the "Micropower" mode to play with as well. :D

Cheers, Alan.
Last edited by AllyCat on Sat 23 Jun 2012 4:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by bruce45 »

Steve how do i clear the rg11 data from testing indoors? just wanted to have a clear start before logging
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by laulau »

Hi,

I've installed last beta version and i put a push button between pin 4 and 6 on a real serial port to try the new rg11 facility.
I set bucket size to 0.1, each time i press the button it adds 0.2 mm of rain to the extra counter !

The debug log : :o
0140.515 : 18:04:26 FFFF010000105514000059122808091C
0141.187 : 18:04:26 FFFF03014902220271
0147.640 : 18:04:33 FFFF000063010012002599
0149.172 : 18:04:34 RG11 port DSR change: On
0149.172 : 18:04:34 RG11 port DSR change: On
0151.984 : 18:04:37 RG11 port DSR change: Off
0152.640 : 18:04:38 Exit ftpthreadexecute
0152.640 : 18:04:38 Logging out
0152.640 : 18:04:38 FTP Session Closed
0152.640 : 18:04:38 FTP quit done
0152.640 : 18:04:38 Enabling web update
0152.640 : 18:04:38 Exit ftpthreadfinish
0153.375 : 18:04:38 FFFF02040702561275
0154.718 : 18:04:40 RG11 port DSR change: On
0154.718 : 18:04:40 RG11 port DSR change: On
0159.640 : 18:04:45 RG11 port DSR change: Off
0161.640 : 18:04:47 FFFF000062010012002598
0161.656 : 18:04:47 RG11 port DSR change: On
0161.656 : 18:04:47 RG11 port DSR change: On
0164.187 : 18:04:49 RG11 port DSR change: Off
0165.734 : 18:04:51 RG11 port DSR change: On
0165.734 : 18:04:51 RG11 port DSR change: On
0167.859 : 18:04:53 RG11 port DSR change: Off
0168.640 : 18:04:54 FFFF0640020264138B2100270698
0174.562 : 23/06/2012 18:05:00 Minute timer 5
0174.562 : Adding LH entry, ts = 18:05:00 raintot = 1455
0174.562 : 18:05:00 Creating WXNow File
0175.187 : 18:05:00 FFFF0E0511
0175.625 : 18:05:01 FFFF00004401001200257A
0176.937 : 18:05:02 FFFF02016401981614
0178.187 : 18:05:03 FFFF03014902220271
0182.281 : 18:05:07 FFFF020249024211A0
0187.515 : 18:05:13 FFFF010000105514000059122808091C
0189.656 : 18:05:15 FFFF0000770100120025AD
0196.390 : 18:05:21 FFFF02040702561275
0203.625 : 18:05:29 FFFF0000904101000025F5
0206.656 : 18:05:32 FFFF0640020264138B2100270698
0215.187 : 18:05:40 FFFF03014902220271
0215.937 : 18:05:41 FFFF02016401981614
0217.625 : 18:05:43 FFFF00001462030000249B
0223.281 : 18:05:48 FFFF0202480242119F
0231.625 : 18:05:57 FFFF000082810200002427
0234.515 : 18:06:00 FFFF010000105514000059122808091C
0234.625 : 23/06/2012 18:06:00 Minute timer 6
0234.625 : Adding LH entry, ts = 18:06:00 raintot = 1455
0234.625 : 18:06:00 Creating WXNow File
0234.812 : Creating web graphs
0235.953 : 18:06:01 Copying file: From C:\Cumulus193\web\betel_fr_monthlyrecordT.htmtmp To Z:\www\pages\betel_fr.htm
0236.093 : 18:06:01 Copying file: From D:\Cumulus192\web\betel_fr_monthlyrecordT.htmtmp To D:\Cumulus192\web\monthlyrecord1.htm
0236.156 : 18:06:01 Copying file: From C:\Cumulus193\web\extratags.txttmp To Z:\www\pages\cumulusextrawebtags.php
0236.265 : 18:06:01 Copying file: From C:\Cumulus193\web\cumuluswebtags.txttmp To Z:\www\pages\cumuluswebtags.php
0236.281 : 18:06:01 FFFF0E0612
0236.343 : 18:06:01 Logging in to 192.168.1.177
0239.390 : 18:06:04 FFFF02040702561275
0244.656 : 18:06:10 FFFF0640020264138B2100270698
0245.625 : 18:06:11 FFFF00001742020000247D
0252.187 : 18:06:17 FFFF03014902220271
0252.922 : 18:06:18 RG11 port DSR change: On
0252.922 : 18:06:18 RG11 port DSR change: On
0254.312 : 18:06:19 RG11 port DSR change: Off
0254.312 : 18:06:19 RG11 port DSR change: Off
0254.937 : 18:06:20 FFFF02016401981614
0256.047 : 18:06:21 RG11 port DSR change: On
0256.047 : 18:06:21 RG11 port DSR change: On
0257.140 : 18:06:22 RG11 port DSR change: Off
0258.547 : 18:06:24 RG11 port DSR change: On
0258.547 : 18:06:24 RG11 port DSR change: On
0259.656 : 18:06:25 FFFF000009420224002493
0259.718 : 18:06:25 RG11 port DSR change: Off
0264.484 : 18:06:30 FFFF0202480242119F
0272.343 : 18:06:37 Exit ftpthreadexecute
0272.343 : 18:06:37 Logging out
0272.359 : 18:06:37 FTP Session Closed
0272.359 : 18:06:37 FTP quit done
0272.359 : 18:06:37 Enabling web update
0272.359 : 18:06:37 Exit ftpthreadfinish
0273.625 : 18:06:39 FFFF00002402002400256D
0281.500 : 18:06:47 FFFF010000105514000059122808091C
0282.390 : 18:06:47 FFFF02040702561275
0282.906 : 18:06:48 FFFF0640020264138B2100270698
0287.625 : 18:06:53 FFFF000089810124002552
0289.187 : 18:06:54 FFFF03014902220271
0293.937 : 18:06:59 FFFF02016401981614
0295.187 : 18:07:00 FFFF0E0713
0295.281 : 23/06/2012 18:07:00 Minute timer 7
0295.281 : Adding LH entry, ts = 18:07:00 raintot = 1455
0295.281 : 18:07:00 Creating WXNow File
I can make some other tests if needed. Hope it helps!
Laurent

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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by steve »

bruce45 wrote:Steve how do i clear the rg11 data from testing indoors? just wanted to have a clear start before logging
The total so far today is held in today.ini (RG11Today=), so you need to stop Cumulus and edit that.
Steve
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by steve »

laulau wrote:I set bucket size to 0.1, each time i press the button it adds 0.2 mm of rain to the extra counter !
You're getting two 'DSR on' and one 'DSR off' indications for each button press (without an 'off' between the two 'on's!). I'm not going to speculate on the cause or the solution, I'm going to stick to software now.
0149.172 : 18:04:34 RG11 port DSR change: On
0149.172 : 18:04:34 RG11 port DSR change: On
0151.984 : 18:04:37 RG11 port DSR change: Off
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Re: Hydreon double tips

Post by bruce45 »

hi Steve thats what i thought and tried but each time i restart it shows 0.3 in the today box just thought it must have been someware else. up and running with direct rs232 port debug log is on so see what happends
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