Fibaro Flood Sensor as Rain Gauge?

[alex88 71]

I was wondering if anyone was using the Fibaro Flood sensor as a rain detector/guage?

 

It says on the Fibaro website that the device is waterproof, so I am wondering why it wouldn't work.

 

I guess you would install in on an uneven surface so the water would run away and dry up quickly.

 

Any ideas?

[petergebruers 1,268]

You can connect a sensor (essentially a printed circuit board with meandering or parallel traces) to the flood sensor. See ebay or aliexpress. Never tested it for rain detection, only for level detection. I have seen (professional)sensors that give out an analog signal, so you'd use that type with a Fibaro RGBW, configured as 0-10 V input. I also saw that the more professional stuff contains a heater, so it dries up/melts precipitation. Also, you need to clean the surface (I think at leas once/year) to keep it working.

[alex88 71]

Perhaps unbelievably I have both a digital rain sensor with a heating panel that detects rain is present or not AND I also have an analog sensor that detects the intensity of rain (works with a Fibaro RGBW). I was looking for something more reliable i.e. something you don't need to clean and thought about putting the fibaro flood sensor in a waterproof box with the probe sticking out. 

I am wondering if anyone has tried this for themselves?

[petergebruers 1,268]

I'm glad my answer matches your experience

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Regarding "reliability". A friend of mine uses a rain detector that I'd describe as a "funnel & balance". He claims it's very reliable and he has been using it for years. It gives out X pulses per minute depending on the rainfall, so you'll have to interface that somehow (he's using a raspberry pi). I'll see if I can find a reference to it...

[akatar 208]

aleks, on 24 Apr 2016 - 3:41 PM, said:aleks, on 24 Apr 2016 - 3:41 PM, said:

I was wondering if anyone was using the Fibaro Flood sensor as a rain detector/guage?

 

It says on the Fibaro website that the device is waterproof, so I am wondering why it wouldn't work.

 

I guess you would install in on an uneven surface so the water would run away and dry up quickly.

 

Any ideas?

try to put it in the gutter,

there is a change that rain water is to "clean" to be noticed by the flood sensor

flood sensor measures between two point if there is a "contact"