Hi there,
I am experiencing my second problem with a TE525 tipping bucket connected to a CR10X-PB datalogger. The problems are a little bit different but the end result is the same, no tipping bucket data.
At the first site, tipping bucket data is recorded in the input location if it is manually triggered. However it does not make it into the stored data table which is totalized hourly, i.e. no data. Using the same program but a different logger and tipping bucket in the office everything works as expected, logging any tips. What could be causing this problem? (This TE525 runs into P1)
At the second site, which has been operational for many years, this spring the tipping bucket was not working. Upon visiting the site, manual triggering was not showing up in the input locations. I disconnected/reconnected the wires on the logger end and the tipping bucket showed up as expected. (If you remember an earlier problem with MD485's and freewave radios, this presented itself again after the tipping bucket was repaired, no connections via loggernet, the bucket runs into CP 7). Pulling and reconnecting power and communication cables fixes the MD485/radio issues somehow. But now the tipping bucket isn't working again (at least when viewed remotely as nearby sites are recording the rain and this site says zero). Now I'm not sure the two are related but I am presenting the above info as a potential clue.
I'm not sure what to do short of replacing the logger and rewiring the station, and potentially replacing the tipping bucket as well.
Does anyone have any suggestions here?
Cheers,
Brian
Two suggestions which may or may not explain your problems:
1) As standard, the logger pulse counting channels are sensitive to water ingress either into connectors or bridging terminals (in the raingauge or on the logger itself). Condensation can cause the problem too. Reason is, to save power, the logger biases switch closure inputs to either 5V or G, with 100 kohm resistors. If moisture bridges the switch in the relay with an equivalent resistance of ~100k or less the logger will cease to detect the switch closures. To check for this use a high impedance voltmeter and measure the voltage on the pulse count terminal relative to G. For P1/P2 the voltage should be >4.5V when switch is open (normal gauge state), for a control port, where one end of the switch is normally connected to 5V, the control port should be <0.5 V when the switch is open. If intermediate voltages are found look for moisture ingress.
This does not directly explain your problem as reported but could be a compounding factor as small amounts of moisture can come and go with changing temperature and ambient humidity, even opening an enclosure door could temporarily make the problem go away, if the desiccant inside is saturated.
2) As mentioned above switch closure pulse counting is acheived on the control ports by connecting one end of the switch to 5V. Check that 5V supply is OK with a meter. The 5V output can be dragged down by other peripherals using too much current, or occasionally by damage to a transient protection component across the 5V output, caused either by a large surge or accidental connection to 12V.