TPS

TPS is short for Total Precipitation Sensor. This page is the result of a few notes Bob put together while testing out one of the ARM TPS's from Barrow.

Testing goals:

See that accumulated precipitation is consistent between drip sessions.

Supplies

1. A computer with a serial port. Choose a computer program or set up that allows received data to be redirected from the port to a file.
2. A syringe with known volume
3. A water source

Procedure:

• When the current precipitation rate is zero before any liquid has been poured on the sensor type '/R<Enter>' to reset the accumulated precipitation total.

/R Reset precip total? (Y/N): Y                                                
Total reset to zero.                                                           

• Put the sensor in automatic output mode by typing '/L<Enter>' followed by the output interval rate in seconds '60<Enter>'

• Add water. Be careful when sprinkling water on the sensor to keep all water in the center circle and be careful that the syringe doesn't squirt extra water out on its own (easy to do towards the end of the squirting operation).

Results from a Barrow TPS

Some results from the Barrow TPS 4/14/2009:

Water Added     Accumulation
miliLiters      milimeters of water
6               0.55
10              0.9

Here's what the rate looks like for example:

001,1239731220,0000000,00.00,00000.00,023.8,032.7,00.0*526E                    
001,1239731280,0000000,00.00,00000.00,023.8,032.7,00.0*407C                    
001,1239731340,0000000,00.00,00000.00,023.8,032.7,00.0*1DA2                    
001,1239731400,0000000,02.27,00000.01,023.8,032.7,00.0*03B3                    
001,1239731460,0000000,01.04,00000.04,023.8,032.8,00.0*48AA                    
001,1239731520,0000000,00.86,00000.05,023.7,032.8,00.0*7F31                    
001,1239731580,0000000,00.96,00000.07,023.7,032.8,00.0*5581                    
001,1239731640,0000000,00.97,00000.08,023.7,032.8,00.0*1E16                    
001,1239731700,0000000,00.98,00000.10,023.7,032.8,00.0*119E                    
001,1239731760,0000000,01.00,00000.12,023.7,032.8,00.0*60DB                    
001,1239731820,0000000,01.00,00000.13,023.7,032.8,00.0*5C24                    
001,1239731880,0000000,01.02,00000.15,023.7,032.9,00.0*5328                    
001,1239731940,0000000,01.01,00000.17,023.7,032.9,00.0*7156                    
001,1239732000,0000000,01.73,00000.19,023.8,032.9,00.0*7DB1                    
001,1239732060,0000000,01.08,00000.21,023.8,032.9,00.0*858B                    
001,1239732120,0000000,00.93,00000.23,023.8,032.9,00.0*B7F6                    
001,1239732180,0000000,00.94,00000.25,023.8,032.9,00.0*60FB                    
001,1239732240,0000000,00.92,00000.26,023.8,032.9,00.0*3450                    
001,1239732300,0000000,01.02,00000.28,023.8,032.9,00.0*C510                    
001,1239732360,0000000,01.00,00000.29,023.8,032.9,00.0*72B0                    
001,1239732420,0000000,01.04,00000.31,023.8,032.9,00.0*2949                    
001,1239732480,0000000,01.01,00000.33,023.8,032.9,00.0*8AFA                    
001,1239732540,0000000,01.01,00000.34,023.8,032.9,00.0*A295                    
001,1239732600,0000000,01.04,00000.36,023.8,032.9,00.0*1A87                    
001,1239732660,0000000,01.04,00000.38,023.8,033.0,00.0*AA2A                    
001,1239732720,0000000,00.97,00000.40,023.8,033.0,00.0*613E                    
001,1239732780,0000000,01.09,00000.41,023.8,033.0,00.0*8696                    
001,1239732840,0000000,01.06,00000.43,023.8,033.0,00.0*3270                    
001,1239732900,0000000,01.12,00000.45,023.8,033.0,00.0*3A5A                    
001,1239732960,0000000,01.17,00000.47,023.8,033.0,00.0*85F5                    
001,1239733020,0000000,01.15,00000.49,023.8,033.0,00.0*BE89