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
- 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.
- A syringe with known volume
- 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 (adding all the water to the sensor in two doses, not letting the sensor become dry):
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
001,1239733080,0000000,01.21,00000.51,023.8,033.0,00.0*79DC
001,1239733140,0000000,01.16,00000.53,023.9,033.0,00.0*D3A7
001,1239733200,0000000,01.05,00000.55,023.9,033.0,00.0*14F6
001,1239733260,0000000,00.42,00000.56,023.9,033.0,00.0*C2FC
001,1239733320,0000000,00.09,00000.56,023.9,033.0,00.0*583F
001,1239733380,0000000,00.18,00000.56,023.9,033.0,00.0*48D0
001,1239733440,0000000,00.14,00000.57,023.9,033.0,00.0*F1D1
001,1239733500,0000000,00.15,00000.57,023.9,033.0,00.0*F918
001,1239733560,0000000,00.14,00000.57,023.9,032.9,00.0*2029
001,1239733620,0000000,00.12,00000.57,023.9,032.9,00.0*E79B
001,1239733680,0000000,00.15,00000.58,023.8,032.9,00.0*6DB8
001,1239733740,0000000,00.11,00000.58,023.9,032.9,00.0*7865
001,1239733800,0000000,00.12,00000.58,023.8,032.9,00.0*BC37
001,1239733860,0000000,00.13,00000.58,023.8,032.9,00.0*30C7
001,1239733920,0000000,00.12,00000.58,023.8,032.9,00.0*380E
001,1239733980,0000000,00.15,00000.59,023.8,032.8,00.0*4BB3
001,1239734040,0000000,00.14,00000.59,023.8,032.8,00.0*2FC0
001,1239734100,0000000,00.15,00000.59,023.8,032.8,00.0*2709
