The Model 3505 Rain and Snow Gage Conversion allows a
standard non-heated 8" or 12" tipping bucket rain gage to
be converted to a year-round precipitation gage. This is
an inexpensive alternative to heated or weighing
precipitation gages.
The 3505 uses antifreeze, requires no power, and avoids
problems associated with heated and weighing precipitation
gages. The unit consists of an antifreeze reservoir,
overflow tube, and 8" diameter catch tube. Converting your
existing rain gage is easy:
- Insert the antifreeze reservoir into the funnel of
your existing tipping bucket rain gage.
- Fill the reservoir with 2.5 gallons of antifreeze.
- Insert the catch tube into the top of the antifreeze
reservoir.
The 3505's operating principle is similar to other
precipitation gages that use antifreeze. Snow captured in
the catch tube slowly dissolves in the antifreeze mixture,
increasing the level in the antifreeze reservoir. In
standard weighing precipitation gages, the change in
volume corresponds to the change in weight. As the level
increases in the 3505, the overflowing mixture of
antifreeze and water flows through a tube to the rain
gage's funnel where it is measured by the tipping bucket
mechanism. The recommended antifreeze is a 1:1 mixture of
propylene glycol to ethanol (PGE). PGE is a less toxic
substitute for glycometh (ethylene glycol and methanol),
historically used as the antifreeze for precipitation
gages.
1001-063
Rain/Snow Gage Conversion 8
lbs.
1001-064
PGE Antifreeze, 1 Gallon 10
lbs.
