This rain sensor measures the amount of rain at its location in milliliters using a tipping bucket mechanism and transmits the quantity within a 15-minute interval with an accuracy of 0.5 mm of water column, along with the temperature. In the case of heavy rain exceeding 15 l/h, a heavy rain alarm is triggered promptly. Both the heavy rain threshold and the measurement interval are configurable. The device is entirely open-source, and both hardware and firmware can be downloaded from https://github.com/aqua-scope/lorain.
The device is controlled via LoRaWAN commands and operates as a LoRaWAN Class A device. The use of the device requires LoRaWAN network coverage. Otherwise, you need to install and operate your own LoRaWAN gateway.
The device is powered by two AAA batteries. The provided VARTA batteries allow for an approximate runtime of about 2 years. A low battery level is reported wirelessly, allowing for battery replacement before the device shuts down.