Seeed Studio RG-15 | Maintenance-Free Optical Rain Gauge (Serial & Pulse)

The Seeed Studio RG-15 is a next-generation optical rain gauge designed to eliminate the maintenance headaches associated with traditional mechanical tipping buckets. Approximately the size of a tennis ball, the RG-15 uses internal infrared light beams to detect moisture on its curved lens surface. Because the round lens naturally discourages the collection of leaves, bird droppings, and dust, the sensor remains accurate without frequent cleaning. This solid-state design makes it the ultimate choice for remote weather stations and professional agricultural monitoring.

Smart Precipitation Detection

No Maintenance Design No moving parts to wear out and no internal water pathways to clog with sand or debris. Hybrid Data Output Serial port provides detailed intensity data, while the open-collector output emulates standard tipping buckets. Solar Optimized Enters a micropower mode when dry, consuming only 110μA—perfect for off-grid LoRaWAN nodes. Rugged Environmental Specs Rated for -40°C to +60°C; reverse polarity protected and easy to configure via onboard DIP switches.

Key Use Cases

• Precision Agriculture: Accurate irrigation management based on hyper-local rainfall accumulation. • Smart Cities: Real-time urban flood monitoring and storm-water management without site maintenance. • Off-Grid Weather Stations: Solar-powered meteorological research in remote or inaccessible locations.

Technical Integration

The RG-15 operates on a wide 5V to 15V DC range and is easily integrated with professional LoRaWAN® transmitters such as the SenseCap or Dragino serial/pulse bridges. For developers, the serial port allows for advanced configuration of resolution and filtering. Each unit comes with a standard terminal block for wiring and can be pole-mounted for optimal exposure. For guidance on multi-sensor weather station architecture, contact the ShopIoT engineering team.