April Showers and The Electronics Behind Them
April 18, 2022
There’s a Keystone in every great invention.
Rain Gauges and Their Electronics
While “April showers bring May flowers” may just be a nifty rhyme brought up around this time of year, there is validity in the literal message. The phrase’s initial intention preaches patience now for an abundance of rewards later, tying into the physical effects of a heavy rainfall. And those physical effects aren’t just evident in the blossoming vegetation that surrounds us or the levels of our water levels, but also in technological advancements like the rain gauge that allow us to utilize the weather to our best advantage possible. Electronics within today’s various types of rain gauges provide meteorologists with the information necessary to not only record weather patterns of a specific region but prepare for/predict potential changes or natural disasters.
History of Rain Gauges
The art of rainfall record-keeping can be traced back all the way to the ancient Greeks. However, early versions of rain gauges were provided to 15th century Korean magistrates to record rainfall in villages across Korea during a drought. A simple cylindrical container was set with a ruler to measure the amount of rain that entered the container.
In 1662, Sir Christopher Wren created the pluviometer, a rain gauge that consisted of self-emptying, tipping-buckets. As one bucket would collect and fill with rainwater, it would tip over and produce a signal. The more signals meant heavier rainfall in the area. This innovative version of a rain gauge did have its shortcomings, having to be positioned well away from trees, fences or anything preventing rain collection.
Rain Gauges of Today
Rain gauges, along with other forecasting tools used today, play a major role in how we can anticipate weather and factor the effects in our daily lives. From farmers to backyard gardeners planning the best course for their crops, to meteorologists and commuters getting ready for the day, we’ve come to rely on the technology incorporated in today’s meteorology instruments. 
Some of the more advanced rain gauges are capable of not only measuring rainfall, but can also collect barometric pressure, wind speed and current temperatures, and humidity levels. With the inclusion of additional sensors, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth capability and battery-power efficiency, rain gauges can provide real-time weather updates and can be integrated seamlessly into any smart home setups. Internal components such as Battery Clips, Contacts & Holders, Panel & Computer Hardware, Plugs, Pins, Jacks & Sockets and Fuse Clips & Holders are some of the Keystone Electronics products you can find in electric rain gauges used to forecast and record today’s weather.
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