How can I check the accuracy of the La Crosse WS2300 rain gauge?
I suppose that a specific volume (ml - milliliters) of water into the rain sensor must increase the WS2300 rain gauge reading by a certain amount.
Any advice on this water volume, please?
It’s easy enough to calibrate. You need to know the area of the opening of the gauge (measure the width and length in millimetres). Then choose an arbitrary figure for rainfall (say 10 mm). So the volume of water in cubic millimetres would be length x width x depth, then divide by 1000 to get volume in mL. You can measure out the volume or weigh it (1 mL weighs approximately 1 gram).
If you take that volume of water and slowly trickle it through the rain gauge you will be able to see what the console registers.
You can count the ‘clicks’ as well if you want to. Each click is a tip of the bucket, which holds 0.518 mm. After you trickle all the water through the number of clicks x 0.518 should be the same as what is on the console.
I did this with the La Crosse gauge and it is accurate enough for me. I have a standard analog rain gauge outside and it is always within 0.5 mm of the La Crosse.
Very many thanks Aus_Dave for your complete advice. I will try it, since the actual monitor reading seems to be too low on rainy days.
Best season wishes… 