113
5. Maintenance
The following steps should be taken for proper maintenance of your station
1.Clean the rain gauge once every 3 months. Rotate the funnel counter-clockwise and lift to
expose the rain gauge mechanism, and clean with a damp cloth. Remove any dirt, debris and
insects. If bug infestation is an issue, spray the array lightly with insecticide.
Figure 40: Rain gauge maintenance
2.Clean the solar radiation sensor and solar panel every 3 months with a non-abrasive
slightly damp cloth.
3.Replace batteries every 1-2 years. If left in too long, the batteries may leak due to
environmental challenges. In harsh environments, inspect the batteries every 3 months
(while cleaning the solar panel).
4.When replacing the batteries, apply a corrosion preventing compound on the battery
terminals, available at Amazon and most hardware stores.
5. In snowy environments, spray the top of the weather station with anti-icing silicon spray
to prevent snow build up.
