The rain gauge should be installed where its collector (top) has unobstructed access to rainfall. Its location should be away from trees, buildings or other objects. If vegetation serves as a windbreak, keep in mind that unchecked growth can greatly change the conditions of the site with the passage of time.
Where portable equipment is used, ISCO recommends lead-acid batteries, as they hold a charge longer than other types. Automotive or deep-cycle marine batteries have a very high capacity and relatively low cost. Where line power is available, an AC power pack can be used to convert 120 or 240 volts AC to the required 12 volts DC. For long-term applications, or where access is difficult, solar panels may be most suitable. A solar charger maintains a lead-acid battery in a fully charged condition, virtually eliminating the need to visit the site for periodic battery replacement.
With a cell phone modem, a site can be called to view the current parameter readings, and to check the state of the automatic sampler. A phone modem and simple computer program will give you remote access to the site information and allow changes to sampler programming.
