Radio Shack Weather Radio - Manual (Page 12)

12 Installation
INSTALLING THE RAIN
GAUGE
Selecting a Location
Select a mounting location for the rain gauge
that is:
• a flat, level surface
• outdoors, within 10 feet of where you
mount the rain gauge’s solar transmitter
• in an area not blocked on the top or
sides, so rain can freely reach the rain
gauge (for example, not under an over-
hang or too close to a building or fence)
Cautions:
• To prevent false rainfall readings caused
by water splashes, do not choose a
location that is not level or that is too
close to the ground, a swimming pool,
lawn sprinklers, or anywhere water
might accumulate or run off.
• The screen in the cylinder of the rain
gauge filters most debris (such as
leaves) that might fall into the rain
gauge. To avoid frequent build-up of
debris in the cylinder, do not mount the
rain gauge too close to trees or plants.
Removing the Packing Tape
Protective packing tape is installed inside
your rain gauge to protect it from damage
during shipment. Follow these steps to
remove the packing tape before you mount
the rain gauge.
1. Use a small Phillips screwdriver to
remove the screws on the base of the
rain gauge.
2. Lift the rain gauge’s cylinder off its base,
then carefully remove the packing tape
from the bucket assembly.
3. Replace the cylinder on the base, align
its screw holes, then reinsert and tighten
the screws.
Connecting the Rain Gauge to a
Solar Transmitter
1. Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen the
screws on the cover of the rain gauge’s
solar transmitter, then remove the cover.
2. Install two AA batteries in the compart-
ment according to the polarity symbols
(+ and –) marked inside.
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the re-
quired size and recommended type.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, dif-
ferent types of batteries (standard, al-
kaline, or rechargeable), or recharge-
able batteries of different capacities.
3. Insert the modular plug at the base of
the rain gauge into the modular jack in
the rain gauge’s solar transmitter’s com-
partment.
4. Align the rubber gasket on the rain
gauge’s cord with the groove in the solar
transmitter.
5. Replace the cover and secure it with its
screws. The indicator on the solar trans-
mitter flashes while data is transmitting.
6. Mount the connected solar transmitter in
a place that will be close to the rain
gauge.
Mounting the Rain Gauge
Important: Before you mount the rain
gauge, follow the steps listed in “Removing
the Packing Tape” to remove the protective
packing tape inside. Otherwise, the rain
gauge will not operate properly.