Vaisala PRECICAP® Radar Precipitation Sensor RM60
Maintenance-free 61 GHz radar precipitation sensor that measures every raindrop, snowflake and hailstone individually. Reports accumulation, intensity, precipitation type (19 SYNOP codes), drop size distribution and reflectivity — with no funnel to clog, no moving parts, no heating and no wind shield.
Description
RM60 replaces the funnel and tipping bucket with a narrow-beam 61 GHz Doppler radar that looks straight up and measures each hydrometeor as it falls through a focused volume above the sensor. Because nothing is caught, there is nothing to clog, empty, heat or recalibrate in the field — and because the beam is narrow and near-field, wind and moving objects such as swaying branches do not distort the reading. Auto-calibration during rain and built-in self-diagnostics keep the data trustworthy and flag problems instead of failing silently.
Key features
- Full operating life without scheduled maintenance — no moving parts, cleaning, emptying, heating or anti-icing fluid
- Accurate in windy conditions without wind shields or fences (narrow-beam, near-field radar)
- Auto-calibration based on the physical properties of raindrops; self-diagnostics report device status
- Measures accumulation, intensity, precipitation type, drop size distribution and reflectivity factor (dBZ)
- Precipitation type from light drizzle to hail — 19 WMO 4680 (SYNOP) codes
- Low power (0.5–1.3 W average) for solar or battery-powered off-grid stations
- Free of catchment errors such as in/out splashing, wetting losses and evaporation
- Integrated air pressure measurement; RS-485 with ASCII messages or Modbus RTU
Applications
- Meteorological and hydrological precipitation networks
- Flood early-warning and inflow forecasting
- Road, airport and remote off-grid weather stations
- Sites where wind shields, fences or routine gauge cleaning are impractical
Riajati supplies Vaisala instruments in Malaysia — send us your station count, power arrangement and data-logger interface through the Enquiry tab for a quotation.
| Precipitation intensity | |
|---|---|
| Reporting range | 0.00–999.99 mm/h liquid water equivalent (LWE) |
| Resolution | 0.01 mm/h |
| Minimum intensity | 0.02 mm/h |
| Precipitation accumulation | |
| Reporting range | 0–999.99 mm liquid water accumulation (LWA) |
| Resolution | 0.01 mm |
| Accuracy | 2 % (laboratory conditions) |
| Precipitation type and microphysics | |
| Type identification | Precipitation, drizzle, rain, snow, hail — light, moderate and heavy |
| Codes reported | 19 WMO 4680 (SYNOP) codes |
| Drop size distribution | 22 size classes, Ø 0.2 to > 5.5 mm |
| Reflectivity factor | Reported in dBZ |
| Air pressure | |
| Reporting range | 500–1100 hPa |
| Uncertainty | ±0.5 hPa at adjustment point (NTP) |
| Resolution | 0.1 hPa |
| Measurement and data | |
| Operating principle | Doppler radar, 61.0–61.5 GHz |
| Mean EIRP | < 20 dBm |
| Measurement area | 700 cm² |
| Measurement / output interval | User configurable |
| Serial communication | RS-485 |
| Protocols | ASCII data messages, Modbus RTU |
| Configuration | Vaisala Insight PC software |
| Power | |
| Operating voltage | 24 V DC nominal (9–32 V DC) |
| Power consumption | Max. 2.9 W; average 0.5–1.3 W depending on interval |
| Environment | |
| Operating temperature | −40 … +60 °C |
| Operating humidity | 0–100 %RH |
| Max. operating wind speed | 75 m/s |
| Max. operating altitude | 5600 m |
| IP rating | IP66 |
| Storage temperature | −60 … +70 °C |
| Mechanics and compliance | |
| Weight | 0.9 kg |
| Connector | M12 8-pin male |
| Materials | Polycarbonate + glass fibre, polyethylene |
| Mounting options | 30 mm pole (ASM216503), 60 mm pole (ASM216504), 40 × 40 mm arm (SENSORARMFIX30) |
| Compliance | CE, FCC, ICES, RCM, R-NZ; IEC/EN 61326-1; ETSI EN 305 550-1/-2; IEC/EN 61010-1 |
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