The RM-2 Internet based irrigation controller, can now be enhanced with the addition of a competitively priced weather station. This allows the RM-2 to calculate daily ETo and measure rainfall.
Using the Linovision IOT-S300WS7, equipped with a total-solar-radiation sensor, the value of daily reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is computed by the RM-2. This figure can be used to either automatically alter the water budget, or to give the operator enough information to manually adjust watering.
Unlike many others, the weather sensor has no moving parts. This means no clogging or wearing out of rotating parts. It measures wind speed and direction using ultrasonics and rainfall using an optical technique similar to that used in automatic windshield-wiper activation. Temperature and humidity sensors are tucked away from direct sunlight in a louvred chamber.