International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume V, Issue IV, April 2018 | ISSN 2321–2705

Weighing Type Rain Gauge with Weather Monitoring

Abstract –Weather is a state of the atmosphere that it is cold or speak before. The key objective of this system is used to
hot, dry or wet, stormy or quiet and cloudy or clear. Generally measure all the weather conditions such as temperature,
weather defines the day-to-day temperature and precipitation humidity, atmospheric pressure, altitude, light intensity and
activity. Meanwhile climate is a term that is the average rain fall magnitude with in a specific area. Load cell is used to
atmospheric conditions over a period of time. Weather is
measure the weight of the water which is collected in the
assumed to mean the earth’s weather when used without
qualification. Observing the weather circumstances manually is bucket. And then the weight value is get by Arduino by using
difficult. But the system proposed in my paper is an advanced HX711 load cell amplifier which is communicate with
solution for measuring rainfall in a specified area and Arduino. DHT11 sensor is used to measure the temperature
monitoring the weather conditions at a particular place and and relative humidity. BMP180 sensor is used to measure
make the information visible anywhere in the world. This system atmospheric pressure and altitude. LDR sensor is used to
contains three sensors to measure weather conditions such as measure the light intensity. After getting all the sensor values,
temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, altitude, light these are send to the web server. So we use Ethernet shield
intensity. And also this system contains Load cell to calculate the which is look like Arduino, is communicate with the
rain fall magnitude. All the sensors and load cell connected with
webserver through internet. So by using this we can send all
Arduino board. This microcontroller is used to get all the sensor
values and Using Ethernet shield we can send all the sensor the sensor values to the webserver. RJ45 is an Ethernet cable
values to the web server. Thingspeak server is used to store all used to connect Ethernet shield to computer’s WiFi network
the sensor values in the online. We can download XL sheet from by sharing the WiFi network. In this project we using
Thingspeak website that will hold all the sensor values. Thingspeak server. It is an online web server used to all the
Thingspeak server automatically plot graph for all the sensor values getting by sensors. Thingspeak server webpage
values with respect to time. automatically plot the graph for all the sensor values. By this
Keywords--Arduino, Weighing type rain gauge, Load cell, graph also we can compare the sensor values with respect to
Ethernet shield, Sensors, Thingspeak server. time. And automatically all the sensor values are stored in a
XL sheet and also we can see that.
I. INTRODUCTION This system is based IoT technology. IoT means
Internet of Things. It connects entire world at one place. All
I n the present time many innovations and technologies are
found to measuring, monitoring and controlling various
activities. Now these technologies are efficient one for human
the objects like physical devices, buildings, sensors and
actuators can be connected and to share the data obtained in
needs. Many things affect the environmental conditions. various locations for analyzing that data for some applications
Weather conditions affected by many living and non-living like traffic signaling, health care management, etc. IoT offers
things. Some human activities such as destroying forest by a wide range of connectivity with various properties of
cutting down the trees, which is affect the weather conditions. applications for obtaining a complete connection between a
Because of this now a days temperature is increased, pressure machine-to-machine interactions. It gives opportunity to
and altitude also gets affected. Because of sudden heavy rain connect physical world with computer-based systems. IoT
and heavy storm flood will be possible. So we need a system improves efficiency, accuracy, economic benefits along with
to compare the rain fall magnitude with in a specific time in a reduced manpower. IoT frameworks helping in the interaction
specific area. Because of calculating the rain fall magnitude between “things”. In addition, supports for more complex
we will come know about the flooding and also we do the structures like distributed computing and development of
flood forecasting. By comparing all the weather condition distributed applications.
details we can control the affected weather. Therefore we
need a system to measure and compare all the values time by II. LITERATURE SURVEY
time. The survey firstly done on typical technologies to implement
Weighing type rain gauge with weather monitoring a classic sensor connection. The main scope of this project is
system is used to measure all the weather conditions and to consume less power and give high performance to users. So
measuring the rain fall magnitude with in a specific area. This that’s why we are using Arduino board. Connecting Arduino
embedded system is used to control the activities already we with sensors will give better performance. Arduino is an open

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International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume V, Issue IV, April 2018 | ISSN 2321–2705

source electronic board. It is a typical microcontroller, for analog pins, a power jack, and USB connection, reset button,
input modules such as sensors that sense the values and etc. It operates on very low current 40-50 mA and voltage is
transfer these values to Arduino in order to take some between 0-5 V. It can be powered by using the USB port or
decision[1]. It takes less power consuming that is 7-12V [2]. through an external power source connected to the power
jack. Load cell which is measure which communicate with the
Next studies goes on selecting sensors. Sensors also having
Arduino by using HX711 load cell amplifier. Load cell having
less power consuming and give better performance to users.
4 wires and that is connected with HX711 accordingly and
That’s why we are using DHT11 sensor for measuring
HX711 connected with Arduino. DHT11 is the sensor used to
temperature and relative humidity, BMP180 for measuring
measure temperature and humidity. This sensor have 3 pins
atmospheric pressure and altitude, LDR for measuring light
VCC, INPUT and GND. These 3 are connected accordingly
intensity[2].In [3] proposed IoT based data logger system for
with Arduino. BMP180 pressure sensor have 4 pins to
weather monitoring system using wireless networks. In this
connect with the microcontroller, which is VCC, GND, SCL,
project, he uses LPC2148 microcontroller. In this project, he
and SDA. LDR light intensity sensor have 3 pins to connect
proposed the importance of weather in introduction part.
with Arduino, which is VCC, DO, and GND. Finally Ethernet
Using WiFi module he send the sensor values to the web.In
shield which is look like Arduino board. So we can connect
[3] they proposed “Internet of Things (IOT) Based Weather
Ethernet shield upon the Arduino board.
Monitoring system”. He using ESP866 WiFi module for
sending date form sensors to “Thingspeak server”. From here
I know about the thinkspeak server and how to send the data
to thinkspeak server and how to retrieve the data from
thinkspeak server. They put the plotted graph for the sensor
values. In [8] they proposed “IoT-based Temperature and
Humidity Monitoring System for Agriculture”. In this project
they using Raspberry pi and Python language. They also use
Thingspeak server. Hera also I take some knowledge about
thinkspeak server.
Next studies goes on “weighing type rain gauge”.Using load
cell to get an exact weight of the water which is collected in
the container. In [9] they proposed Tipping bucket method for
measure rain fall depth. When the bucket gets full then it tips
the other bucket in position. In weighing type rain gauge
method, the weight of the water which is collected in the
bucket will be measure by using load cell.
Next studies goes on how to send the data to the server.
Ethernet shield is used to send the sensor data to web server.
In [10] they explained about how to use Ethernet shield and
how to communicate with internet by using Ethernet shield. Fig.1. System Architecture.
And also they told about RJ45 cable which is used to connect
B. Module Description
the Ethernet shield with PC.
Weighing type rain gauge is a critical part in my project.
Next studies goes on the web server. Here I am using
We can measure the weight of water, which is gathered in the
Thingspeak online webserver to store all the sensor data. In
bucket. The weight is measure by load cell, which is
[5] and [8] also the author use Thingspeak server for store the
associated with and configured by Arduino. Load cell is a
sensor data. This website is automatically generate graph by
transducer that modifies force into a computable outcome.
using the data with respect to time and automatically store all
HX711 it is a load cell intensifier takes 5 cables from the load
the values in the XL sheet. We can view all the sensor data by
cell. Those pins are marked with hues; RED, BLK, WHT,
download that XL sheet. Then this website generate read and
GRN, and YLW. These hues speak to the shading coding of
write key for sending data to and retrieving data from this
load cells, where red, black, green and white cables originate
server. Using JSON function in JavaScript is used to read the
from the strain gauge on the load cell and yellow is a non-
values from this server.
compulsory ground cable that isn't bowed up to the strain
gauge yet is there to ground any little outside EMI
III. DESIGN
(electromagnetic impedance). Now and then rather than a
A. System Architecture yellow cable, there is a more extended black shading cable,
foil, or free wires to shield the flag wires to decrease EMI. At
Arduino Uno development board which has an
that point this course of action is associated with Arduino.
ATmega328P microcontroller is used. It has 14 digital pins, 6
Then we have a career like setup on the load cell. We have to

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International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume V, Issue IV, April 2018 | ISSN 2321–2705

keep the bucket on the career. Then the weight of the water C. UML Use Case Diagram
which is collected in the bucket is measured by load cell. And
then the weight will send to Arduino by HX711 load cell
amplifier. Then by using some calculations weight of the
water will be converted to depth of the water and this value is
sent to the web server by using Ethernet shield.
Furthermore, here another essential part is we have
to send all the sensor esteems to web server [12]. For this
function, I am using Ethernet Shield. It is associated on the
Arduino board and it additionally look like Arduino board.
The Arduino Ethernet shield is used to associate Arduino
board to the internet with the help of RJ-45 cable. To interface
Ethernet cable to the PC's WiFi network we do take after the
following steps,
1. Open “network and sharing center”
2. Right click on our laptop’s WiFi then go to
properties and click on sharing.
3. Then click the check button “Allow other network
users to connect through this computer’s Internet
connection”.
4. Set the “Home network connection (This is the
network which is sharing our WiFi)”.
Now our laptop' network is sharable and it is imparted to
Ethernet. At that point associate the Ethernet Shield with PC
by utilizing RJ-45 cable. In the event that it is superbly
associated LEDs which are in the Ethernet shield are turned
on likewise. Presently Ethernet Shield additionally getting to
the Internet by utilizing Laptop's WiFi. The sensor
Fig.2.Use case diagram
information is getting by Ethernet shield and that will send to
the "Thingspeak server" through Ethernet cable. In thinkspeak
server, I am making my own channel to store the sensor IV. IMPLEMENTATION
information whatever I am utilizing. In Thingspeak server our
sensor esteems are kept up as diagram and that sensor esteems
are put away in one XL arrange record with Id and qualities.
Fundamentally Thingspeak server get the qualities frame
Arduino in at regular intervals. So this webpage revived for at
regular intervals consequently. From that server I will get the
sensor values by using JavaScript $.getJSON() function.
JSON, JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight
contrasting option to XML format for sending or accepting
information. JSON has a place with a subset of the object
exacting notation of JavaScript. JSON is an accumulation
comprising of sets of name/value. Since these structures are in
any programming language, we can state that the exchange of
information using JSON is free of the programming language
used. This has been one of the keys to its developing
prevalence if effortlessness is looked for. JSON frequently
used to send information from a server to the webpage. For
sending values to thinkspeak server and getting values from Fig.3.Circuit diagram
thinkspeak server, we require Internet. Accordingly, we keep Here Arduino board and Ethernet shield are attached together.
up our system associated with Internet. Because both the boards look same. Ethernet shield is
connected with the laptop by using RJ-45 Ethernet cable.
BMP 180 sensor is connected to the Arduino board by using 4
pins and the 4 pins are VIN, GND, SCL and SDA. VIN is

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International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume V, Issue IV, April 2018 | ISSN 2321–2705

connected with 5 volt pin of Arduino. GND is connected with V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
GND of Arduino. SCL is connected with pin A5 of Arduino.
SDA is connected with A4 of Arduino. Now BMP 180 is
configured with Arduino. We are adding BMP.h library file in
Arduino IDE. We are calculating the pressure which is given
on the BMP by using readPressure() function. And the altitude
is calculated by readAltitude(pressure value) function. LDR
sensor module is connected with Arduino by using 3 pins.
And the pins are D0, GND and VCC. VCC is connected with
3 volt pin of Arduino. D0 is connected with A0 pin of
Arduino. And GND is connected with GND. We can calculate
the light intensity from the LDR module by using
analogRead(A0) function. DHT11 sensor is connected to the
Arduino board by using 3 pins. The pins are+, OUT, -. + is
connected with 5V or 3V of Arduino board. – is connected Fig.4.Webpage for weather system
with GND of Arduino board. OUT is connected with pin A0
of Arduino board. We include DHT11.h library file in the This is the webpage for weather monitoring system. This
Arduino IDE. Now we can find the temperature by using system showing the weather parameters temperature, pressure,
readTemperature() function and find the humidity by using Altitude and light intensity. We need Internet to open this
readHumidity() function. webpage. Because this project contains online server. This
system show the weather changes in every 15 seconds.
Load cell has 4 screw holes, by using these holes we make a Because this page refreshed every 15 seconds. Thingspeak
carrier setup. Load cell is connected to the Arduino board by server also plot graph for every 15 seconds.
using HX711 load cell amplifier. Load cell has 4 cables which
are differentiated by colors. That 4 cables are Red, Black,
Yellow, Green and White. Red cable is connected to E+ of
HX711. Black cable to E-, Green cable to A- and White cable
is connected to A+ of HX711. Now this HX711 is connected
with Arduino board. GND of HX711 is connected to GND of
Arduino. DT of HX711 is connected with pin 3 of Arduino.
SCK is connected with pin 2 of Arduino. VCC is connected
with 5V pin of Arduino. One arrow is placed on load cell
which is looking down. This shows the direction of force on
the load cell. We can any object’s weight by using load cell.
Here we measure the weight of the rain water which is
collected in the bucket. From the weight value, we can easily
calculate the depth of the water. The following formula is
used to calculate the depth of the rain water.
𝑊𝑤 = 𝜌𝑤 × 𝑉𝑤 (1) Fig. 5 Thingspeak graph for temperature
Where, 𝑊𝑤 is Wight of the rain water in Kg. 𝜌𝑤 is density of The curve showed in Fig.5 is a temperature curve for given
water which is 1000𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 and 𝑉𝑤 is volume of water. period of time. Y axis holds the temperature values and X axis
𝑉𝑤 = 𝐴 × 𝐷𝑤 (2) holds the time values. Here 31.5 oC is the highest value of
temperature. The values which will get by Arduino updated in
Where, A is cross sectional area of the bucket in 𝑚2 and 𝐷𝑤 is every 15 seconds.
depth of rainwater.
VI. CONCLUSION
From (1) and (2)
This paper establish a small and low cost system for weather
𝑊𝑤
𝐷𝑤 (𝑐𝑚) = × 100 (3) monitoring system with rain fall measurement. It checked for
𝐴×𝜌 𝑤
more variation of inputs. Subsequently the weather parameters
After reading all the values the values will send to the are measured and shown in a webpage. This system will
thingspeak server. For that purpose we need to create our own mainly helpful for Transportation system, Airways and
new channel in thingspeak.com by giving all the necessary Agriculture. Because we know the weather parameters by
parameters. After finishing this we get read and write keys. using this system. And also this system will helpful to flood
By using these keys we can send data to and retrieve data forecasting. This system embed with rain water measurement.
from the thingspeak server. And then the values are read from Some future works also discussed here. We can add tipping
the thingspeak server and shown in the webpage. bucket in this system. Whenever a bucket gets full it tips and

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International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume V, Issue IV, April 2018 | ISSN 2321–2705

another bucket come to the place. So by this way the [5]. Bulipe Srinivas Rao1, Prof. Dr. K. Srinivasa Rao, Mr. N. Ome ,
“Internet of Things (IOT) Based Weather Monitoring system”.
manpower will be reduced. And this system can work
International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and
anywhere. Communication Engineering (IJARCCE) - ISO 3297:2007
Certified.
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