Greetings!
They've been at the core of our business for over two decades. Our obsession with innovation began in the 1980s with a collaboration between Hydrological Services (now HyQuest Solutions) and a number of international meteorological organizations intent on implementing a more accurate and reliable rain gauge. Over the next 20 years our signature rain gauges became the largest selling products in our portfolio worldwide. Many prestigious international agencies such as NOAA, Environment Canada, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Cemeden Brazil, China Water, South African Weather Service and Department of Meteorology Thailand to name just a few, have made our Tipping Bucket Rain Gauges a keystone of their rainfall measurement programs.

In this newsletter we'll focus on our model TB3 and TB4 Tipping Bucket Rain Gauges that feature a unique Flow Control mechanism. When combined with our vertical finger filter, ultra durable sapphire pivots and dual reed switches, the TB3 and TB4 deliver outstanding accuracy, long term stable calibration and most critical of all...rainfall data you can trust, all the way from light rain to heavy storms without missing a beat.
How could one unique innovation make such a difference to the quality of your rainfall data?
According to the WMO, uncorrected tipping bucket rain gauges notoriously underreport! Now, that might come as a bit of a shock, however, it's all due to the basic physics of the Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge.

We've solved this problem!
In fact we solved it over 20 years ago.
With our innovative Flow control mechanism (siphon), we are able to control the flow rate from the device, thereby correcting the intensity errors that all TBRGs suffer from, ensuring reliable data all the way from light rain to extreme rainfall events up to 20 inches per hour. The TB3 & TB4 deliver outstanding accuracy, +/- 2% from 0 to 250 mm/hour and +/- 3% from 250 to 500 mm/hour. In fact, the TB4 holds the US record for the largest amount of rainfall measured and collected in the United States since records began.

Vertical Finger Filter reduces blocking
protects against data loss

Blocking of tipping bucket rain gauges due to the presence of airborne and animal debris is a major issue that threatens the accuracy of your rainfall data especially in remote locations. The TB3 & TB4 are both fitted with our unique vertical finger filter that substantially reduces blocking, dramatically reducing field maintenance requirements and most importantly protecting against data loss.

Sapphire Pivots = long term stable calibration
Ultra hard and durable sapphire pivots resist dust and eliminate friction ensuring the gauges long term stable calibration. This becomes especially important when multiple gauges are in operation in remote locations and substantially reduces maintenance costs,

Not your average Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge
Our TB3 and TB4 are the standard around the world for many local, state and federal authorities. When you consider the robust construction, 30+ years field life, guaranteed accuracy from light rain to extreme storm events, reduced field maintenance, dual reed switch outputs, long term stable calibration and of course the most important benefit of all, rock solid confidence and peace of mind...why would you ever trust your rainfall data to any other Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge?
Peter Ward
General Manager
HyQuest Solutions America/KISTERS group