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8 Maintenance
The following steps should be taken for proper maintenance of your station
1. Clean the rain gauge once every 3 months. Rotate the funnel
counter-clockwise and lift to expose the rain gauge mechanism, and
clean with a damp cloth. Remove any dirt, debris and insects. If bug
infestation is an issue, spray the array lightly with insecticide.
Figure 29: Rain gauge installation and maintenance
2. Clean the solar radiation sensor and solar panel every 3 months with a
non-abrasive slightly damp cloth.
3. Replace batteries every 1-2 years. If left in too long, the batteries may
leak due to environmental challenges. In harsh environments, inspect
the batteries every 3 months (while cleaning the solar panel).
4. When replacing the batteries, apply a corrosion preventing compound
on the battery terminals, available at Amazon and most hardware
stores.
5. In snowy environments, spray the top of the weather station with
anti-icing silicon spray to prevent snow build up.
