| Capacitive sensor | Hydreon RG-9 sensor |
|---|---|
| High sensitivity | Very high sensitivity |
| Some indication of the amount of rain | Indication Rain Yes/No |
| Big surface | Big surface |
| Total Integration with CloudWatcher | Very good integration with CloudWatcher |
| Quite inexpensive | More expensive (still reasonable) |
| Strong heater valid for any weather condition | Weaker heater (not suitable for snow or heavy dew) |
| Great support | Great support |
Drawbacks for each model
| Capacitive sensor | Hydreon sensor |
|---|---|
| Solid dirt (such as bird droppings) requires cleaning |
Very dusty and windy environments will require replacing the transparent dome |
| May need recalibration (easy to perform) as it ages |
Intermittent lights (such as the rotating anemometer shadow) can fool the sensor |
| Relatively delicate surface |
Strong daylight may slow the detection – not an issue for nighttime astronomy may be for solar observatories. |
With our thanks to G. C. and William Bristow for sharing their experience with the Hydreon rain sensors.