Unlike other rain gauges, which measure accumulation, the ORG-115 measures true rain rate. The ORG-115 is an ideal sensor for the measurement of rain, from very light (0.1 mm/hr) up to torrential downpours (500 mm/hr). The high sensitivity ensures that the ORG® will provide useful data well in advance of a tipping bucket gauge that is waiting for the "first tip". The wide dynamic range will measure rain rate when all other types of rain gauges have completely failed. In addition, since the Mini-ORG® measures precipitation rate optically instead of mechanically, wind effects, and motion due to rough seas have much less effect on the Mini-ORG®.

The ORG-115 has been used extensively in this capacity and has been of significant use in the study of El Niño in the South Pacific. The National Data Buoy Center (NOAA), NASA, Mitsubishi, Brookhaven National Labs, and many other scientific and research institutions have purchased the ORG-115 for this task.

The standard model ORG-115 outputs a 0-5 VDC signal that is compatible with most automatic weather stations and data loggers. A microprocessor-based, RS-232 output is also available as an option.