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Author Topic: Build a lightning detector  (Read 88474 times)

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Offline 41South

  • Colin
  • Posts: 1,027
  • Strathmore, Wellington, NZ
    • 41south.net.nz
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #15 on: February 14, 2005, 08:44:58 PM »
Quote
How do these Boards interface with the PC ?  With a Serial cable?

The board as supplied from hobby-boards is a 1-wire device. But I understand that it can be modified to work with the Labjack interface also. You then also need the 1-wire (or labjack) to serial (or usb) interface so that WD can use the device.
« Last Edit: February 14, 2005, 08:46:31 PM by 41South »
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Cheers, Colin.
Dallas 1-wire v3.0, Lightning, Humidity, Rain, Solar, Pressure, Temp sensors. Member of the Lightning Radar project.

Offline Chas

  • Posts: 299
  • Dayton, MD USA
    • Dayton, MD Weather
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #16 on: February 14, 2005, 09:40:34 PM »
If I get the hobby board and the 1-wire USB interface will WD talk directly to it or do I also need to install the 1-wire driver?

Also, can this arrangement be used with NexStorm software, too?
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Offline 41South

  • Colin
  • Posts: 1,027
  • Strathmore, Wellington, NZ
    • 41south.net.nz
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #17 on: February 14, 2005, 09:52:52 PM »
Quote
If I get the hobby board and the 1-wire USB interface will WD talk directly to it or do I also need to install the 1-wire driver?

If I understand your question correctly - yes you will need the 1-wire usb drivers. These are freely available for download from www.aagelectronica.com .  There are also some free testing programs to ensure that you have everything talking properly at the 1-wire level, before getiing WD talking to it.

Quote
Also, can this arrangement be used with NexStorm software, too?

Somebody can jump in here and correct me if I am wrong  - but I'm pretty sure the answer to that is no. The Nexstorm software is designed to be used with the Boltek series of lightning detectors.
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Cheers, Colin.
Dallas 1-wire v3.0, Lightning, Humidity, Rain, Solar, Pressure, Temp sensors. Member of the Lightning Radar project.

Offline Ed1

  • Posts: 93
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #18 on: February 14, 2005, 10:10:50 PM »
Once these Lightning Detectors are interfaced with WeatherDisplay  what does WD dispay?
A Graph of Lightning strikes or is it just a numeric number lightning count ?  What does WD do with the data ?
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Offline 41South

  • Colin
  • Posts: 1,027
  • Strathmore, Wellington, NZ
    • 41south.net.nz
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #19 on: February 14, 2005, 10:24:57 PM »
Quote
A Graph of Lightning strikes or is it just a numeric number lightning count ?

Both. There is a numeric value on the main WD page (under the clock) which if you click on there is a graph. The graph can be used as part of your web pages and the count value is available as a tag to use in a custom web or wap page also. WDL (Weather Display Live) - if you have it - will also indicate lightning activity using an icon on its display.
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Cheers, Colin.
Dallas 1-wire v3.0, Lightning, Humidity, Rain, Solar, Pressure, Temp sensors. Member of the Lightning Radar project.

Offline Weather Display

  • Posts: 64,498
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #20 on: February 14, 2005, 11:55:11 PM »
yes, all correct answers :)
the main screen alarm flashes when lightning is detected, and you can even have a lightning.wav sounds played (e.g thunder, LOL)
see my graph:
http://www.weather-display.com/windy/gb/lighteninggraph.gif
which in wd shows the counts at the graph position
this same screen in WD also can show the nextstorm info (tick to enable that in the general /misc setup), and yes that can be used alongside the 1 wire counter :)
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Offline 41South

  • Colin
  • Posts: 1,027
  • Strathmore, Wellington, NZ
    • 41south.net.nz
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #21 on: February 15, 2005, 12:02:24 AM »
Quote
yes, all correct answers

Whew - glad about that. I felt like a doctor flying solo with his first patient  :lol:
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Cheers, Colin.
Dallas 1-wire v3.0, Lightning, Humidity, Rain, Solar, Pressure, Temp sensors. Member of the Lightning Radar project.

Offline Ed1

  • Posts: 93
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #22 on: February 15, 2005, 05:39:16 PM »
Thank you very much for answering. A person could save around $300  in making their own.

I'll give it a whirl next month.  Having the Lightnining dector interfaced with WD looks nice and Brian's suggestion of having a Thunder wav play as a warning is neat also.

Hey Brian... That new Weather Shop at that Shopping Center looks cool !!   I don't believe there is anything in the U.S. like that.       It's very nice looking !!
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Offline Kevin_RSD

  • Posts: 13
  • Roosendaal (Netherlands)
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #23 on: February 15, 2005, 06:16:24 PM »
Hi

I've made the lightning detector:



But the led (receiver) lights always, and never go off, what should i do?

Kevin
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Offline niko

  • syzygy
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  • Northern California, U.S.A.
    • http://www.realweatherstation.com
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #24 on: February 15, 2005, 06:27:26 PM »
#1 are you sure the wiring is correct, especially are the diodes wired correctly?

#2 disconnect the antenna, what happens?

#3 if the led doesn't turn off in #2 connect the base of Q1 to ground and see if that turns it off.

can you post the component values?

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Offline 41South

  • Colin
  • Posts: 1,027
  • Strathmore, Wellington, NZ
    • 41south.net.nz
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #25 on: February 15, 2005, 06:36:25 PM »
Quote
But the led (receiver) lights always, and never go off,

By this do you mean the opto coupler in the next stage.

This design looks to be the original "Tim Bitson" one from here http://homepage.mac.com/tbitson/weather/owlm/index.html
in which case following this stage is an opto coupler and then a 1-wire interface. Is that what you are trying to do?
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Cheers, Colin.
Dallas 1-wire v3.0, Lightning, Humidity, Rain, Solar, Pressure, Temp sensors. Member of the Lightning Radar project.

Offline Kevin_RSD

  • Posts: 13
  • Roosendaal (Netherlands)
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #26 on: February 15, 2005, 06:37:56 PM »
Hey,

I think i found the problem, i've been the connection between Q2c en D2 forgotten
Can this be the problem?

Kevin
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Offline Kevin_RSD

  • Posts: 13
  • Roosendaal (Netherlands)
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #27 on: February 15, 2005, 06:57:37 PM »
Uhm, ground wire to earth ground? where is that? i have not that cable
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Offline 41South

  • Colin
  • Posts: 1,027
  • Strathmore, Wellington, NZ
    • 41south.net.nz
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #28 on: February 15, 2005, 07:05:43 PM »
Quote
connection between Q2c en D2 forgotten

I'm not sure that D2 is a critical component. Its not there on later designs.

Quote
ground wire to earth ground? where is that

Look at the diagram you posted - its the green wire marked 'ground'. It needs to go to an earth  stake or a water pipe with a good earth connection.

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Cheers, Colin.
Dallas 1-wire v3.0, Lightning, Humidity, Rain, Solar, Pressure, Temp sensors. Member of the Lightning Radar project.

Offline Kevin_RSD

  • Posts: 13
  • Roosendaal (Netherlands)
Re: Build a lightning detector
« Reply #29 on: February 15, 2005, 07:17:13 PM »
Ok i have solderd the last connexion and the led dont burn now, even if i make a spark with a electrick lighter...

I dont know what to do now, i have make earth on my radiator.

Kevin
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