Sketch for Lightning Sensor

[hek]

Nice that you finally got some lightings to test your sketch.

Pull request looks all ok!

[Tore André Rosander]

Is it possible to detect the distance to the lightningstrike?
I was thinking to get some sort of detector to notify me if there is ligning registered X km away from my home.

[boozz]

@Tore-André-Rosander

You would need a sound detector for the thunder. Time (in milliseconds) between lightning and thunder times 0.34[m].

Same as you would do it with your own sensors (eyes and ears) :-)

BR,

Boozz

[Sparkman]

@Tore-André-Rosander Yes, the sensor can detect the distance. See the details of the sensor here: http://playingwithfusion.com/productview.php?pdid=22&catid=1001. Although I'm starting to believe that it's actually a lightning repeller rather than a lightning sensor as we've had very little lightning in our area after I installed it :laughing:

Cheers
Al

[alexsh1]

I found a similar sensor in the UK and added this to the list of my to be sensors for the weatherstation. Can I use it inside or it has to be placed outside to have a direct vision?

http://www.embeddedadventures.com/as3935_lightning_sensor_module_mod-1016.html

[Tore André Rosander]

@alexsh1 What i read when researching this chip it can be placed inside.

@Sparkman Nice, i see that it has a detection range about 40km so thats already a pretty good distance to get a notification when lightning is detected.

[alexsh1]

@Sparkman I suppose your wiring diagram above is correct? I noted that the sensor is not working with 3.3V. Did you manage to find what the problem was? Looking at the datasheet http://www.embeddedadventures.com/datasheets/MOD-1016_hw_v8_doc_v4.pdf I can see what the module can operate down to 2.4V

I am going to receive the sensor in a few days and test it.

As I have a different module manufacturer, I may need to change the sketch as it uses a different library. This is unmodified example sketch:

*/

// AS3935 MOD-1016 Lightning Sensor Arduino test sketch
// Written originally by Embedded Adventures


#include <Wire.h>
#include <AS3935.h>

#define IRQ_pin 2

volatile bool detected = false;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  while (!Serial) {}
  Serial.println("Welcome to the MOD-1016 (AS3935) Lightning Sensor test sketch!");
  Serial.println("Embedded Adventures (www.embeddedadventures.com)\n");

  Wire.begin();
  mod1016.init(IRQ_pin);
 
  //Tune Caps, Set AFE, Set Noise Floor
  //autoTuneCaps(IRQ_pin);
  
  mod1016.setTuneCaps(7);
  mod1016.setOutdoors();
  mod1016.setNoiseFloor(5);
  
  
  Serial.println("TUNE\tIN/OUT\tNOISEFLOOR");
  Serial.print(mod1016.getTuneCaps(), HEX);
  Serial.print("\t");
  Serial.print(mod1016.getAFE(), BIN);
  Serial.print("\t");
  Serial.println(mod1016.getNoiseFloor(), HEX);
  Serial.print("\n");

  pinMode(IRQ_pin, INPUT);
  attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(IRQ_pin), alert, RISING);
  Serial.println("after interrupt");
}

void loop() {
  if (detected) {
    translateIRQ(mod1016.getIRQ());
    detected = false;
  }
}

void alert() {
  detected = true;
}

void translateIRQ(uns8 irq) {
  switch(irq) {
      case 1:
        Serial.println("NOISE DETECTED");
        break;
      case 4:
        Serial.println("DISTURBER DETECTED");
        break;
      case 8: 
        Serial.println("LIGHTNING DETECTED");
        printDistance();
        break;
    }
}

void printDistance() {
  int distance = mod1016.calculateDistance();
  if (distance == -1)
    Serial.println("Lightning out of range");
  else if (distance == 1)
    Serial.println("Distance not in table");
  else if (distance == 0)
    Serial.println("Lightning overhead");
  else {
    Serial.print("Lightning ~");
    Serial.print(distance);
    Serial.println("km away\n");  
  }
}

This is SPI sketch, I'd like to use I2C connection. Generally, the procedure is as follows:

Wait a few milliseconds for the system to stabilise
 Set the tune capacitor to the value indicated on the packaging, by setting the
TUNE_CAP bits of register 8
 Wait 2 milliseconds
 Callibrate RCO by:
o Sending a calibrate RCO direct command (set memory location 0x3d to the
value 0x96)
o Set Register 0x08, bit 5 to 1
o Wait 2 milliseconds
o Set Register 0x08, bit 5 to 0
The factory calibrating tuning cap value will be fine for general use. When you have a
MOD-1016 in an enclosure or close to other electronics it is worth calibrating the tuning
cap again.

[scalz]

can't wait to test this one too ;) i have pcbs for a weather shield (with bme280, veml6070 etc. ) and i have this sensor on it too (https://forum.mysensors.org/uploads/files/1459631385870-stacked.jpg). But not assembled yet, was busy, i hope asap.. i plan to use it with 3v and i2c. @alexsh1 There are libs for i2c if you want :)

Thx @Sparkman for your work on it ;)

[alexsh1]

@scalz yes, please (for i2c lib). What is this red board you have?

[Sparkman]

@alexsh1 @scalz

I'm running my sketch with I2C now, rather than SPI. I found the sensor would lock up occassionally, so recently converted it and am still testing it. I have mine running at 5v now as well instead of 3.3v, but it works fine with either.

I'll post an updated sketch (and wiring diagram) soon. I based both the spi and i2c sketches on the examples found here: http://playingwithfusion.com/productview.php?pdid=22&catid=1001.

Cheers
Al

[alexsh1]

@Sparkman Thanks. Your sketch is very much appreciated. I'll have to adopt it anyway as I have a different manufacture and there is a certain process I have to follow to get it initiated (posted above).

[alexsh1]

Absolutely delighted with the module I have received today by post. The weather is sh@t tonight (lightning, rain etc.) which means that I can test it:

Welcome to the MOD-1016 (AS3935) Lightning Sensor test sketch!
TUNE	IN/OUT	NOISEFLOOR
6	10010	5

after interrupt
DISTURBER DETECTED
DISTURBER DETECTED
DISTURBER DETECTED
DISTURBER DETECTED
DISTURBER DETECTED
LIGHTNING DETECTED
Lightning ~27km away

DISTURBER DETECTED
DISTURBER DETECTED
LIGHTNING DETECTED
Lightning ~17km away

DISTURBER DETECTED
LIGHTNING DETECTED
Lightning ~10km away

I calibrated the sensor and put a reasonable "noise floor". Now I have to convert it into MySensors and hook up to the ceech board outside.

@Sparkman I have my sensor running at 3.3V

[alexsh1]

BTW, I am not sure the sensor is similar to what you guys have.

[Sparkman]

@alexsh1 It looks to be a different breakout board, but for the same chip. So I would expect them to work basically the same.

Cheers
Al

[alexsh1]

@Sparkman it is a different board made (or designed) by a UK company.

We are having a real British summer over here :-)))

LIGHTNING DETECTED
Lightning ~20km away

LIGHTNING DETECTED
Lightning ~20km away

LIGHTNING DETECTED
Lightning ~6km away

LIGHTNING DETECTED
Lightning ~6km away

LIGHTNING DETECTED
Lightning ~6km away

LIGHTNING DETECTED
Lightning ~6km away

LIGHTNING DETECTED
Lightning ~6km away

LIGHTNING DETECTED
Lightning ~5km away

[NeverDie]

@alexsh1
There doesn't appear to be audio input to this board, nor a microphone on the board. So, how does it estimate the distance to the lightening?

[Sparkman]

@NeverDie All these breakout boards are based on this chip: http://ams.com/eng/Products/Wireless-Connectivity/Wireless-Sensor-Connectivity/AS3935. They use a proprietary method to figure out distance and is not based on sound.

Cheers
Al

[NeverDie]

@Sparkman said:

@NeverDie All these breakout boards are based on this chip: http://ams.com/eng/Products/Wireless-Connectivity/Wireless-Sensor-Connectivity/AS3935. They use a proprietary method to figure out distance and is not based on sound.

Cheers
Al

Any impression yet as to how accurate its distance estimates are?

[Sparkman]

@NeverDie No, as we've had very little lightning since I started using it.

[alexsh1]

@NeverDie Al, was quicker replying to your question. :-)
yes, I think it is accurate for my needs - if a lightning detected at, say, 10km+/- 1km this is ok. How accurate do you want it to be?

This is a great technology