Sketch for Lightning Sensor

[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

[NeverDie]

@alexsh1 said:

@NeverDie Al, was quicker replying to your question. :-)
How accurate do you want it to be?

I'm not sure, but more accurate than lightningmaps.com or it's a no-go. I've played with lightningmaps.com during a few thunderstorms, and although it's great for getting a general idea of lightning strike rate and density, I was surprised that it seems to miss a lot of detections entirely that both my eyes and ears have confirmed. e.g. some strikes that were big enough to rattle the windows didn't show up at all on lightningmaps. Some of the others were detected, but the map plot of the strike was wrong by maybe 10 miles or so.

[alexsh1]

@NeverDie I have not tested this sensor long enough, but recently we have had torrential rain, lightning, etc - you can see some data I published above. The sensor did not miss a single one. There are a few parameters you can alter (noise floor). One has to setup it correctly. I have not started looking into converting the sketch for MySensors yet

[alexsh1]

I have adopted the MOD-1016 module (https://www.embeddedadventures.com/datasheets/MOD-1016_hw_v8_doc_v4.pdf) for MySensors if anyone is interested:

/*

Copyright (c) 2016, Embedded Adventures
All rights reserved.

Contact us at source [at] embeddedadventures.com
www.embeddedadventures.com

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:

- Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
  this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.

- Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
  notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
  documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

- Neither the name of Embedded Adventures nor the names of its contributors
  may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
  without specific prior written permission.
 
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN 
CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) 
ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF 
THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

*/

// Enable debug prints to serial monitor
#define MY_DEBUG 

// Enable and select radio type attached
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24
//#define MY_RADIO_RFM69
#define MY_NODE_ID 15

#include <Wire.h>
#include <MySensors.h>
#include <AS3935.h> // AS3935 MOD-1016 by Embedded Adventures

volatile bool detected = false;


 //-----------------IMPORTANT--------------------
 //---------------CHANGE SETTINGS HERE-----------
#define IRQ_pin 2

#define AS3935_TUNE_CAPS     6 // <-- SET THIS VALUE TO THE NUMBER LISTED ON YOUR BOARD 
#define AS3935_INDOORS       1 // AS3935_INDOORS=1 indoors, AS3935_INDOORS=0 outdoors
#define AS3935_NOISE_FLOOR   6
#define AS3935_ENABLE_DISTURBERS 1 // 0 or 1      

#define CHILD_ID_DISTANCE 1
#define CHILD_ID_INTENSITY 2
MyMessage msgDist(CHILD_ID_DISTANCE, V_DISTANCE);
MyMessage msgInt(CHILD_ID_INTENSITY, V_VAR1);

void setup()  
{ 
  Serial.begin(115200);
  while (!Serial) {}
  Serial.println("MOD-1016 (AS3935) Lightning Sensor");
  Serial.println("beginning boot procedure....");
  
  Wire.begin();
  mod1016.init(IRQ_pin);
 
 //-----------------IMPORTANT--------------------
 //---------------CHANGE SETTINGS HERE-----------
  //Tune Caps, Set AFE, Set Noise Floor
  //autoTuneCaps(IRQ_pin);
  mod1016.setTuneCaps(AS3935_TUNE_CAPS);
delay(2);
#if AS3935_INDOORS == 1
  mod1016.setIndoors();
  #else
  mod1016.setOutdoors();
#endif
delay(2);
mod1016.setNoiseFloor(AS3935_NOISE_FLOOR);
delay(2);
#if AS3935_ENABLE_DISTURBERS == 1
  mod1016.enableDisturbers();
#else
  mod1016.disableDisturbers();
#endif
//mod1016.calibrateRCO();
delay(2);
  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");
    // delay execution to allow chip to stabilize.
  delay(1000);

}

void presentation()  {
  // Send the sketch version information to the gateway and Controller
  sendSketchInfo("Lightning Sensor MOD-1016", "1.0");

  // Register all sensors to gw (they will be created as child devices)
  present(CHILD_ID_DISTANCE, S_DISTANCE);
  present(CHILD_ID_INTENSITY, S_CUSTOM);
}

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!");
        printandsendToGW();
        break;

  }
}

void printandsendToGW() {
  int distance = mod1016.calculateDistance();
  unsigned int lightning_intensity = mod1016.getIntensity();
  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");
    Serial.print("Lightning Intensity: ");
    Serial.println(lightning_intensity);  
    send(msgDist.set(distance));
    send(msgInt.set(lightning_intensity));
  }
}

You have to change the sketch according to your module settings

[skywatch]

I ordered one form embedded adventures on 27/7 - Now it is 3/9 and still nothing.
Waiting to hear from them....
That's the whole truth.

[alexsh1]

@skywatch give them a call or send a e-mail. Maybe your order was lost in post. Happens.
My order arrived in 2 days from Embedded Adventures

[skywatch]

OK - finally got board, seems the problem was in the warehouse. I got email to say it had been sent and it never did. At least I can try it out soon and see how it compares to the current lightning sensors I use.

[skywatch]

@alexsh1
Is your example using I2C or SPI? I can't make it out.
I'd guess I2C, but want to make sure first.....

Thank you

[NeverDie]

@skywatch said in Sketch for Lightning Sensor:

see how it compares to the current lightning sensors I use.

Please do let us know how it compares and which one you like the best.

[skywatch]

@neverdie Last night was the first lightning to test it out - 3 storm cells went through with hail and lightning, but nothing from the sensor :(

So today I have rewired it, made some changes to the program and if we get lightning tonight I might have some news :)

[Nca78]

@skywatch said in Sketch for Lightning Sensor:

@neverdie Last night was the first lightning to test it out - 3 storm cells went through with hail and lightning, but nothing from the sensor :(

So today I have rewired it, made some changes to the program and if we get lightning tonight I might have some news :)

I have the same problem. Insane storms, and nothing from the sensor, the bast I had were events identified as noise. I've had storms around and sensor doesn't detect anything, very disappointing.
I've tried to disconnect my laptop from main so it's not grounded (seem it can be a problem) but I still had nothing.

[skywatch]

@nca78 As you might expect there was no lightning last night to test it. :(

It's taken 2 years to get this far as storms are not frequent around here.

My sensor is from Embedded Adventures, is that the same one you are using?

I run it from 5V, it is set for 'indoors' and is placed on a window sil. I can see 'noise' if I place a laptop near to it. If I enable 'disturbers' I see them flooding in. The noise floor is set to 3 and I get no triggers at that level. Previously the noise floor was at 6.

So for the moment I am a little frustrated/disappointed with this 'sensor'. But I have to wait for the next storm, which should be tonight or tomorrow :)

[alexsh1]

@skywatch I have the same sensor for months working like a charm. Sadly I had to disable it as I had one node and several sensors interfering with each other.

I will have to have the lightning sensor on a separate node