Author Topic: Lightning detector (Read 32119 times)

casacota · « **Reply #200 on:** April 28, 2020, 04:18:26 AM »

The information over past storms is indeed very valuable.

rkl · « **Reply #201 on:** May 03, 2020, 07:59:27 AM »

guys,

did anyone checked what is effective range? So far im still waiting on first storm in area. Today were 2 hits around 40 km away but weren't picked by detector.
Next step would be changing sensitivity to high and to indoor (according to manual it should increase system's gain).
Wondering if someone has any observations.

casacota · « **Reply #202 on:** May 03, 2020, 10:12:39 AM »

Quote from: rkl on May 03, 2020, 07:59:27 AM

guys,

did anyone checked what is effective range? So far im still waiting on first storm in area. Today were 2 hits around 40 km away but weren't picked by detector.
Next step would be changing sensitivity to high and to indoor (according to manual it should increase system's gain).
Wondering if someone has any observations.

In my case, installed in a Stevenson screen about 25 meters from the next building in a very rural area, it detects nothing over about 30 km.

rkl · « **Reply #203 on:** May 03, 2020, 10:26:28 AM »

i just switched sensitivity to high and to indoor, now lets wait for some storm...

Mapantz · « **Reply #204 on:** May 03, 2020, 11:13:38 AM »

Quote from: rkl on May 03, 2020, 10:26:28 AM

i just switched sensitivity to high and to indoor, now lets wait for some storm...

I did the same.

I noticed something going on.. I was picking up strikes out in the English channel (South) some 20 miles away. However, around 20 to 30 strikes occurred to the North and East of me within 15 miles and I only picked up 2.

rkl · « **Reply #205 on:** May 03, 2020, 11:19:38 AM »

Maybe it's something with place where you have sensor?

looney2ns · « **Reply #206 on:** May 04, 2020, 01:29:26 PM »

Placement matters.
The higher it is mounted, the further it will pick up.
If you mount it on a steel pole for example, the direction which the pole shields, will not pickup strikes.
If you mount it in the house, and the house happens to have foil lined sheathing or foil faced insulation, or metal roof, or aluminum siding you won't pick up strikes from very far if at all.
It should be mounted on a roof, in a PVC housing, and as far away from any metal obstacles as practical. Only nylon screws should be used to assemble the PVC housing.

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Mapantz · « **Reply #207 on:** May 05, 2020, 06:26:05 PM »

Quote from: looney2ns on May 04, 2020, 01:29:26 PM

The higher it is mounted, the further it will pick up.

Well, that's not true. It has a limit of 24 miles, so it's not going to pick up anything further than that. I have picked up sferics at 24 miles already, and that was while it was in the house before I mounted it.

My placement is at 10ft, upon a wooden post. There's nothing surrounding it apart from a few small branches of Wisteria about 5ft away, certainly nothing to block signal.

I'm just glad I don't get false positives throughout the day, like the weatherflow station gave me - which was mounted in the same place. I just find it weird that I could pick up strikes to the South and not from showers passing by to the North and East. If anything, there's less obstructions in those directions than there is to my South.

galfert · « **Reply #208 on:** May 05, 2020, 06:51:58 PM »

Quote from: Mapantz on May 05, 2020, 06:26:05 PM

I just find it weird that I could pick up strikes to the South and not from showers passing by to the North and East. If anything, there's less obstructions in those directions than there is to my South.

What if you rotated the sensor 180 degrees and kept it at the very same location?

Mapantz · « **Reply #209 on:** May 05, 2020, 07:00:40 PM »

Quote from: galfert on May 05, 2020, 06:51:58 PM

Quote from: Mapantz on May 05, 2020, 06:26:05 PM
I just find it weird that I could pick up strikes to the South and not from showers passing by to the North and East. If anything, there's less obstructions in those directions than there is to my South.

What if you rotated the sensor 180 degrees and kept it at the very same location?

I could give that a try!

I'll just have to wait a year for the next shower.

Mandrake · « **Reply #210 on:** May 06, 2020, 03:14:42 AM »

The radio waves released by storms are not particularly strong and you'd best think of them like ripples in a pond.
Anything metal or conductive nearby can cause reflections and absorption so finding the optimal location will be an art.
I too have yet to find the ideal spot/ settings.

I have only seen a few claps of thunder in my location (none really nearby) so far this year and no detections so its quite frustrating waiting to tune the detection!

rkl · « **Reply #211 on:** May 11, 2020, 11:54:11 AM »

After first storm, sensor missed to pick like 80% of strikes that were in the range of 40 km. Still set on high sensivity. Was even not able to pick few strikes that were approx 5 km away.
Maybe it's due to placement (on tree, 4m above ground, 8-10 meters away from closest house) or just overall performance...

Rover1822 · « **Reply #212 on:** May 11, 2020, 02:51:18 PM »

Not sure if its related, but depending on console you use to view and data, you may get a count that reflects what the sensor "heard". But as far as distance in the reporting period you may only get the "last" distance.

This is kinda funny if you don't watch it all the time and maybe only the next morning look at the data. Its typical for a storm to move out of an area , so the last reported lightning is the going to be the furthest away.

rkl · « **Reply #213 on:** May 11, 2020, 05:30:43 PM »

I know what you are referring to, but this is not a case. There was around 90 strikes in radius of 40 km from sensor and it picked only 11. No clue is it by design or its due to placement.

Rover1822 · « **Reply #214 on:** May 11, 2020, 05:39:05 PM »

Yeah, it does sound like a placement issue.

Mandrake · « **Reply #215 on:** May 12, 2020, 03:23:10 AM »

The other factor to take into consideration is the range.
40Km is not really very far and well within the horizon range. So its quite possible to see lightning and hear thunder that is well outside that range and so miss its detection electronically.
It might be interesting to see if its possible to modify the lightning sensor with a longer antenna to improve reception as after all the sensor is looking for the tiny induced EM signal from lightning.

LeeS · « **Reply #216 on:** May 21, 2020, 05:16:23 AM »

Ambient Weather May 2020 Newsletter - Lightning Detector

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Ambient-Weather-May-2020-Newsletter.html?soid=1126251500743&aid=-1Q_xbnPVa4

mcrossley · « **Reply #217 on:** May 21, 2020, 05:29:42 AM »

Quote from: Mandrake on May 12, 2020, 03:23:10 AM

The other factor to take into consideration is the range.
40Km is not really very far and well within the horizon range. So its quite possible to see lightning and hear thunder that is well outside that range and so miss its detection electronically.
It might be interesting to see if its possible to modify the lightning sensor with a longer antenna to improve reception as after all the sensor is looking for the tiny induced EM signal from lightning.

With them defining such a round number, I suspect it may be software limited as well?

PeterH · « **Reply #218 on:** May 21, 2020, 08:09:02 AM »

Got an alert today. 5 lightning strikes at 31 km.

Strange thing was that there were no storms close. Only some at the Norrh Sea.
But it picked up some strikes... That should be at 100 km away at least.

Its on indoor and high sensitivity.
Never had a false strike since i have the detector.

Could it be some strong positive lightning at sea?

Peter.

Edit: i Can see the thunderheads from here. Even if there far above sea.

rkl · « **Reply #219 on:** May 21, 2020, 08:19:25 AM »

Mine is picking few false daily. I have it outside set to indoor and high sensitivity. When i had on outdoor setting it missed majority of strikes. Now waiting on another storm.

Da9L · « **Reply #220 on:** May 24, 2020, 06:05:49 PM »

Just ordered mine from Ecowitt.. Would have ordered it from Froggit, but they haven't gotten it yet, and i got impatient

Also need one so that i can get to code it into my app.

Should this be placed as high as possible? I have the main sensor array on top of my roof. Maybe i could just place it there on side of the chimney or something

Mandrake · « **Reply #221 on:** May 25, 2020, 05:35:06 AM »

yes, as its a radio receiver basically. As high as possible is best.
I have mine inside my roof at the apex so its sheltered and as high as possible.
I have not seen any false positives for some time and have detected storms some 25Km away correctly.

rkl · « **Reply #222 on:** May 25, 2020, 07:31:15 AM »

Quote from: Mandrake on May 25, 2020, 05:35:06 AM

yes, as its a radio receiver basically. As high as possible is best.
I have mine inside my roof at the apex so its sheltered and as high as possible.
I have not seen any false positives for some time and have detected storms some 25Km away correctly.

what are your setting? indoor, outdoor? Sensitivity?

Mandrake · « **Reply #223 on:** May 26, 2020, 03:22:48 AM »

I currently have mine set to Indoors and High Sensitivity.

Steve F · « **Reply #224 on:** May 26, 2020, 09:17:23 PM »

So mine is going through local customs at the moment and I should have it in my hands shortly. I was going to mount it outside under a balcony to keep it out of the weather but that means it would have brick walls on two sides of it, we are also in a bit of a valley so the view would be limited. My other option is to mount it in the roof under the peak, the roof is terracotta tiles but is substantially higher, assuming this would be a better option? Only downside would be battery replacement as it means dragging out ladders etc, any idea how long they are lasting?

Cheers
Steve

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Author Topic: Lightning detector (Read 32119 times)