Author Topic: Lightning detector (Read 32176 times)

Rover1822 · « **Reply #300 on:** July 20, 2020, 12:53:49 PM »

Yep, I was just saying that it reports only the distance of the "last" strike in the reporting period.
Be nice to have at a minimum, the closest strike, last strike, and maybe furthest strike.

In a perfect world, the distances for all strikes... but... that may be asking a bit much

LazyDogFarms · « **Reply #301 on:** July 20, 2020, 01:14:40 PM »

Thanks for the email suggestions and I'm well acquainted with setting up forwarding rules and such so I can set that up as a "work-around" if Ecowitt can't support a second email address from their end. I'd prefer not to do it with email forwarding but that may be the only way to accomplish my need to have more than one person receiving the alert.

7/21/2020 UPDATE:
Lucy at Ecowitt confirmed that Ecowitt.net currently only supports sending alerts to one email address. So for alerts to multiple people, either the email forwarding work-around OR forwarding to an email-to-text message gateway (to receive the alert via text message) would be the best options.

Autofill · « **Reply #302 on:** July 22, 2020, 12:52:43 AM »

Got my detector today and I'm very impressed with it. I was going to mount it in my attic of my two storey home, but decided to mount it in a bedroom closet on the second floor, near the ceiling. Within two hours of putting it up, a thunderstorm rolled through. It's extremely sensitive (default settings, dip switches all down) the red light turns on within milliseconds of the lightning being seen with my eyes. The lightning hasn't even stopped and the light is on. Very nice sensor.

SWX · « **Reply #303 on:** July 22, 2020, 08:24:25 PM »

Thunderstorm rolling in right now and I wasn’t getting any strikes. Just put all of the switches in the down position (they were all up) and now this thing is lighting up. Got to it just in time, it’s about to pour.

K2GW · « **Reply #304 on:** July 22, 2020, 08:53:51 PM »

I had 154 strikes this evening recorded here in central New Jersey, and I haven't had any false alarms since I put it in about two weeks ago.

My installation is on a four foot high wooden stake covered by an inverted opaque plastic jar for environmental protection. Location is 20 feet away from the house where it can be see seen through the window from the console. Dip switch settings are all down except for the number 3 which is up for maximum sensitivity.

funsutton · « **Reply #305 on:** July 22, 2020, 09:05:54 PM »

Quote from: K2GW on July 22, 2020, 08:53:51 PM

I had 154 strikes this evening recorded here in central New Jersey, and I haven't had any false alarms since I put it in about two weeks ago.

My installation is on a four foot high wooden stake covered by an inverted opaque plastic jar for environmental protection. Location is 20 feet away from the house where it can be see seen through the window from the console. Dip switch settings are all down except for the number 3 which is up for maximum sensitivity.

I have mine set to maximum sensitivity as well, just on the inside of the roof on my small front porch. I've never picked up any false alarms. Last week we had a storm roll through and my LD picked up 312 hits. The other day, just 29 on a much smaller storm. So far it seems to work great.

SWX · « **Reply #306 on:** July 22, 2020, 09:48:17 PM »

Registered 22 strikes here, there was way more than that in reality and it looked to me like the device flashed more than 22 times. I’ll be setting it to maximum sensitivity when the rain stops.

Another chance for storms tomorrow, hopefully that actually happens, I had to wait weeks for this little test run.

KC5JIM · « **Reply #307 on:** July 24, 2020, 07:55:14 PM »

Is there anyway to reset the count and distance on the lightning detector? I'm using GW1000 and no console.

_John C · « **Reply #308 on:** July 24, 2020, 07:57:18 PM »

Just reboot the GW1000

KC5JIM · « **Reply #309 on:** July 25, 2020, 12:07:51 AM »

I have to say that I am exceedingly disappointed in the WH57. I have other AS3935 lightning detectors, as well as equipment from Vaisala, and the WH57 is triggering left and right regardless of it's location or settings of the DIP switches. It claims that I have had 49 strikes today alone, while my other AS3935's and my Viasala equipment are all silent.

It's not that hard to implement proper thresholds and rejection of "disturbers" in the AS39395, so I'm a bit stumped how the WH57 is such a dog.

lemuba · « **Reply #310 on:** July 25, 2020, 01:26:53 AM »

I recently tried to trigger false positives by myelf, using the lighting of a high voltage generator I own.
The WH57 did not react or recognized one single false positive.

Then another day, I had to replace a defective blinking LED Bulb. Not the blinking released any false alarm, but when I plugged of the bulb during the 230V/lamp was switched on.

What I want to say... if I would recognize again any false positives, I would first check my electrical house installations and devices for any possible triggers like defective spark protections of e.g. hair dryers, brushed motors/machines, other cheap 110V/230V AC devices, etc.

Matthias

KC5JIM · « **Reply #311 on:** July 26, 2020, 08:40:12 PM »

Quote from: lemuba on July 25, 2020, 01:26:53 AM

I recently tried to trigger false positives by myelf, using the lighting of a high voltage generator I own.
The WH57 did not react or recognized one single false positive.

Then another day, I had to replace a defective blinking LED Bulb. Not the blinking released any false alarm, but when I plugged of the bulb during the 230V/lamp was switched on.

What I want to say... if I would recognize again any false positives, I would first check my electrical house installations and devices for any possible triggers like defective spark protections of e.g. hair dryers, brushed motors/machines, other cheap 110V/230V AC devices, etc.

Matthias

I'm a ham radio operator and an RF engineer, so I am no stranger to dealing with RF interference. I already checked for interference in my house by using the ultimate trick of turning off the main breaker coming into the house. WH57 still singing like a canary, all other AS3935 equipment silent. I also have a lab full of top line RF engineering equipment, there is no noise from my house or any neighboring houses. I can trigger false positives all day long with the Lightning Emulator Board from Franklin, which causes all AS3935 equipment to trigger as expected.

I either got a dud or the firmware is just not very well written.

galfert · « **Reply #312 on:** July 26, 2020, 10:48:42 PM »

kd7eir,
Seems to me like you are pretty qualified and you should request a replacement unit. Then let us all know you thoughts after you get the replacement.

I do have one question for you though...Do you think that nearby overhead power lines can be a trigger and that these overhead lines can be different for different areas? I realize that this question probably falls out of your expertise. But it is just a feeler question as to what you think, not what you know.

KC5JIM · « **Reply #313 on:** July 26, 2020, 11:12:00 PM »

Quote from: galfert on July 26, 2020, 10:48:42 PM

kd7eir,
Seems to me like you are pretty qualified and you should request a replacement unit. Then let us all know you thought after you get the replacement.

I do have one question for you though...Do you think that nearby overhead power lines can be a trigger and that these overhead lines can be different for different areas? I realize that this question probably falls out of your expertise. But it is just a feeler question as to what you think, not what you know.

Hi,

All utilities in my neighborhood are underground, so there is no worry about interference from overhead lines. You are correct that overhead lines could definitely be a source of false triggers or "disturbers" with the AS3935 though.

I will get a replacement unit and see how that works out.

Mandrake · « **Reply #314 on:** July 27, 2020, 03:33:02 AM »

I am sure that you must have a dud!
My personal experience is that if anything I miss a lot of strikes.
As i write this I just heard a peal of thunder and mapping shows it was within range of my receiver but it was not detected and I have mine set to maximum.
This does not bother me too much as I know that the further away strikes are less likely to be detected and in any case not every strike gets a hit.

Lighty269 · « **Reply #315 on:** July 27, 2020, 07:44:16 PM »

This device is not worth the money, I have purchased 3 of them now. I do realize I am in a valley, at one location, so it will not pick up all strikes. At another location which is not in a valley same issue. These report false positives at 3 different locations and do not pick up real strikes. It will pick up some storms, but not all storms.

I am disappointed, but oh well!

What should I have to expect from a $40.00 device.

I wanted to track, I have 17 locations, but not wasting anymore money on something that does not work...

galfert · « **Reply #316 on:** July 27, 2020, 08:31:46 PM »

This same chip is used in Acurite Atlas stations (and elsewhere) and their users have the same things to say about this chip. It works for some but many false positives for many others. It seems like this is just the nature of the beast.

Autofill · « **Reply #317 on:** July 27, 2020, 08:49:30 PM »

I think its hard to pinpoint exactly what the issues are. I've had my WH57 for about 2 weeks now, and whenever there is a storm or dark clouds (had 3 so far) the thing blinks like a Christmas tree (default settings, dips all down mounted in a bedroom closet near the ceiling, indoors). In between, its silent. For those who think they have a defective unit, I would say that it would be defective if you see lightning and it doesn't pick it up, compared to false positives. False positives could be environmental interference, and beyond your home settings.

galfert · « **Reply #318 on:** July 27, 2020, 08:56:34 PM »

I wonder if more humid climates are less susceptible to false positives (or the other way around)? Just a hunch. Anyone know how this chip works to know if these environmental factors could be why some people are delighted and others aren't?

SWX · « **Reply #319 on:** July 27, 2020, 10:21:19 PM »

Quote from: Mandrake on July 27, 2020, 03:33:02 AM

I am sure that you must have a dud!
My personal experience is that if anything I miss a lot of strikes.
As i write this I just heard a peal of thunder and mapping shows it was within range of my receiver but it was not detected and I have mine set to maximum.
This does not bother me too much as I know that the further away strikes are less likely to be detected and in any case not every strike gets a hit.

Same experience here, it definitely under reports the number of lightning strikes, even the close ones. Not a deal breaker for me, during a storm it’d have to report hundreds (or thousands) of strikes, which might become excessive.

My WH57 arrived with all of the switches up and I’d left it like that for about a week or so, I was receiving false positives everyday, yet next to nothing from actual lightning/thunder. Then I changed the settings and voila, working as intended with no false positives whatsoever.

1: Down
2: Down
3: Up
4: Down

galfert · « **Reply #320 on:** July 27, 2020, 10:38:43 PM »

Yeah but everyone surely knows it is:
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A or up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A

Platokidd · « **Reply #321 on:** July 27, 2020, 11:10:14 PM »

I posted this in another thread w/o responce. Forgive me if this has been addressed in this thread, but I'm not going to read 300 plus post.

I'm having issue with signal drift. I've tried everything thinkable and nojoy. Most of the time my ws-2000 shows 0 or 1 bar of signal strength. My gw1000 (ws-view app) always shows full signal. In the pic below the sensor is less than 20 feet with a clean straight shot, no obstructions.

Anybody else having this issue?

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Mandrake · « **Reply #322 on:** July 28, 2020, 04:22:47 AM »

Try turning the lightning receiver on its side to see if that helps (signal polarisation)
Its quite possible that you have something in your house that is upsetting the signal.
If you are getting one bar that means the console is decoding 1 in 5 packets. This does not mean any loss of data, just that the data path is having some trouble and indicative of interference.
As long as you have at least one bar then the data is getting through to the station console.

LeeS · « **Reply #323 on:** July 28, 2020, 03:33:31 PM »

Quote from: platokidd on July 27, 2020, 11:10:14 PM

I posted this in another thread w/o responce. Forgive me if this has been addressed in this thread, but I'm not going to read 300 plus post.

I'm having issue with signal drift. I've tried everything thinkable and nojoy. Most of the time my ws-2000 shows 0 or 1 bar of signal strength. My gw1000 (ws-view app) always shows full signal. In the pic below the sensor is less than 20 feet with a clean straight shot, no obstructions.

Anybody else having this issue?

[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

No. But I was wondering how to trigger a false positive. We probably wont be getting any lightning until mid-late September. Would like to see if it does work before the warranty is out. This is all I ever see on the console or AW.net (No Report Yet). Thanks Lee

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galfert · « **Reply #324 on:** July 28, 2020, 04:08:47 PM »

If you want false positive lightning then try turning on a brush motor appliance or tool. Not all of these will necessarily have brush motors as some fancy ones use brushless motors.

- blender
- power drill
- circular sander
- hair dryer

I don't know if these will be filtered as false positive or not....but worth a try.

News:

Author Topic: Lightning detector (Read 32176 times)