Author Topic: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi  (Read 3120 times)

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Offline Smithee

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All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« on: April 05, 2022, 07:00:58 AM »
Morning,

Thought some users here would be interested in using an All Sky camera for a weather webcam - I have used various cameras for weather cams over the years and so far this has been the best option i have found. Its made to capture the night sky with star trails - as below, but i have it running all day linked to IPtimelapse, which overlays weather data.



Its a home made solution, with a 3D printed case:



Anyhow for anyone interested i have put a write up online with an examples all day timelapse and free files to 3D print:

https://connected-environments.org/blog/allsky/

If anyone here makes one or uses All Sky as a weather cam it would be nice to compare setups...

Andy
« Last Edit: April 05, 2022, 07:02:53 AM by Smithee »

Offline davidefa

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2022, 10:38:52 AM »
Thanks, very interesting

Offline BaseLine

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2022, 09:34:41 AM »
Exactly what I am looking for. I was hoping to find a ready made unit but so far, all I have found cost a lot. > 900 EUR
Can you run this with a battery + solar panel?
Sun cooked nothingburger of climate change hysteria with a side order of peak-oil nonsense fries.

Offline Smithee

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2022, 09:43:13 AM »
I'm running mine on a Voltec battery  - https://www.funkyleisure.co.uk/voltaic-systems-225-c.asp

They are not cheap - but its working, i ftp an image every minute and capture an image every 10 seconds for star trails, sky view and a timelapse.

Not checked if it will last during the winter yet though... - the image is at  - https://finchamweather.co.uk/allsky/image.jpg - at night it runs a long exposure (60 seconds).

Andy

Offline hmderek

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2022, 03:18:45 AM »
Voltaic is great quality.  :grin:
Davis VP2
Davis WeatherLink
Sensirion SHT35
PT100
NTC Thermistors
DS18B20
Apogee Instruments TS-100
Barani Meteoshield Pro
Davis 7714
MetSpec RAD14
Davis AirLink
Wemos D1 Mini micro controllers
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Offline DaleReid

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2022, 06:10:12 PM »
I went to the Prusa Printable site and all will load is a blank screen with a couple rectangular boxes on it.

Is that site still valid?
Thx.  I have acute interest in this project before it gets too cold out!
Dale
ECWx.info
&
ECWx.info/t/index.php

Offline davidmc36

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2022, 07:17:46 PM »
Prusa site looks fine for me.

Offline DaleReid

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2022, 08:38:09 PM »
OK, might be some ZoneAlarm or such.  I tried BRAVE, FireFox, Chrome and Microsoft and they all did the same.  I'll see if I can find another computer to try.  Thanks.
Dale
ECWx.info
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ECWx.info/t/index.php

Offline Aussie Susan

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2022, 11:51:14 PM »
(A bit off topic I know - sorry)
I'd like to give this a try but I'm a bit concerned about the sun burning the CCD of the camera.
Has anyone found that to be an issue?
What has anyone done to try to prevent this?
Susan

Offline davidmc36

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #9 on: August 12, 2022, 03:30:15 AM »
Many little cameras have built in UV filters. I would check the specs.

Offline davidefa

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #10 on: August 12, 2022, 06:12:15 AM »
Yes I'm worried too by the 'sun burning' effect.
See this snapshot ( from this post: https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=21637.msg417557#msg417557 )



I think the ccd should degrade its performances ( but at least it does not break immediately ) in the long run ( how long? )
I think a solution could be to substitute the IR filter with a neutral density filter.
Most cameras have an electro mechanical actuator to insert/remove this filter ( so you have the filter inserted daytime, excluded nighttime), this implies opening and modifying this actuator ( not easy, in my opinion, without destroying it ), or searching for a ready made one.
« Last Edit: August 12, 2022, 06:16:07 AM by davidefa »

Offline davidmc36

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #11 on: August 12, 2022, 07:47:37 AM »
If I were to build it and wanted to protect ultimate longevity I might devise a mechanical sun shade that is activated by a solar sensor. Charge the power supply with a panel also. A small servo with one axis of a Pan-Tilt like rotation device. Rotate a light sun shade in place.

Offline BaseLine

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #12 on: August 12, 2022, 08:51:23 AM »
(A bit off topic I know - sorry)
I'd like to give this a try but I'm a bit concerned about the sun burning the CCD of the camera.
Has anyone found that to be an issue?
What has anyone done to try to prevent this?
Susan

Cameras have protection for that (edit: iris). Little crappy webcams have usually IR filter.

I am not keen on building something myself out of tubes and what not, especially if I am going to use more expensive camera, that can also take good images of the night sky.

Looking around, I found alcor-system.com. No idea if they are in still business or not. This equipment looks expensive and is probably more for gov/corporate use.
 
Starlight Xpress, Sxccd.com - nice cameras but no mention of WiFi. Can a outdoor wireless adapter do the trick here? I have no idea. 

I am starting to think that I need to find another location where the camera can be powered and connected to a network. :)
« Last Edit: August 12, 2022, 12:31:09 PM by BaseLine »
Sun cooked nothingburger of climate change hysteria with a side order of peak-oil nonsense fries.

Offline hmderek

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #13 on: August 13, 2022, 04:19:28 PM »
Hadn’t actually looked at the link yet, but that looks like a great project. Especially with that affordable camera and the 3D files. Thanks! An all sky cam as been on my list for quite some time. Have some of the components lying around. Now we wait for the Pi’s to come available again.  :grin:
Davis VP2
Davis WeatherLink
Sensirion SHT35
PT100
NTC Thermistors
DS18B20
Apogee Instruments TS-100
Barani Meteoshield Pro
Davis 7714
MetSpec RAD14
Davis AirLink
Wemos D1 Mini micro controllers
https://blog.meteodrenthe.nl
https://meteodrenthe.nl
https://twitter.com/meteodrenthe

Offline davidefa

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Re: All Sky Weather Webcam - 180 Degree View via Raspberry Pi
« Reply #14 on: August 14, 2022, 12:52:05 PM »
Tested the ir-cut filter mod... and it works.
It was quite easy on the actuator I had, only 4 screws to open, removed the 8x8mm daytime filter and replaced with a plastic nd filter I had,cut to measure.
The good news is that the filters 'flips' correctly daytime/nighttime.
The bad news is that I broke the original ir filter. As both filter are required for daytime... now a need a new  ir-cut actuator

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« Last Edit: August 14, 2022, 12:54:53 PM by davidefa »