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Miscellaneous Debris => Weather sensors, design, analysis, discussion, home brew => Tech Corner => Lightning Detection => Topic started by: miraculon on January 17, 2016, 02:38:30 PM
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Here is a source of some basic homebrew detectors.
http://www.techlib.com/electronics/lightning.html (http://www.techlib.com/electronics/lightning.html)
Greg H.
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Not exactly homebrewed, but good: http://www.hobby-boards.com/store/products.php?product=Lightning-Detector And decent rpice since Hobby-Boards is going out of business...
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Wenzel's circuits and projects are very high quality. Wenzel is a leading designer in field of ultra precise crystal oscillators (retired now, I think). His hobby instrument designs are mostly analog or mixed signal (with an occasional Microchip 8 pin processor) circa 1980's to 1990's style, but very reliable and relatively easy for a somewhat experienced electronics hobbyist to follow and build. He still does mostly through-hole designs (parts with leads), so you don't have to struggle with tiny SMT parts and toaster ovens.
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Not exactly homebrewed, but good: http://www.hobby-boards.com/store/products.php?product=Lightning-Detector And decent rpice since Hobby-Boards is going out of business...
I have been running one of these for many years. It still works great.
A good ground and a Lithium 9V battery is my only advice with this detector. I don't post it online any more due to Blitzortung, etc. but I enjoy watching the "close in" strikes. I use a Linux plotting program and OWW (as a GPC).
Attached is an example of the trend plotter output for a real storm with the H-B detector.
Greg H.
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I ran one of these One Wire Lightning Detectors years ago when they were made as a kit by Point Six in Lexington, KY. Had it connected to an Excel Spreadsheet with OBDC to capture, in real time, the "counts" from the One Wire Counter. I still have that original sensor. Used another of the one wire counters as a rain gauge counter.
Just three weeks ago I bought the updated version of the lightning detector from Hobby Boards (probably the last one since they are now closed!) along with a couple of the DS1820 temp modules so I can do some comparision temp readings...