Topic: Lightning detector

[Autofill]

Well here it is!

https://twitter.com/ecowittweather/status/1295639726410498049?s=19

Thanks for the update! Will email Lucy now and post an update.

[olicat]

Hi!

Have you already installed the update? Everything ok so far? Problem solved?

BTW:

Code: [Select]

Firmware update for HP2551/HP2553 - V1.6.7

Mainly Updates for V1.6.7:

1. Supports to display the WH45 PM2.5, PM10 and CO2 3-in-1 sensor data on the main interface.
2. Supports to upload the WH45 and WN34 sensor data to ecowitt.net.
3. Fix the battery issue for the WH55 and WH57 to upload to ecowitt.net.

Has Ecowitt still not decided on a name for the WH34 / WN34? Or are these two different products?

Regards, Oliver

[JB007JB]

Lots of hints already in this thread if you scroll up, but generally away from any other electrical equipment, within sight of the console, and if possible, protected by plastic from direct rain.  Elevation isn’t important for 500 KHz ground waves.

Thank you for the hints.
 
Question: Does this WH57 lightning detector fit into the Ecowitt RS-00001 shield?
(I quickly browsed through this topic but didn't see this - sorry if asked and replied earlier)

Yes it does!

[galfert]

Hi!

Have you already installed the update? Everything ok so far? Problem solved?

BTW:

Code: [Select]

Firmware update for HP2551/HP2553 - V1.6.7

Mainly Updates for V1.6.7:

1. Supports to display the WH45 PM2.5, PM10 and CO2 3-in-1 sensor data on the main interface.
2. Supports to upload the WH45 and WN34 sensor data to ecowitt.net.
3. Fix the battery issue for the WH55 and WH57 to upload to ecowitt.net.

Has Ecowitt still not decided on a name for the WH34 / WN34? Or are these two different products?

Regards, Oliver

The correct part name is WH34. The other part name with an N is a typo that showed up in the firmware release notes.
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=37373.msg406569#msg406569

[Autofill]

I installed it over an hour ago and I haven't received the same notification after I recreated it. So I would say yes, the issue is solved! Thanks Oliver, for bringing this to my attention.

Hi!

Have you already installed the update? Everything ok so far? Problem solved?

BTW:

Code: [Select]

Firmware update for HP2551/HP2553 - V1.6.7

Mainly Updates for V1.6.7:

1. Supports to display the WH45 PM2.5, PM10 and CO2 3-in-1 sensor data on the main interface.
2. Supports to upload the WH45 and WN34 sensor data to ecowitt.net.
3. Fix the battery issue for the WH55 and WH57 to upload to ecowitt.net.

Has Ecowitt still not decided on a name for the WH34 / WN34? Or are these two different products?

Regards, Oliver

[Autofill]

So, I'm still dealing with this 3 strikes per day false positives. One thing I've been able to observe is that every time I change my dip switches, the distance changes. I'm wondering if this is indicative that the source of this is indeed in close proximity to the detector or if its just defective. Right now, I've moved my WH57 from my home and placed it in my shed which is about 40 ft or more away from my home and other homes.

If this works, I plan on mounting it outside using the RS0001 shield (or something similar) and keep it outside, permanently. The operating conditions from this detector is 0 to 50oC. Where I live (Canada), temperatures can range from -30 to +30oC in a year. I wonder if the reported operating temperature is not a hardware limitation because lightning below 0 oC is rare.

[Mandrake]

Its more likely to do with electronics and dew points and AA cells that perform poorly below 0C
If you make sure the sensor is well sealed from damp and perhaps use Lithium AA cells there should be little issues.

[Autofill]

thanks, Mandrake. Ideally, I would want the lightning sensor inside, but I'm battling these false positives inside (and now outside).

However, I think I may have found the problem, but need some information. With regards to dip switch setting #2, the instructions say do not change it:

"Dip switch 2, default setting is for long antenna, as this is the antenna used inside. Please do not make any change with this dip switch setting"

Even Ambient's sensor (WH31) has a similar description for dip switch #2 and design:

"Do not change this setting. The long antenna option (default) is the only configuration available."

Basically, from these descriptions, its saying that both sensors utilize the long antenna and there is no short antenna. Having said that, if you change the setting to short, it shouldn't work because there is no short antenna in these devices and you shouldn't register anything. You basically turn off the antenna when putting the dip switch to short.

In my troubleshooting, I changed the dip setting to short antenna and left it. Lo and behold, it registered some false positives, which, is not only bizarre, but I believe this proves that the issue could be inherent to the device and its not interference or lightning that is causing the false positives.

If this is true, that the short antenna setting will render the device null, then I believe this probably warrants a replacement.

To confirm, I have to ask if any of you ever gotten strikes registered during a storm with the short antenna setting?

[lemuba]

thanks, Mandrake. Ideally, I would want the lightning sensor inside, but I'm battling these false positives inside (and now outside).

Why you don‘t simply change the switch settings, make the sensor less sensitive, until the false positive disappear?
This sensor according to my opinion is not at all an expensive or precise device. It just puts strikes and distances more or less accurate into a time line.

My current switch settings:
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=38193.msg410216#msg410216

No false positives since weeks, but strikes during the past thunder storm counted.
I use the sensor indoor. I don‘t believe that in makes any sense or provide any advantages to place it outside.

Matthias

[Autofill]

Indeed, that has been investigated, i.e different dip switch settings, different location (outside, inside). Bottom line, I bought another WH57 and will be asking to replace the first one. It happens.

[LeeS]

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.

Never did get a false positive, tried the blender and electric drill up close.  Our first thunderstorms of the season are forecast to start tomorrow. Sure will be happy to see this thing work.   

[LeeS]

IT LIVES!  Woke me up around 4am.  Had 101 strikes at that time which I questioned.  I had the sensitivity set to high when I was trying to induce a false strike.  Changed to default (all switches down) and strikes continued. The strikes that woke me up were right on top of us so I guess 101 strikes count was good.  The distance was 0 and 1 at that time. 

The ICON on the console was flashing.  The LED on the detector sometimes had a very quick flash and the count didn't increase.  Approximately 1 second flashes were counted.  Nothing more than a second.

The strikes were being recorded on ambientweather.net.  After strikes slowed down both the console and aw.net were in agreement.

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(fixed my profile, now displays the correct time - Pacific)

[lgkahn]

i am getting 8-10 false alarms a day no matter what the settings. i am getting another from amazon and will try returning one..
it is always 11 miles away.. could it be the power plant that is actually about 2.5 miles away when teh generators start up.. any ideas.

[solartempest]

could it be the power plant that is actually about 2.5 miles away when teh generators start up.. any ideas.

Highly unlikely? The AS3935 sensor antenna is tuned to 500kHZ which is beyond normal grid operations frequencies (60Hz for you). Some specialized power-related equipment may emit these frequencies but that is unlikely at such a range. If there is public access to the electricity grid operator supply data you can compare your lighting data against the generation times. I work in generating stations and for a grid operator in the past.

Much more likely is you are picking up emissions in the 500kHz range from other electronic devices. Some could be power supplies, inverters/UPS, electric power tools (highly dependent on the tool), or certain lighting ballasts. My suggestion is to try moving your lighting sensor to a different location away from such potential sources.

If you want some further technical reading which may give you ideas on what to try or test, take a look at the following link. I've specified and verified results for EMI/RFI testing of industrial equipment and it is a very complex field and often very unintuitive!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142061518309578

Added note: The AS3935 actually has some functionality for noise evaluation and verification of disturbance signals. No idea how Ecowitt has integrated the chip but there are possibilities and it is determined by the sensor chip integrator.

[lgkahn]

not at all unlikely.. the unit was defective. got a replaceent from amazon and it is working fine.. no false alerts.

[solartempest]

not at all unlikely.. the unit was defective. got a replaceent from amazon and it is working fine.. no false alerts.

That's great news! Problem solved. =)

[Mapantz]

Finally worked on a script how to get lightning to realtime-update on my website without refreshing. Now we have thunder & lightning and the detector isn't picking a single strike. 

[wardie]

How bummed am I? Had the sensor up for about a month now and just got home after a surprise short thunderstorm (bit cold now in England). Zero hits. Family laughing at my failed weather-nerdy-data-tech after the big booms. I checked the device. When I put the batteries in it looked like all the DIP switches were in their default (down) position i.e. outdoor, long sensor, default sensitivity. I never changed anyway. Turns out they were in fact all in the up position! Anyway I’ve fixed them up now but no thunderstorms since . Moral of the story - check the DIP switches!

[Mapantz]

My lightning detector is on it's way out already. I noticed the first battery (Energizer lithium) suddenly went from full down to 25% within a fortnight, and then it died a week later. I put in a new one, and that started dropping fast as well. That's in less than a year.

[fkapp]

Yikes. I just ordered one from amazon. How about other updates on how long last and if work okay?. Hope last more than a year.

[Gyvate]

My lightning detector is on it's way out already. I noticed the first battery (Energizer lithium) suddenly went from full down to 25% within a fortnight, and then it died a week later. I put in a new one, and that started dropping fast as well. That's in less than a year.

Strange - I'm using normal alkaline batteries, the WH57 is outside, has detected now quite a few thunderstorms and is still on 75% capacity after five months. That little 500 kHz receiver should not consume too much energy.
Wondering if your Li batteries used are/were one-time use pieces or a rechargeable ones.

[Mapantz]

Strange - I'm using normal alkaline batteries, the WH57 is outside, has detected now quite a few thunderstorms and is still on 75% capacity after five months. That little 500 kHz receiver should not consume too much energy.
Wondering if your Li batteries used are/were one-time use pieces or a rechargeable ones.

Energizer lithiums aren't rechargeable. It's not wise to use rechargeable batteries.

[Mapantz]

The lightning detector confuses the hell out of me!

In the Summer, when storms keep up from France, I can pick them up some 60 to 70 miles away due to the English channel. Yet today, strikes within 15 miles of me (and audible thunder) not a single one recorded.

https://ibb.co/ZTymxD9

I have no issues with false positives either. Very frustrating to not record the strikes that actually matter.

[broadstairs]

I am still getting to grips with my lightning detector as well. I am not sure the distance recorded is that accurate since it is a single antennae but who knows. We have had plenty of thunder and so far I don't believe it has missed any really close by, difficult to know for sure as the other day I have over 400 strikes when the thunder was really close. I have a similar issue as I'm about 800yds from the coast and high up (about 130 ft asl) and we can see France on a clear day from the house and here it's 40 miles away (only by Dover is it 21 miles). I'm guessing the 25 mile radius is probably about right inland depending on terrain but on the coast and high up it can probably detect further afield. It is quite difficult to see the strikes on that image btw.

Stuart

[wardie]

Well I got to try mine yesterday afternoon also in England storms here. Glad to see it working, first time since I got one months ago!

Interestingly though I see a discrepancy between the reporting of the 'closest hit' on the ecowitt.net site... The graph shows closest was 10km away whereas I noticed one at the time was only 1km away. At first I thought it must have been that the data consoles upload to web had "missed" it, which is possible (versus by HP2551C report, or even my weewx reports, which I need to look at).

However it turns out the data must have been sent to ecowitt.net as it appears in the summary report at the top, but is not reported as a minimum value in the graph. Weird.

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