General Weather/Earth Sciences Topics > Lightning

Ecowitt Lightning detector

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Grymtr:
I am pretty new to this business of backyard weather, and recently purchased the WS90 kit, a couple of moisture sensors, and the "lightning detector".  I knew before I purchased it that many folks would like to toss it against a wall, but I took the chance hoping things would be different for me.  Seems I was wrong.  I cannot confirm if it works with actual lightning, because I have not had many storms roll off Lake Ontario this week, but I can confirm like many others, that I seem to be getting false positives.  That was expected, and no matter the DIP position, they just happen.  I can accept a couple, but when they do happen, and I have had many.  They are always 14km away.  Always.  I searched high and low, but other than the typical false positives, and dip switch configs, nobody else has mentioned what those distances are when they get the false positives.  What has your experience been?  Is it always the same distance?  When it does actually detect "REAL" lightning, do these distances change??

broadstairs:
I can confirm that mine works quite well. I get perhaps 1 or 2 false positives a month and yes It does detect strikes and give varying distances. I do find that some equipment can cause false detection but I'm talking about builders stuff like vibro rollers or other large equipment used when the do road repairs etc but otherwise not an issue for me, usually this stuff also causes interference on the TV as well!

Stuart

Vasco:

--- Quote from: Grymtr on August 15, 2024, 12:07:41 PM ---When it does actually detect "REAL" lightning, do these distances change??

--- End quote ---

Yes. Had my first lightning (15 strikes) detected the other day and distances changed from 15 down to 4 and up again to 12 miles. All dip switches down (default). . . Detector is currently inside in a sun lounge, maybe range would be better outside? (Although it was only a narrow front going through.)

EDIT: added screenshot

Grymtr:
Hmmm, so maybe when "actual". lightning is near, the distance will change, and I can just filter out the 14km junk.  Originally it was in the backyard on a 10ft pole.  I have recently moved it to my new pole on the roof.  It's about 40ft off the ground with no obstacles.  The WS90 loves the extra height for more accurate wind vs 30ft from the house on that same 10ft pole.  Today I have 2 false positives.  Could be a neighbor's AC, as some days seem busier than others.  I checked my own behavior with the oven, AC, etc, and the times do not match up, so its clearly something else, and maybe, its really something from 14km away.  Government test site.  haha.  (Ignore the 12km). That was a test done with my induction stove from 3ft away.  Apparently 3ft is 12km.  I would say ecowitt has some QC work to do on these things.

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alanb:
My lightning detector works very well. I originally had false positives, usually several per week. I changed the sensitivity from the default (medium-high) to medium. That removed some of the false positives, but not all. I then experimented by moving it around to several different locations. I noticed I got no false positives when it was located inside my house. The false positives seemed to increase at certain locations in my back yard, especially the closer I had it to a neighbor's garage. I finally settled on a spot in my back yard in a tree that is about 80 feet from my neighbors garage. It has been in that location for over 2 years now and is working well.

I would suggest you remove it from the pole on your house so you can easily move it to different locations for testing, including locations inside your house. Leave it in each test location for a couple of days and record the number of false positives. You will probably find a spot that works best.

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