[JT118]

While we are thinking about snow and dam level sensors here is another possible additional sensor,

http://www.playingwithfusion.com/product...hp?pdid=22

It seems to have been looked at in posts in 2014 / 15.

??

[werk_ag]

Hi JT118,
How many of these modules do you want?  

This was one of the first things I have tried some years ago (when I installed my Blitzortung system) but I never managed to get reliable data from any of those devices (several brands). Too many false alarms or no detections at all. A lot of people have tried to do many things with that type of lighting detectors, most have abandoned the projects. Perhaps someday, when a much matured technonogy arrives. However, if you know of any working project that is using this modules, let me know, perhaps things had evolved since my last atemp.

[JT118]

Yes it seems a difficult thing to do. I would have liked to try this in Northern Zambia, the most massive lightning I have seen anywhere. Not far from Burundi which is often studied for lightning strikes as it has the most intense and largest number of strikes, I think, in the world.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AS3935-Digital-...2111328523

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MA5532-AS3935...2919034872

Quite expensive if they do not work.

[werk_ag]

I'm a member of the Blitzortung network (Station ID 1045), running a system RED since 2014-06-20 (more than 3 years). At the time the developers of the system have included in the firmware code for the use of these modules based on the AS3935 chip. The intention was allow detection of nearby lightning  strikes, as the Blitzorung is not designed for neraby detection. Many people have contribuited testing the use of these small devices, and the majority have concluded that they aren't reliable, there are a large number of normal events in a house that can produce false detections (the use of electronic lighters, is one of them). There are many other associated problems. Those chips are on the market since at least 4 to 5 years, up to now as much as I know there isn't any single serious comercial device using them. They can be usefull to outdoor sport activities whenever you could also watching the sky and judge by yourself, if the atmosferic conditions can be compatible with any lightning strike reported.

I don't remember the brand, but there is a comercial weather station (low cost) that have inclued one of this chips in the station hardware. I belive that their users, many times will be surprised with the results, by the total absence of detection of real lightning strikes or by false detections caused by electric devices, such as motors, ignitors of fluo lamps, etc,

Just for fun, from one of the announces:

"Don't want to wait for a thunderstorm to test your setup? We now make an Arduino Shield to "emulate" the signature of lightning strikes specifically tuned for the AS3935 sensor! See our SEN-39002 listing for the emulator and kit purchase discount options."

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lightning-Emula...2096470278