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lightning sensor

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2004-06-04 21:34 in General Discussion
Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
get max sensitivity out of either sensor?

Thank you for your time,

Mark

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-27 06:08
    Mark,

    Every once in a while there's a question I can actually help on, and yours
    happens to be it this time! I have a fair amount of experience phtographing
    lightening.

    If you wait to trigger the camera until the light from the Lightening Bolt
    in seen it is too late. The lightening strike is already (in most cases)
    over.
    The shutter delay on most digital cameras adds to this problem.

    There are a couple sensors that can be used to detect the strike before it
    takes place. If I remember correctly one is a "capacitance" sensor. The
    other is based on radio waves. Lightening generates RF interference which
    can be detected. Try listening to your am radio during a lightening storm
    some time.

    Also, it is possible ( with limited results ) to use phototransistors to
    detect the light from the strike, open the shutter for a given amount of
    time, and hope that during that during the additional time another strike
    takes place. Which is often the case.

    There are a couple manufacturers that make lightening strike sensors for
    photography. IF you'd like I can try to look them up for you. They are
    mostly advertised in "Outdoor Photography" magazines.

    I, for the msot part, still do my lightening photography the old fashioned
    DANGEROUS way. Point the camera in the direction of the majority of
    strikes, ....
    Cover the front of the lens with my hat, open the shutter using the bulb
    setting, remove the hat, and wait several seconds for a few strikes to take
    place, replace the hat, repeat a couple of times, advance film and repeat.

    I really prefer to photograph out the window of the car tripod mounted out
    side window, me inside. This way if lightening strikes too close, I may
    lose a camera, but I don't get fried, due to the "skinning" effect caused by
    the car.

    If you have any questions, you may feel free to e-mailme offlist at
    Info@C...

    Sorry for being so verbose. Hope I helped.

    Rus

    Original Message
    From: uebermenchens [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=KH7pU9FZXD9LQKYOE5ittEtP8fIFXZPOCAKBBfgqv42DVTx-_OJFiI8_Odir_WHFFE3iEboBuLNA8qldGN4]uebermenchens@a...[/url
    Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 7:12 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    get max sensitivity out of either sensor?

    Thank you for your time,

    Mark




    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.

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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-27 13:22
    CdS cells, as I remember are seriously slow for what you want to do.

    Sometimes you can bias a detector with some dc to get it close to the trip
    point and get some sensitivity, but it takes diddling with.

    Original Message
    From: uebermenchens [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=eriM3Mq24Tz3VSZosvUq3lOkPJDhC0jxrlkqEIaw0yqYJGswWV4L3Q01VptXh0FiHRWK_NjRL72dIcAA]uebermenchens@a...[/url
    Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 8:12 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    get max sensitivity out of either sensor?

    Thank you for your time,

    Mark




    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.

    Yahoo! Groups Links
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-27 14:23
    Lightning is a very tricky phenomenon -- and accurate detection takes a
    lot of science. I used to work in the golf irrigation business and
    spent a lot of time with a company called Global Atmospherics. GA is
    the company that built the lightning detection network that is used by
    the military, FAA, NASA, etc.

    Here's the deal: Lightning has very specific optical and electromagnetic
    "fingerprints" that are used by the detectors to qualify the event as a
    strike. The detectors that we worked with in the golf industry could
    give rough distance as well (the big network uses multi-sensor
    triangulation to pinpoint the strike).

    A CdS photocell is very slow to react, and the actual light reaching the
    cell from a strike is so small that you will have an incredibly
    difficult time discerning it from background noise. Remember, human
    eyes are far more sensitive to light than electronic devices.

    Most "amateur" lightning detectors are built around a detuned AM radio
    circuit. Since the lightning pulse contains a lot of broadband RF, a
    noise pulse will blast out of the radio circuit during a strike.
    Interestingly, the smoke detector in my apartment sometimes chirps when
    lighting strikes nearby.

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    -- Dallas Office



    Original Message
    From: uebermenchens [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=bXBHOgXnZT3M1BSYxRtSyxVjUYwq-Vp4WuTsUiFMfZNOmEIdnRCPWpH9nT17q9-LJPUW8p9e-kBj1syO]uebermenchens@a...[/url
    Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 7:12 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    get max sensitivity out of either sensor?

    Thank you for your time,

    Mark




    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    and Body of the message will be ignored.

    Yahoo! Groups Links







    This message has been scanned by WebShield. Please report SPAM to
    abuse@p....
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-27 14:52
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "uebermenchens"
    <uebermenchens@a...> wrote:
    > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or
    an
    > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do
    I
    > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    >
    > Thank you for your time,
    >
    > Mark


    Reading some of the posts, what strikes me as a way I would considder
    is to put a small motor on a seperate stand to eleminate vibration.

    Add a rotating thing, like a hat on the motor so as to keep a very
    black object in front of the camera when opening and closing the
    shutter.

    Then,
    open shutter
    rotate hat (tip unbrella?)
    watch light sensor and when some level is reached, rotate hat
    close shutter
    advance film,
    repeat.

    This would all you a mecanized method of photographing lightning, but
    still relies on random pointing of the camera.

    Now your time lapse would be set for some light threshold so a
    lightning bolt would turn your shot OFF. More film though.....

    You could use an umbrella instead of a hat. Tipping or rotating
    would work.

    Dave
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-27 15:43
    Rus,

    Here is a site that may help:

    http://homepage.mac.com/tbitson/weather/bslam/index.html


    I built one, it works well, although I don't get much lightning where I
    live. You might be able to adapt this to what you wantr to do.

    Jonathan

    www.madlabs.info


    Original Message
    From: "Rus Hardy" <rushardy@m...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 10:08 PM
    Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    > Mark,
    >
    > Every once in a while there's a question I can actually help on, and yours
    > happens to be it this time! I have a fair amount of experience
    phtographing
    > lightening.
    >
    > If you wait to trigger the camera until the light from the Lightening Bolt
    > in seen it is too late. The lightening strike is already (in most cases)
    > over.
    > The shutter delay on most digital cameras adds to this problem.
    >
    > There are a couple sensors that can be used to detect the strike before it
    > takes place. If I remember correctly one is a "capacitance" sensor. The
    > other is based on radio waves. Lightening generates RF interference which
    > can be detected. Try listening to your am radio during a lightening storm
    > some time.
    >
    > Also, it is possible ( with limited results ) to use phototransistors to
    > detect the light from the strike, open the shutter for a given amount of
    > time, and hope that during that during the additional time another strike
    > takes place. Which is often the case.
    >
    > There are a couple manufacturers that make lightening strike sensors for
    > photography. IF you'd like I can try to look them up for you. They are
    > mostly advertised in "Outdoor Photography" magazines.
    >
    > I, for the msot part, still do my lightening photography the old fashioned
    > DANGEROUS way. Point the camera in the direction of the majority of
    > strikes, ....
    > Cover the front of the lens with my hat, open the shutter using the bulb
    > setting, remove the hat, and wait several seconds for a few strikes to
    take
    > place, replace the hat, repeat a couple of times, advance film and repeat.
    >
    > I really prefer to photograph out the window of the car tripod mounted
    out
    > side window, me inside. This way if lightening strikes too close, I may
    > lose a camera, but I don't get fried, due to the "skinning" effect caused
    by
    > the car.
    >
    > If you have any questions, you may feel free to e-mailme offlist at
    > Info@C...
    >
    > Sorry for being so verbose. Hope I helped.
    >
    > Rus
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: uebermenchens [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=EqnPcz34VgV3GCyxVz2MJztO4ngOIgIKbfS9N1PMbKybQ2IgJgfPdGi5-YvZ9sB9Jc_SWKW4zEQSFCdlag]uebermenchens@a...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 7:12 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor
    >
    >
    > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    >
    > Thank you for your time,
    >
    > Mark
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    > Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-27 16:47
    One of things to check is the digicam's response time. Some are
    notoriously slow responders.
    Dov

    Original Message
    From: Grover Richardson [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=E7WsW0AMcTO4ZzDn8IqwTNLgjC_s8cnej9MEV5M5xLcsrOFEyGuTuZsHMvT4Oz7hxMi0gxFuXIxk_cjNypV3it9tL_j8rB5-]grover.richardson@g...[/url
    Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 2:22 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    CdS cells, as I remember are seriously slow for what you want to do.

    Sometimes you can bias a detector with some dc to get it close to the
    trip point and get some sensitivity, but it takes diddling with.

    Original Message
    From: uebermenchens [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=DnnjivA-Y8EtNqVburfRpDXjhRk0Qa_xW-kMFU-ddzzza__vpDrSBuoN3hkfDay2JcQ9mqPfef7ODoE]uebermenchens@a...[/url
    Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 8:12 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    get max sensitivity out of either sensor?

    Thank you for your time,

    Mark




    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    and Body of the message will be ignored.

    Yahoo! Groups Links







    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
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    and Body of the message will be ignored.

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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-27 22:24
    Hi Jon,

    I work for Environment Canada and we use GAI (now Vaisala) equipment all
    over the country for lightning detection.
    http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/lightning/index_e.html this is a quick
    link to EC's lightning strike page (does show some US states).

    We use two sensors....one is an Lpatts IV and mainly gives indication of a
    strike and a power reading associated with that. These sensors are
    sensitive enough that they can detect strikes hundreds of miles away....so
    by this then can triangulate it's rough strike point. This sensor uses a
    6foot dipole antenna (Fibreglass).

    The 2nd sensor we use is their Impact sensor. This sensor does the strike
    detection by way of using an electromagnetic cage detector (I'm struggling
    for the right words to describe it). But basically it has 4 bars (brass I
    want to say...probalby not) as the pulse from the strike hit sthe
    senor.....these bars will indicate a direction of strike by way of
    differeing power levels per bar. This sensor helps pinpoint the strike even
    better.

    I think the network resolution is somewhere less than 10km. All these
    sensors are clocked in with GPS antenna's that keep time and their own
    location (which doesn't change for the most part).

    Cool devices....

    Since I'm on the topic....I was at my boss's place out in the country one
    time....and his phone would ring once in a while (old bell ringer). But it
    would only ring once and nobody ever moved to get it.
    I asked about it and he pointed out that the ring coincides with the
    thunder....they never pick up the phone on the first ring!!
    Incidentally...on that same visit...lightning hit a fence post about 50yards
    away....like a shotgun blast beside your head! We all hit the ground!!

    I got off topic on that one!! haha


    BTW here's the URL for the vaisala/GAI site http://www.lightningstorm.com/

    Steve


    Original Message
    From: "Jon Williams" <jwilliams@p...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 9:23 AM
    Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    > Lightning is a very tricky phenomenon -- and accurate detection takes a
    > lot of science. I used to work in the golf irrigation business and
    > spent a lot of time with a company called Global Atmospherics. GA is
    > the company that built the lightning detection network that is used by
    > the military, FAA, NASA, etc.
    >
    > Here's the deal: Lightning has very specific optical and electromagnetic
    > "fingerprints" that are used by the detectors to qualify the event as a
    > strike. The detectors that we worked with in the golf industry could
    > give rough distance as well (the big network uses multi-sensor
    > triangulation to pinpoint the strike).
    >
    > A CdS photocell is very slow to react, and the actual light reaching the
    > cell from a strike is so small that you will have an incredibly
    > difficult time discerning it from background noise. Remember, human
    > eyes are far more sensitive to light than electronic devices.
    >
    > Most "amateur" lightning detectors are built around a detuned AM radio
    > circuit. Since the lightning pulse contains a lot of broadband RF, a
    > noise pulse will blast out of the radio circuit during a strike.
    > Interestingly, the smoke detector in my apartment sometimes chirps when
    > lighting strikes nearby.
    >
    > -- Jon Williams
    > -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    > -- Dallas Office
    >
    >
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: uebermenchens [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=nf4taRz5AZMnoGc5abY3Hw1w2U6sQfw_j8rFGMsZqtxuhXXX4IoG68uMCZSaMVChLVQzi2hMcVcHBYKE]uebermenchens@a...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 7:12 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor
    >
    >
    > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    >
    > Thank you for your time,
    >
    > Mark
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    > and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > This message has been scanned by WebShield. Please report SPAM to
    > abuse@p....
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-27 22:29
    Ever think of using those panoramic reflection mirrors?

    aim the camera straight up at a dome mirror/lens and you might get some cool
    lightning shots that way!

    What you need is a neutron detector....detects the flow and the impending
    strike then does your mechanic wonders....problem being....you're most
    likely a potential strike target if the detector detects! [noparse];)[/noparse]



    Original Message
    From: "Dave Mucha" <davemucha@j...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 9:52 AM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: lightning sensor


    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "uebermenchens"
    > <uebermenchens@a...> wrote:
    > > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or
    > an
    > > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do
    > I
    > > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    > >
    > > Thank you for your time,
    > >
    > > Mark
    >
    >
    > Reading some of the posts, what strikes me as a way I would considder
    > is to put a small motor on a seperate stand to eleminate vibration.
    >
    > Add a rotating thing, like a hat on the motor so as to keep a very
    > black object in front of the camera when opening and closing the
    > shutter.
    >
    > Then,
    > open shutter
    > rotate hat (tip unbrella?)
    > watch light sensor and when some level is reached, rotate hat
    > close shutter
    > advance film,
    > repeat.
    >
    > This would all you a mecanized method of photographing lightning, but
    > still relies on random pointing of the camera.
    >
    > Now your time lapse would be set for some light threshold so a
    > lightning bolt would turn your shot OFF. More film though.....
    >
    > You could use an umbrella instead of a hat. Tipping or rotating
    > would work.
    >
    > Dave
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-27 22:59
    The GAI sensors we used in the golf industry had a cigar-shaped sensor
    (mounted vertically) that could see the electromagnetic and IR pulses
    from a lightning strike. It could tell direction (being a single point
    sensor), but could distinguish between cloud-to-cloud and
    cloud-to-ground (the stuff that causes problems), as well as low res
    ranging on the CTG strikes.

    I live very near a company that rents large earth-moving equipment and
    that "yard" seems to be a big lightning rod -- I've never been as close
    as 50' from a strike, but even at 100 yards the sound is earth-shaking,
    and shakes everything in my apartment.

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    -- Dallas Office


    Original Message
    From: SB [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=jEtrr6ncHBKtLExgTL8pGZSOzP6TXsw0q4Y8V7eEWFkZAaJc1JPESx1r61jK3MPeur9SwCTm1zfbRMGr]steve.brady@r...[/url
    Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 4:25 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    Hi Jon,

    I work for Environment Canada and we use GAI (now Vaisala) equipment all
    over the country for lightning detection.
    http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/lightning/index_e.html this is a
    quick link to EC's lightning strike page (does show some US states).

    We use two sensors....one is an Lpatts IV and mainly gives indication of
    a strike and a power reading associated with that. These sensors are
    sensitive enough that they can detect strikes hundreds of miles
    away....so by this then can triangulate it's rough strike point. This
    sensor uses a 6foot dipole antenna (Fibreglass).

    The 2nd sensor we use is their Impact sensor. This sensor does the
    strike detection by way of using an electromagnetic cage detector (I'm
    struggling for the right words to describe it). But basically it has 4
    bars (brass I want to say...probalby not) as the pulse from the strike
    hit sthe senor.....these bars will indicate a direction of strike by way
    of differeing power levels per bar. This sensor helps pinpoint the
    strike even better.

    I think the network resolution is somewhere less than 10km. All these
    sensors are clocked in with GPS antenna's that keep time and their own
    location (which doesn't change for the most part).

    Cool devices....

    Since I'm on the topic....I was at my boss's place out in the country
    one time....and his phone would ring once in a while (old bell ringer).
    But it would only ring once and nobody ever moved to get it. I asked
    about it and he pointed out that the ring coincides with the
    thunder....they never pick up the phone on the first ring!!
    Incidentally...on that same visit...lightning hit a fence post about
    50yards away....like a shotgun blast beside your head! We all hit the
    ground!!

    I got off topic on that one!! haha


    BTW here's the URL for the vaisala/GAI site
    http://www.lightningstorm.com/

    Steve


    Original Message
    From: "Jon Williams" <jwilliams@p...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 9:23 AM
    Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    > Lightning is a very tricky phenomenon -- and accurate detection takes
    > a lot of science. I used to work in the golf irrigation business and
    > spent a lot of time with a company called Global Atmospherics. GA is
    > the company that built the lightning detection network that is used by

    > the military, FAA, NASA, etc.
    >
    > Here's the deal: Lightning has very specific optical and
    > electromagnetic "fingerprints" that are used by the detectors to
    > qualify the event as a strike. The detectors that we worked with in
    > the golf industry could give rough distance as well (the big network
    > uses multi-sensor triangulation to pinpoint the strike).
    >
    > A CdS photocell is very slow to react, and the actual light reaching
    > the cell from a strike is so small that you will have an incredibly
    > difficult time discerning it from background noise. Remember, human
    > eyes are far more sensitive to light than electronic devices.
    >
    > Most "amateur" lightning detectors are built around a detuned AM radio

    > circuit. Since the lightning pulse contains a lot of broadband RF, a
    > noise pulse will blast out of the radio circuit during a strike.
    > Interestingly, the smoke detector in my apartment sometimes chirps
    > when lighting strikes nearby.
    >
    > -- Jon Williams
    > -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    > -- Dallas Office
    >
    >
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: uebermenchens [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=knbLp2G00xTfRqjfYifKqTKFj7nLzWk8d0q9pEm7DgESnblJINSrnvEaTobx4u5hMDNyg4cPuB_zIhI]uebermenchens@a...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 7:12 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor
    >
    >
    > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When it

    > is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a picture.
    > Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an Infered
    > detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I get max
    > sensitivity out of either sensor?
    >
    > Thank you for your time,
    >
    > Mark
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-28 05:05
    Mark- I haven't read every last post but the main problem is as I see
    it the lightning is past by the time you can detect it. My idea would
    be to set up the camera to just keep taking pictures at suitable
    intervals and use the control circuitry, stamp or whatever, to decide
    that a lightning strike occurred during the last exposure and them
    record this so you can view that picture number later. Then you can
    automatically stop or continue taking pictures or not if you want more
    views with lightning. If you could somehow automatically decide after
    each exposure that lightning had occurred during the exposure and erase
    that image if it did not have lightning, or save it if it did, you could
    fill your entire memory card with lightning strikes! Perhaps you could
    achieve this with IR commands via the Stamp. The nice thing about
    digital is no film, no waste!
    I agree with others that a CdS photoreceptor does not seem like
    the best choice. -Al Hill

    uebermenchens wrote:
    > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    >
    > Thank you for your time,
    >
    > Mark
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-28 14:33
    Forgive me for barging in here. I have read these posts with great interest, but I can't help but wonder: what are you going to use for a shutter release? I have been looking into this, but I haven't even found a digital camera with an electronic shutter release.

    Dave

    Al Hill <alhill@s...> wrote:
    Mark- I haven't read every last post but the main problem is as I see
    it the lightning is past by the time you can detect it. My idea would
    be to set up the camera to just keep taking pictures at suitable
    intervals and use the control circuitry, stamp or whatever, to decide
    that a lightning strike occurred during the last exposure and them
    record this so you can view that picture number later. Then you can
    automatically stop or continue taking pictures or not if you want more
    views with lightning. If you could somehow automatically decide after
    each exposure that lightning had occurred during the exposure and erase
    that image if it did not have lightning, or save it if it did, you could
    fill your entire memory card with lightning strikes! Perhaps you could
    achieve this with IR commands via the Stamp. The nice thing about
    digital is no film, no waste!
    I agree with others that a CdS photoreceptor does not seem like
    the best choice. -Al Hill

    uebermenchens wrote:
    > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    >
    > Thank you for your time,
    >
    > Mark
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >



    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.

    Yahoo! Groups Links






    Do you Yahoo!?
    Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger

    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-28 14:45
    The Canon Powershot A70 (ea) can be remote triggered from a PC, using the included "Remote Capture" program. It uses the USB connection.
    I suppose that a protocol (unknown for me) is used. If you find it, let me know.
    Thanks
    ECO
    Original Message
    From: "David Anderson" <dersonquilter2@y...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 3:33 PM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    > Forgive me for barging in here. I have read these posts with great interest, but I can't help but wonder: what are you going to use for a shutter release? I have been looking into this, but I haven't even found a digital camera with an electronic shutter release.
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-28 14:51
    I have a RS232 digital camera it is able to take pictures over the download
    port, adjust the lens and lots of other features I never needed.


    Larry Gaminde
    Original Message
    From: "David Anderson" <dersonquilter2@y...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 6:33 AM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    > Forgive me for barging in here. I have read these posts with great
    interest, but I can't help but wonder: what are you going to use for a
    shutter release? I have been looking into this, but I haven't even found a
    digital camera with an electronic shutter release.
    >
    > Dave
    >
    > Al Hill <alhill@s...> wrote:
    > Mark- I haven't read every last post but the main problem is as I see
    > it the lightning is past by the time you can detect it. My idea would
    > be to set up the camera to just keep taking pictures at suitable
    > intervals and use the control circuitry, stamp or whatever, to decide
    > that a lightning strike occurred during the last exposure and them
    > record this so you can view that picture number later. Then you can
    > automatically stop or continue taking pictures or not if you want more
    > views with lightning. If you could somehow automatically decide after
    > each exposure that lightning had occurred during the exposure and erase
    > that image if it did not have lightning, or save it if it did, you could
    > fill your entire memory card with lightning strikes! Perhaps you could
    > achieve this with IR commands via the Stamp. The nice thing about
    > digital is no film, no waste!
    > I agree with others that a CdS photoreceptor does not seem like
    > the best choice. -Al Hill
    >
    > uebermenchens wrote:
    > > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    > > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    > > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    > >
    > > Thank you for your time,
    > >
    > > Mark
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > > Yahoo! Groups Links
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Do you Yahoo!?
    > Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
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    >
    >
    >
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    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-28 14:53
    With Single Lens Reflex film cameras there is an attachment point for a
    cable release, it is fairly simple to connect a solenoid to the cable to
    make an electrically triggered mechanical shutter release.
    However, the best method of getting lightning shots by night has been proven
    to be:
    Use a slow speed film such as 25 speed tech pan for black&white or ektar 25
    for color.
    Open the shutter for a few minutes, if a lightning strike occurs close the
    shutter, advance film, re-open shutter.
    If no strike after a few minutes, close shutter and advance film, then
    re-open shutter.
    Repeat this process until you are out of film or the storm has passed.

    Digital cameras just plain do not work well for this, but if you must try to
    catch a lightning strike digitally, the best method would probably be to use
    a camera capable of digital video, then you could go back and select the
    frame that looked best.

    $.02 - KF4HAZ - Lonnie

    From: "David Anderson" <dersonquilter2@y
    > Forgive me for barging in here. I have read these posts with great
    interest, but I can't help but wonder: what are you going to use for a
    shutter release? I have been looking into this, but I haven't even found a
    digital camera with an electronic shutter release.
    >
    > Dave
    >
    > Al Hill <alhill@s...> wrote:
    > Mark- I haven't read every last post but the main problem is as I see
    > it the lightning is past by the time you can detect it. My idea would
    > be to set up the camera to just keep taking pictures at suitable
    > intervals and use the control circuitry, stamp or whatever, to decide
    > that a lightning strike occurred during the last exposure and them
    > record this so you can view that picture number later. Then you can
    > automatically stop or continue taking pictures or not if you want more
    > views with lightning. If you could somehow automatically decide after
    > each exposure that lightning had occurred during the exposure and erase
    > that image if it did not have lightning, or save it if it did, you could
    > fill your entire memory card with lightning strikes! Perhaps you could
    > achieve this with IR commands via the Stamp. The nice thing about
    > digital is no film, no waste!
    > I agree with others that a CdS photoreceptor does not seem like
    > the best choice. -Al Hill
    >
    > uebermenchens wrote:
    > > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    > > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    > > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    > >
    > > Thank you for your time,
    > >
    > > Mark
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-28 15:17
    > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?

    Maybe a photo slave? These mount on remote slave flash units for photography,
    and are used to fire a slave flash when the primary flash is tripped. One of these
    might be fast enough to fire your camera when lightning strikes. They are fast
    enough to fire slave flashes in time to catch the camera shutter open.

    You can get them at most camera stores. I think I paid around $6.00 ea for the ones
    I have.

    Regards,

    -Bruce
    tech@r...
    http://www.rentron.com
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-28 16:10
    May I ask what kind of camera it is and what the pixel resolution is?
    My thing is movie making, and since switching from film cameras to
    video, I've lots the abililty to do nice time-lapse stuff (yes, some
    video cameras have this feature, but it's limited and puts a lot of wear
    on the video heads). With your camera and a BASIC Stamp, I could make a
    cool time-lapse setup.

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    -- Dallas Office


    Original Message
    From: Stamps [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=JQE_CCZOjJJJBvU0V_xEUGl-Mdrr3PO9tunOmW0nJ_4NnrYq4SvHpLJIePAyWMIzMkZMdaTzL7_X7a7cUrsTQvJ4vzPpxQ]stamps@c...[/url
    Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 8:52 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    I have a RS232 digital camera it is able to take pictures over the
    download port, adjust the lens and lots of other features I never
    needed.


    Larry Gaminde
    Original Message
    From: "David Anderson" <dersonquilter2@y...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 6:33 AM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    > Forgive me for barging in here. I have read these posts with great
    interest, but I can't help but wonder: what are you going to use for a
    shutter release? I have been looking into this, but I haven't even found
    a digital camera with an electronic shutter release.
    >
    > Dave
    >
    > Al Hill <alhill@s...> wrote:
    > Mark- I haven't read every last post but the main problem is as I see
    > it the lightning is past by the time you can detect it. My idea would
    > be to set up the camera to just keep taking pictures at suitable
    > intervals and use the control circuitry, stamp or whatever, to decide
    > that a lightning strike occurred during the last exposure and them
    > record this so you can view that picture number later. Then you can
    > automatically stop or continue taking pictures or not if you want more

    > views with lightning. If you could somehow automatically decide after
    > each exposure that lightning had occurred during the exposure and
    > erase that image if it did not have lightning, or save it if it did,
    > you could fill your entire memory card with lightning strikes! Perhaps

    > you could achieve this with IR commands via the Stamp. The nice thing
    > about digital is no film, no waste! I agree with others that a CdS
    > photoreceptor does not seem like the best choice. -Al Hill
    >
    > uebermenchens wrote:
    > > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    > > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I

    > > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    > >
    > > Thank you for your time,
    > >
    > > Mark
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject

    > > and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > > Yahoo! Groups Links
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    > and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Do you Yahoo!?
    > Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    > and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >



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    This message has been scanned by WebShield. Please report SPAM to
    abuse@p....
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-29 03:14
    A storm blew up a few weeks ago, just a day or so after I received a Canon
    Digital Rebel as a birthday gift. This camera has electronic shutter
    release; film speeds of 100-1600 ASA and can take 4 hi-res (6 mega pixel
    images) per second.

    I was able to get several lightening strikes on "film" by setting the
    exposure to 10 seconds, 15 seconds and 30 seconds at various film speeds. To
    the naked eye, the sky itself was not visible until a lightening strike, but
    the sky and surrounding trees were very visible in the images the camera
    captured.

    Jeff

    Original Message
    From: Falcon Wireless Tech Support - KF4HAZ
    [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=vPvfUKSnxhGp0U8O3nhebh0IT6ZyFKrI8h4jNzN5SDHRCd-D-ClZEeqlSasaQ1P09nLHupcWBJ53GW81lt8YwcfvrVM]techsupport@f...[/url
    Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 9:54 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor

    With Single Lens Reflex film cameras there is an attachment point for a
    cable release, it is fairly simple to connect a solenoid to the cable to
    make an electrically triggered mechanical shutter release.
    However, the best method of getting lightning shots by night has been proven
    to be:
    Use a slow speed film such as 25 speed tech pan for black&white or ektar 25
    for color.
    Open the shutter for a few minutes, if a lightning strike occurs close the
    shutter, advance film, re-open shutter.
    If no strike after a few minutes, close shutter and advance film, then
    re-open shutter.
    Repeat this process until you are out of film or the storm has passed.

    Digital cameras just plain do not work well for this, but if you must try to
    catch a lightning strike digitally, the best method would probably be to use
    a camera capable of digital video, then you could go back and select the
    frame that looked best.

    $.02 - KF4HAZ - Lonnie
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-29 15:57
    Its an Olympus D400Zoom
    I got it for use with stamps only, and time laps pictures would work
    perfectly.
    They sell them as refurbished units for around $100.00 with download
    software


    Larry Gaminde
    Original Message
    From: "Jon Williams" <jwilliams@p...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 8:10 AM
    Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    > May I ask what kind of camera it is and what the pixel resolution is?
    > My thing is movie making, and since switching from film cameras to
    > video, I've lots the abililty to do nice time-lapse stuff (yes, some
    > video cameras have this feature, but it's limited and puts a lot of wear
    > on the video heads). With your camera and a BASIC Stamp, I could make a
    > cool time-lapse setup.
    >
    > -- Jon Williams
    > -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    > -- Dallas Office
    >
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: Stamps [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=6-NJ7vStVbvFChKXlt1QYL4CcFJyWP-uKna77ezFZNuGiPLunkzt0keiDkbnEQKl8Z7aHCAsQGsqydHLEbFYSBYTFanTtg]stamps@c...[/url
    > Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 8:52 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor
    >
    >
    > I have a RS232 digital camera it is able to take pictures over the
    > download port, adjust the lens and lots of other features I never
    > needed.
    >
    >
    > Larry Gaminde
    >
    Original Message
    > From: "David Anderson" <dersonquilter2@y...>
    > To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    > Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 6:33 AM
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor
    >
    >
    > > Forgive me for barging in here. I have read these posts with great
    > interest, but I can't help but wonder: what are you going to use for a
    > shutter release? I have been looking into this, but I haven't even found
    > a digital camera with an electronic shutter release.
    > >
    > > Dave
    > >
    > > Al Hill <alhill@s...> wrote:
    > > Mark- I haven't read every last post but the main problem is as I see
    > > it the lightning is past by the time you can detect it. My idea would
    > > be to set up the camera to just keep taking pictures at suitable
    > > intervals and use the control circuitry, stamp or whatever, to decide
    > > that a lightning strike occurred during the last exposure and them
    > > record this so you can view that picture number later. Then you can
    > > automatically stop or continue taking pictures or not if you want more
    >
    > > views with lightning. If you could somehow automatically decide after
    > > each exposure that lightning had occurred during the exposure and
    > > erase that image if it did not have lightning, or save it if it did,
    > > you could fill your entire memory card with lightning strikes! Perhaps
    >
    > > you could achieve this with IR commands via the Stamp. The nice thing
    > > about digital is no film, no waste! I agree with others that a CdS
    > > photoreceptor does not seem like the best choice. -Al Hill
    > >
    > > uebermenchens wrote:
    > > > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > > > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > > > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > > > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    > > > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    >
    > > > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    > > >
    > > > Thank you for your time,
    > > >
    > > > Mark
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    >
    > > > and
    > Body of the message will be ignored.
    > > >
    > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    > > and
    > Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > > Yahoo! Groups Links
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > Do you Yahoo!?
    > > Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger
    > >
    > > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    > >
    > >
    > >
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    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
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    > Body of the message will be ignored.
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    >
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-29 15:59
    Oh sorry 1,310,000 Pixel


    Larry Gaminde
    Original Message
    From: "Jon Williams" <jwilliams@p...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 8:10 AM
    Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    > May I ask what kind of camera it is and what the pixel resolution is?
    > My thing is movie making, and since switching from film cameras to
    > video, I've lots the abililty to do nice time-lapse stuff (yes, some
    > video cameras have this feature, but it's limited and puts a lot of wear
    > on the video heads). With your camera and a BASIC Stamp, I could make a
    > cool time-lapse setup.
    >
    > -- Jon Williams
    > -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    > -- Dallas Office
    >
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: Stamps [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=73Da7xAu374IRF6aF_D0qsde8mB6nbn2HW_zqnrA2MABmded3MF-780Iqnis3OuVhJQW6YvwnOt341ReqMRReG-saEhH]stamps@c...[/url
    > Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 8:52 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor
    >
    >
    > I have a RS232 digital camera it is able to take pictures over the
    > download port, adjust the lens and lots of other features I never
    > needed.
    >
    >
    > Larry Gaminde
    >
    Original Message
    > From: "David Anderson" <dersonquilter2@y...>
    > To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    > Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 6:33 AM
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor
    >
    >
    > > Forgive me for barging in here. I have read these posts with great
    > interest, but I can't help but wonder: what are you going to use for a
    > shutter release? I have been looking into this, but I haven't even found
    > a digital camera with an electronic shutter release.
    > >
    > > Dave
    > >
    > > Al Hill <alhill@s...> wrote:
    > > Mark- I haven't read every last post but the main problem is as I see
    > > it the lightning is past by the time you can detect it. My idea would
    > > be to set up the camera to just keep taking pictures at suitable
    > > intervals and use the control circuitry, stamp or whatever, to decide
    > > that a lightning strike occurred during the last exposure and them
    > > record this so you can view that picture number later. Then you can
    > > automatically stop or continue taking pictures or not if you want more
    >
    > > views with lightning. If you could somehow automatically decide after
    > > each exposure that lightning had occurred during the exposure and
    > > erase that image if it did not have lightning, or save it if it did,
    > > you could fill your entire memory card with lightning strikes! Perhaps
    >
    > > you could achieve this with IR commands via the Stamp. The nice thing
    > > about digital is no film, no waste! I agree with others that a CdS
    > > photoreceptor does not seem like the best choice. -Al Hill
    > >
    > > uebermenchens wrote:
    > > > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > > > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > > > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > > > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    > > > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    >
    > > > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    > > >
    > > > Thank you for your time,
    > > >
    > > > Mark
    > > >
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    > > Do you Yahoo!?
    > > Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger
    > >
    > > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    > >
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-31 02:51
    I've missed a bunch of messages out of this thread.....

    On my digital camera, when I take a pic, it then shows me what I've taken
    and then asks me if I want to keep it.
    I don't know what kind of control you have over your comm cable, but if you
    constantly took pics with a slow shutter then you could have the stamp say
    whether to save it or not depending on whether it detected a flash....slow
    process and you'd probably miss a lot of strikes....but hey....


    Original Message
    From: "Bruce" <tech@r...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 10:17 AM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor


    >
    > > Here is the problem I am trying to overcome...I guess I want to use
    > > CdS photocells to detect a lightning bolt at max sensitivity. When
    > > it is triggererd it will trigger my digital camera to take a
    > > picture. Here is my real question should I use CdS Photocells or an
    > > Infered detector?? Do I have To use The Rctime command? and How do I
    > > get max sensitivity out of either sensor?
    >
    > Maybe a photo slave? These mount on remote slave flash units for
    photography,
    > and are used to fire a slave flash when the primary flash is tripped. One
    of these
    > might be fast enough to fire your camera when lightning strikes. They are
    fast
    > enough to fire slave flashes in time to catch the camera shutter open.
    >
    > You can get them at most camera stores. I think I paid around $6.00 ea for
    the ones
    > I have.
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > -Bruce
    > tech@r...
    > http://www.rentron.com
    >
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    >
    >
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-06-04 21:34
    Wow! That's a very cool project! Being a weather freak, I might want to
    build and play with this.
    Thanks!

    Shawn Lowe

    >
    > Here is a site that may help:
    >
    > http://homepage.mac.com/tbitson/weather/bslam/index.html
    >
    >
    > I built one, it works well, although I don't get much lightning where I
    > live. You might be able to adapt this to what you wantr to do.
    >
    > Jonathan
    >
    > www.madlabs.info
    >
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