So I designed and build some hardware.
This uses a Microchip PIC 12F629 micro controller.
http://panteltje.com/panteltje/cb/lide-0.1.zip
this holds the diagram and the ASM and HEX listings.

See the README for some info abut the ASM code.

Some features:
The circuit draws only 33 uA from 2 AAA batteries...
It runs on a watch xtal (32kHz).
It has enough power to drive a small 3V beeper,
now it drives a high brightness LED..

This is the first software.. no special processing,
the interrupt caused by lightning just switches the LED
on for some seconds.

I think it should perhaps be possible to further reduce standby
current by putting the PIC in sleep mode...


Now waiting for the next real lightning to test if sensitivity
is sufficient.
See README for how to change that.

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Cool! The thunder usually gives it away for me

Just kidding!

Chad

Cool! The thunder usually gives it away for me

Just kidding!

Chad

Cool! The thunder usually gives it away for me

Just kidding!

Chad

You mean one of these:
http://www.strikealert.com/ProductInfo.htm




"Jan Panteltje" wrote in message
...
So I designed and build some hardware.
This uses a Microchip PIC 12F629 micro controller.
http://panteltje.com/panteltje/cb/lide-0.1.zip
this holds the diagram and the ASM and HEX listings.

See the README for some info abut the ASM code.

Some features:
The circuit draws only 33 uA from 2 AAA batteries...
It runs on a watch xtal (32kHz).
It has enough power to drive a small 3V beeper,
now it drives a high brightness LED..

This is the first software.. no special processing,
the interrupt caused by lightning just switches the LED
on for some seconds.

I think it should perhaps be possible to further reduce standby
current by putting the PIC in sleep mode...


Now waiting for the next real lightning to test if sensitivity
is sufficient.
See README for how to change that.

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On a sunny day (Tue, 01 Nov 2005 03:22:31 GMT) it happened "John"
wrote in
:

You mean one of these:
http://www.strikealert.com/ProductInfo.htm
Interesting, gave me some nice idea - lightning coming and leaving -
This could be done if acoustical and EM radiation sensitive (count seconds
between flash and sound).
Low frequency sound, add electret.. similar to my design for the helicopter
finding missile, but now only one electret (helis are easily found by sound,
no radar needed), but that is a whole other story).


But 'one of those' NO.
First let's look at my battery consumption: 33 uA (micro ampere).
So, 33 uAh in a couple of AAA 500 mA rechargables gives 500 000 / 33 = 15151
hours of operation, or 1.77 YEARS not 100 hours as that competition.
And that is on rechargebles, and I am not even using sleep mode...
On normal batteries with sleep mode it should outlast the battery storage
lifetime several times.

And mine is PROGRAMMABLE, there is NOTHING like this is the currently known
UNIVERSE!!! ;-)

You can easily add your own ideas - algos- .
And then there is price, any self respecting amateur electronics bastler
these days has a PIC programmer, a PC with MPLAB, or some other soft to
program that PIC, the PIC costs 1$, the other parts : junk box,..
So, DIY super cheap super programmable super clever super low power super
lightning detector for a super low price.
No [it is a] great project.
Theirs is designed for outdoors???
Mine is especially designed to sit next to you while you sleep to let
you know the lightning is coming from MILES AWAY **without false alarms
to wake you up** so you can disconnect your antenna.

No mine is better :-) MUCH better....
hehe
;-)
LOL

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On a sunny day (31 Oct 2005 19:12:12 -0800) it happened "Chad Wahls"
wrote in
.com:

Cool! The thunder usually gives it away for me

Just kidding!

Chad
Lightning must have struck 3 times over there?
Just kidding!
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"Jan Panteltje" wrote in message
...
On a sunny day (31 Oct 2005 19:12:12 -0800) it happened "Chad Wahls"
wrote in
.com:

Cool! The thunder usually gives it away for me

Just kidding!

Chad
Lightning must have struck 3 times over there?
Just kidding!

Nope! Google Did, My hair is still smokin!

Chad

"John" wrote in message
.. .
You mean one of these:
http://www.strikealert.com/ProductInfo.htm

I can normally tell when i see a flash in the distance followed a short time
later by a rumble in the distance.... bit of an early warning there too P

"Jan Panteltje" wrote in message
...
On a sunny day (Tue, 01 Nov 2005 03:22:31 GMT) it happened "John"
wrote in
:

You mean one of these:
http://www.strikealert.com/ProductInfo.htm
Interesting, gave me some nice idea - lightning coming and leaving -
This could be done if acoustical and EM radiation sensitive (count seconds
between flash and sound).
Low frequency sound, add electret.. similar to my design for the
helicopter
finding missile, but now only one electret (helis are easily found by
sound,
no radar needed), but that is a whole other story).


But 'one of those' NO.
First let's look at my battery consumption: 33 uA (micro ampere).
So, 33 uAh in a couple of AAA 500 mA rechargables gives 500 000 / 33 =
15151
hours of operation, or 1.77 YEARS not 100 hours as that competition.
And that is on rechargebles, and I am not even using sleep mode...
On normal batteries with sleep mode it should outlast the battery storage
lifetime several times.

And mine is PROGRAMMABLE, there is NOTHING like this is the currently
known
UNIVERSE!!! ;-)

You can easily add your own ideas - algos- .
And then there is price, any self respecting amateur electronics bastler
these days has a PIC programmer, a PC with MPLAB, or some other soft to
program that PIC, the PIC costs 1$, the other parts : junk box,..
So, DIY super cheap super programmable super clever super low power super
lightning detector for a super low price.
No [it is a] great project.
Theirs is designed for outdoors???
Mine is especially designed to sit next to you while you sleep to let
you know the lightning is coming from MILES AWAY **without false alarms
to wake you up** so you can disconnect your antenna.

No mine is better :-) MUCH better....
hehe
;-)
LOL

I'mm gonna need more than a few miles so I can finish that bottle of Beam to
put my coax in! LOL ;-)

Chad