I've been wanting to get(or build) myself a weather station for use at home
I know you can buy various weather station units...what I don't know is which ones are good & which are junk.
Cost is obviously a big factor, I don't want to spend allot (ideally keeping it well under $100), but at the same time I also don't want something where the outdoor sensors are going to end up in pieces on the first hailstorm it sees(which is not a matter of 'if' but 'when' we will get hail here), same for wind, if it can't handle a 100+ mph gust its only a matter of time...
I also really like the thought of building my own, using an Audrino or Raspberry Pi as the 'brain'. This would be my preferred choice, but not sure how practical/easy it is (I know at one time there was a kit available to schools, but not the general public, because I looked around on google & it seems everything points back to that)
I guess my questions are:
Anyone here ever try using a Pi & doing their own weather station?
In my case the Pi needs to stay safely inside, I don't want to mess around with weather-resistant cases for it (as it looks like those kits had). I'm fine with running a wire up to the roof for a wind sensor (& any others that could be placed there). But is it truly safe to do so? You now have an electrified(though low voltage) device(s) up past the highest point of the house...should it then need a lightning rod? I know a temperature sensor should be located closer to the ground & running a wire out to the yard wouldn't be very easy/practical, so some sorta wireless like the little in/out-door thermometer things they sell in stores? Where's the best place to put a rain gauge? be fine on the roof? Is there such thing as a lightning sensor?
And say I wanted to 'take the easy way', just buy a pre-made unit, with what I mentioned above about costs & the 'abuse' it might take: What should I look for? Avoid? etc?
Oh and a final thing...whether DIY, or pre-made, I don't want anything that requires an internet connection to operate!
I know you can buy various weather station units...what I don't know is which ones are good & which are junk.
Cost is obviously a big factor, I don't want to spend allot (ideally keeping it well under $100), but at the same time I also don't want something where the outdoor sensors are going to end up in pieces on the first hailstorm it sees(which is not a matter of 'if' but 'when' we will get hail here), same for wind, if it can't handle a 100+ mph gust its only a matter of time...
I also really like the thought of building my own, using an Audrino or Raspberry Pi as the 'brain'. This would be my preferred choice, but not sure how practical/easy it is (I know at one time there was a kit available to schools, but not the general public, because I looked around on google & it seems everything points back to that)
I guess my questions are:
Anyone here ever try using a Pi & doing their own weather station?
In my case the Pi needs to stay safely inside, I don't want to mess around with weather-resistant cases for it (as it looks like those kits had). I'm fine with running a wire up to the roof for a wind sensor (& any others that could be placed there). But is it truly safe to do so? You now have an electrified(though low voltage) device(s) up past the highest point of the house...should it then need a lightning rod? I know a temperature sensor should be located closer to the ground & running a wire out to the yard wouldn't be very easy/practical, so some sorta wireless like the little in/out-door thermometer things they sell in stores? Where's the best place to put a rain gauge? be fine on the roof? Is there such thing as a lightning sensor?
And say I wanted to 'take the easy way', just buy a pre-made unit, with what I mentioned above about costs & the 'abuse' it might take: What should I look for? Avoid? etc?
Oh and a final thing...whether DIY, or pre-made, I don't want anything that requires an internet connection to operate!
(though that'd probably be allot of work .lol. ) I have a feeling what you say "you can stop there" is right as far as limiting it to $100. I may have to give up the idea...
