Grove - Lightning Sensor (AS3935)

The Grove AS3935 Lightning sensor can detect both cloud-to-ground and intra-cloud types of lightning for up to 30 or 40 km.
It is programmable with I2C or SPI communication and supports 3.3V and 5.0V power supply.

This sensor evaluates the electric fields in the air and verifies the specific characteristic waveform of Lightning, finally sending the output to the development board. It represents a great application of electric field processing, which can be used to create alert systems for Lightning or violent storms approaching and for making complete forecast meteorological stations with adverse conditions alert.

It belongs to the Grove ecosystem and shares the same simple connection and simple operation. It is easy to use, requiring no preliminary warm-up time. It supports both 3.3V and 5.0V power supply, offering low power consumption. This will be your great tool to get started with electric field processing.

Lightning Sensor: Detect both cloud-to-ground and intra-cloud types of lightning, based on the electric fields
Wide Range: Sense in a range up to 30 – 40 km the front of a storm with lightning
Programmable Detection Parameters: Achieve threshold setting level for optimal control
Support I2C or SPI communication
Support both 3.3V and 5.0 V power supply

Application

• Alert forecasting for dangerous lightning storms approaching
• Weather stations
• Portables, Global positioning systems (GPS) to go in power down to prevent injuries to electronic boards.
• Automated protection systems to prevent damage to electrical equipment.

Specification

• 40 x 20 mm - height 7 mm   
• 5 Volt or 3.3 Volt(through jumper selection)
• I2C or SPI
• max 70 uA down to 2 uA with Vreg off and
• Resonanc frequency 500 kHz

How does the Lightning sensor work?

The working principle of the sensor is based on the electric fields that are present in the air during lightning events or plugging in your stereo or electric wave cooker in common life. On the board, there is an LC circuit tuned to work to 500 kHz with a narrow band centered on this central frequency. This seems the best way to make a preliminary selection of existing electric signals in the air.