A spectacular sensor, but not magic
The AS3935 is one of the most fascinating sensors in the project because it promises to detect electrical activity and probable lightning. For that very reason, it must be handled with caution.
A detected event does not automatically mean “real lightning”. The sensor may encounter noise, electromagnetic interference, false positives or unclassifiable events.
Why also save bad events
At the beginning, it is useful to record everything: lightning, disturber, noise, unknown. Only this way can the sensor behaviour be understood in its real installation context.
Knowing that a piezo lighter or nearby interference generates events is as useful as detecting lightning. It helps build better filters, thresholds and interpretations.
The dashboard shows only credible events
For the public lightning card, it is better to be conservative. The dashboard should show probable lightning only when distance, energy and event type are coherent.
Noisy events remain important in the technical history, but they should not create visual alarms on the homepage.
The next evolution
The next step is to improve the physical placement of the sensor, reduce cable interference and better distinguish atmospheric events from local disturbance.
The real value will be in the history: when a real storm occurs, the sensor behaviour can be compared with weather, rain, wind and visual observations.
Highlights
On the workbench
- Keep the project moving without losing the reasoning behind each step