Author Archives: Skye Sweeney

AS3935 lightning detector update

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Skye Sweeney

I was having problems with reliable communications with the lightning detector chip over the I2C bus. Sometimes I would read a register and it would not be at all what I was expecting. The situation was during calibration when I … Continue reading →

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Super magnet

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Skye Sweeney

I just purchased a rather larger (1″ dia, 3/4″ thick) N52 super magnet to erase MiniDV video tapes. Wow! What an amazing thing. I can see why I had to agree to all the safety notices on the item. If … Continue reading →

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Another excercise in Yak Shaving

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Skye Sweeney

I have been having problems with the I2C interface on a chip I have been playing with. Since I do not have an I2C bus analyzer (nor can I afford one!), I have been using my scope to decode bus … Continue reading →

Posted in Lightning detector, Python | Comments Off on Another excercise in Yak Shaving

DS1102D issues

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Skye Sweeney

I purchased a Rigol DS1102D 2 channel analog and 16 channel mixed signal scope a few years ago. For the most part I love the unit. It is small and portable allowing me to take it to the job site. … Continue reading →

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AS3935 details

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Skye Sweeney

After a very frustrating weekend, I am pretty confident I have the worst of the integration problems behind me. The Embedded Adventures board is a very nice board but did take the choice of SPI or I2C out of my … Continue reading →

Posted in Arduino, AS3935, AVC, Components, Lightning detector, Pololu 9DOF IMU, Processors, Projects | 64 Comments

First impressions of the AS3935 lightning detector

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Skye Sweeney

After ordering the break out board from Embedded Adventures in the UK, I got a nice email indicating that they would ship to me via stock held in the USA. The email also included some sample code for a PIC.

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Temperature stabilization of the IMU

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Skye Sweeney

I have a Pololu 9DOF IMU that I plan to use for the Sparkfun AVC competition. One thing (of a few thousand!) that has me worried is the bias of the sensors as a function of temperature. The datasheet indicates … Continue reading →

Posted in AVC, Pololu 9DOF IMU, Projects | 2 Comments

ADE7763 comments

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Skye Sweeney

I have received a bunch of comments on the ADE7763 home power monitor project. I will try to address then in the next few days with a special post. Edit: I elected to reply to each with a unique comment.

Posted in ADE7763, Components, Home Energy Monitor, Projects | 1 Comment

Lightning Detector

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Skye Sweeney

First I must apologize for going off line so long. Back in June I got a cold that damaged my inner ear. With the damage, I have been suffering from vertigo. Luckily, the brain learns and re-calibrates the inner ear … Continue reading →

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Sandy and gyros

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Skye Sweeney

Seems like I spend more time logging non robotic events than the other way around. This weekend I was planning on spending quality time with a new ARM development board I purchased, but my wife and I decided that this … Continue reading →

Posted in ARM, AVC, Personal, Processors, Projects | Comments Off on Sandy and gyros