Atlas Lightning Count Accuracy

[Andrew Bauer]

All - I've almost got the lightning sensor in my Atlas reporting correctly in weewx, and I am hoping someone can get me over the threshold.

I am using a very recent build of rtl-433, the latest sdr, and weewx 4.8.0.

By apparent design, the Atlas reports the same value for lightning strikes at each reporting interval, when no additional strikes occur:

May 03 09:05:49 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 5.0, 'outTemp': 65.0, 'outHumidity': 91.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586746, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:05:49 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 5.0, 'outTemp': 65.0, 'outHumidity': 91.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586746, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:05:49 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 5.0, 'outTemp': 65.0, 'outHumidity': 91.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586746, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:00 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windDir': 235.0, 'windSpeed': 4.0, 'rain_total': 4.29, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586756, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:00 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windDir': 235.0, 'windSpeed': 4.0, 'rain_total': 4.29, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586756, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:00 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windDir': 235.0, 'windSpeed': 4.0, 'rain_total': 4.29, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586756, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:10 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 3.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'radiation': 13510, 'UV': 2, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586767, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:10 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 3.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'radiation': 13510, 'UV': 2, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586767, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:10 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 3.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'radiation': 13510, 'UV': 2, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586767, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:21 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 2.0, 'outTemp': 65.0, 'outHumidity': 91.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586777, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:05:49 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 5.0, 'outTemp': 65.0, 'outHumidity': 91.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586746, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:05:49 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 5.0, 'outTemp': 65.0, 'outHumidity': 91.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586746, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:05:49 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 5.0, 'outTemp': 65.0, 'outHumidity': 91.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586746, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:00 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windDir': 235.0, 'windSpeed': 4.0, 'rain_total': 4.29, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586756, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:00 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windDir': 235.0, 'windSpeed': 4.0, 'rain_total': 4.29, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586756, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:00 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windDir': 235.0, 'windSpeed': 4.0, 'rain_total': 4.29, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586756, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:10 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 3.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'radiation': 13510, 'UV': 2, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586767, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:10 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 3.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'radiation': 13510, 'UV': 2, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586767, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:10 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 3.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'radiation': 13510, 'UV': 2, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586767, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:21 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 2.0, 'outTemp': 65.0, 'outHumidity': 91.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586777, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:05:49 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 5.0, 'outTemp': 65.0, 'outHumidity': 91.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586746, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:05:49 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 5.0, 'outTemp': 65.0, 'outHumidity': 91.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586746, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:05:49 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windSpeed': 5.0, 'outTemp': 65.0, 'outHumidity': 91.0, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586746, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:00 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windDir': 235.0, 'windSpeed': 4.0, 'rain_total': 4.29, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586756, 'usUnits': 1}
May 03 09:06:00 vWebapp.derbauer.local.lan weewxd[885258]: weewx[885258] DEBUG user.sdr: packet={'windDir': 235.0, 'windSpeed': 4.0, 'rain_total': 4.29, 'outTempBatteryStatus': 0, 'lightning_distance': 5, 'lightning_strike_count': 243, 'dateTime': 1651586756, 'usUnits': 1}

In this case, the number of strikes is 243. Rather than report 243 strikes, however, weewx is reporting 11907 strikes:

Here is my sensor map:

    [[sensor_map]]
        windDir = wind_dir.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket
        windSpeed = wind_speed.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket
        outTemp = temperature.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket
        outHumidity = humidity.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket
        rain_total = rain_total.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket
        outTempBatteryStatus = battery.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket
        radiation = lux.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket
        UV = uv.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket
        lightning_distance = strike_distance.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket
        lightning_strike_count = strike_count.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket
        exception = exception.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket
       
        inTemp = temperature.121.FOWH25BPacket
        inHumidity = humidity.121.FOWH25BPacket
        pressure = pressure.121.FOWH25BPacket
        inTempBatteryStatus = battery.121.FOWH25BPacket

    [[deltas]]
        rain = rain_total
        lightning_strike_count = strikes_total

...

[StdCalibrate]
   
    [[Corrections]]
        # For each type, an arbitrary calibration expression can be given.
        # It should be in the units defined in the StdConvert section.
        # Example:
        foo = foo + 0.2
        lightning_distance = lightning_distance if lightning_strike_count > 0 else None

If I comment out lightning_strike_count under [[deltas]], then the number of strikes goes up by 243 after each reporting interval. Got it. Don't do that.

I have messed with this on and off for a while now, and I wonder if I've got old, garbage data in the dB that is skewing the value.

Thoughts?

[an oldman]

try changing lightning_strike_count = strike_count.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket to strikes_total = strike_count.011D.AcuriteAtlasPacket in your sensor_map

[storm...@gmail.com]

If I'm not mistaken,  '"lightning_strike_count': 243," is just the counter value from the sensor which rolls over to 0  after the counter reaches 255.

[Andrew Bauer]

Thanks for the response. I've made the recommended change, and lightning strikes now shows zero. I guess I need to wait for another thunderstorm to roll in, to verify it increments properly.

[Andrew Bauer]

Ah, ok. That makes sense.