DIY Solar Scintillation Seeing Monitor with FC support

[rsfoto]

Hi,

I have to start all over again as it looks like I fried my LMC6484 due to improper measuring while the Arduino was running. The values from yesterday where too low and so I tested the circuit which I still had on my breadboard and they looked much more logical.

Also the idea of the 3 capacitors un paralel was not good. I finally got my 3.3 uF capacitors and exchanged and it stabilized.

Well I still have holidays and so no problem. At least I have something to do.

saludos

[PDB]

Ooops, can happen. Few months ago i fried a nano Arduino in my focus controller while doing some modifications.

regards,

Paul

[rsfoto]

Hi,

Yes, " Sh...t happens " and I should have used a socket instead of Hot soldering the LMC6484 onto the board

Well makes me have more experience for the future

[rsfoto]

Hi,

Went back to the bread boarded circuit and added a LED Bar for the visual identification while the SSM is working.

Video of 1 minute which crunches a real time video I took during 18 minutes.

https://vimeo.com/249602522

Below the circuit on the bread board

IMG_2804_C1.jpg (1.53 MiB) Viewed 13502 times

[banjo]

Hello,


a few colors here

https://vimeo.com/249800318

Paul

[rsfoto]

Hello,


a few colors here

https://vimeo.com/249800318

Paul

Hi Paul,

Is that in real time and are you reading at an iteration rate of 1000 ? I am just starting and learning to program the Arduino so I still have a long way to go.

[banjo]

Hello,
no it's just a simulation before integration into my software, I find that the colors are more meaningful than the numbers.
blue very good
green ok
red useless
Paul

a small gift of January 5 , not very stable, the sun is low and the wind is very strong in France

[rsfoto]

Hello,
no it's just a simulation before integration into my software, I find that the colors are more meaningful than the numbers.
blue very good
green ok
red useless
Paul

a small gift of January 5 , not very stable, the sun is low and the wind is very strong in France

Thank Paul and yes you are right. My bar when many LED on is bad and few LED on good. At the beginning it is difficult to judge but with the time one gets used to it.

LED 1 and 2 I use them for signalizing Sun intensity

Led 1 Sun intensity and > 0.5 to <=1.0 then OK and ON else OFF
LED 2 blinks when Sun intensity > 1.0 abs so I know I have to adjust. It happened to me that I had to readjust because the adjustment the day before was again to high and as I see the sky today I think I have to readjust.

The little BPW34 was delivering yesterday up to 3 mA ( 3000 uA ) of current.

and then LED 3 to 10 are as following

LED 3 -----------< 1.0
LED 4 > 1.0 --- < 1.5
LED 5 > 1.5 --- < 2.0
LED 6 > 2.0 --- < 2.5
LED 7 > 2.5 --- < 3.0
LED 8 > 3.0 --- < 3.5
LED 9 > 3.5 --- < 4.0
LED 10 > 4.0 ----------

[PDB]

Hello,


a few colors here

https://vimeo.com/249800318

Paul

Excellent idea!!

immediatelly started working on my Solar Monitor again

Screenshot2018-01-06-1833.png (70.12 KiB) Viewed 13429 times

Screenshot2018-01-06-1837.png (103.46 KiB) Viewed 13429 times

Now still someting similar to add for input value

Regards,

Paul

[banjo]

Hello everyone,

Paul, that's exactly what I would like to do, bargraph input & output super.
Your software is extra !!
Is it possible to have it?

Paul

[PDB]

Is it possible to have it?

Yes it is possible but this version is not completely ready yet ... and only Linux at the moment, although I am working on a port to Windows (would like to port it on OS/X as well, but no machine, and think my wife will throw me out if I buy yet another computer )

I will let you know when it is ready and tested. The automatic trigger of video capture will (should) work wit Planetary Imager and FireCapture.

Regards,

Paul

[banjo]

thank you Paul,
I am with Win7 and do not know much in programming.
I'm waiting for your final version with pleasure.
Paul

[PDB]

Hello everyone,

Paul, that's exactly what I would like to do, bargraph input & output super.
Your software is extra !!
Is it possible to have it?

Paul

Paul,

have sent you a private message about this. (A windows test version is now available)

P.

[banjo]

Hello everyone,
thank you for this message, sorry not to have answered before, I'll try as soon as the sun will show.
In the south of France just December 5th and January 5th really good, if not only rain and clouds.
Paul

[Merlin66]

Any updates on this project?
Any changes/ improvements over the past three years?

[Radon86]

Original file for DIY SSM - https://www.ecu.edu/cs-cas/physics/uplo ... final2.pdf
I can't find this now, can anyone please upload this, as I want to pursue this project for myself ?

Many thanks
Magnus

[PDB]

suppose you mean this?

Never trust the cloud to keep data

Paul

[Radon86]

suppose you mean this?

Never trust the cloud to keep data

Paul

Hi Paul !

Thank you very much Paul. You saved me a lot of work and research.
Great !
Magnus

[Radon86]

Any updates on this project?
Any changes/ improvements over the past three years?

Hi All,
I am starting to tackle this project and build my own DIY SSM. Does everyone use one or would like to own one ?

I wonder what percentage of solar imagers actually use a SSM connected to FC or not connected to FC (FireCapture)?

I am thinking if someone could build it, would some of you be interested to buy it if it was a lot less expensive than the ones made by the mainstream company for 350 dollars/euros?

Thanks
Magnus

[marktownley]

I have an SSM, used to use it connected to FC, rarely use it now, just gauge the seeing by eye and experience.

[Radon86]

I have an SSM, used to use it connected to FC, rarely use it now, just gauge the seeing by eye and experience.

Thanks Mark,

That is very interesting. Sort of tallies with what I can tell from my own eyes. I am getting better with experience.
I will see if I can build one inexpensively, could be fun ?

Thanks
Magnus

[BGazing]

Welp.
A friend made me one using the sketch kindly provided...but it won't connect to the Windows program. It connects on his Windows 7, but won't on my Windows 10. What givess?
Otherwise it works with its little display...just won't connect.

[rpineau]

Depending on what Arduino (or clone) was used you might need to install the usb-serial chip drivers (FTDI, Silicon Labs, Prolific, Arduino ....).

[BGazing]

Spent around 5hrs seeking all sorts of solutions...and then reinstalled SSM out of desperation...voila. Go figure.

[Bastelhannes]

I would like to build/use one, but I could never get me to like FC. Don't get me wrong, it is a nice program. But it's like a partner, you do not fell in love with everyone you meet in the pub (oh, what a nightmare).

[Oak]

I just built one myself using an Arduino Uno R3. And now of course a week of clouds is in the forecast....

[Radon86]

Hi,

Have you managed to test your new Solar scintillation monitor yet on the Sun ?

Magnus

[Oak]

Hi,

Have you managed to test your new Solar scintillation monitor yet on the Sun ?

Magnus

Only very briefly and things seem to be woking - although I am not sure about accuracy yet. I also marked up the breadboard photo in the initial paper to reproduce that layout. Attaching in case it's helpful to others. The Arduino code needed some alteration to work with the Uno as well.

SSM_BreadboardLayout_Small - Copy.jpg (436.79 KiB) Viewed 5110 times

-Derek

[sink45ny]

I have the AiryLabs SSM and installed the fireCapture add-on. It works up to a point but will not connect within FC.

The AiryLabs SSM starts up independent from FC on COM6 port, but connecting within FC/SSSMonPlugin/Setup/COM6 it throws the error Port is not available.

Steve Hoffman

[DavidP]

Sure would be cool if someone built a bunch of these and sold them to us lazy folks.

[sink45ny]

I already use sharpcap's Seeing monitor, is the Airlabs device a serious tool for automation or not?

I'd rather not waste my time trying to use it if it serves no purpose.

[Rob63]

I already use sharpcap's Seeing monitor, is the Airlabs device a serious tool for automation or not?

I'd rather not waste my time trying to use it if it serves no purpose.

It is a very useful tool and worked well with FC to capture at a specified value of seeing but unfortunately, the developers of the two firecapture plugins both seem to have abandoned them.
see this thread: viewtopic.php?t=35965