Aurora detection

[Carl Reade]

Hi all been interested in building something good enough to do this job both accurately and reliable, well as much as diy can be.

I came across this link and thought it is a pretty clever way of putting one together also the outlay is small as well.

Any thoughts?

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.pyfn.com/PDF/electronics_pdfs/magnetometer/earth_magnetometer_project.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjM34jglvTOAhWCJ8AKHTH1CLgQFggoMAA&usg=AFQjCNHuQDfGsX3W7ZTtEV2BxYZumbFoPA

Carl

[Dave_D]

you may need to change your lawn mower though

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37168678

[SilverAstro]

54 minutes ago, Carl Reade said:

 both accurately and reliable, well as much as diy can be.

I came across this link and thought it is a pretty clever way of putting one together also the outlay is small as well.

as Dave_D  links , also in this parish https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/276176-lawnmower-red-alert/ so just be sure to fit a disable switch by the door so that your good lady can switch it off when she goes out to mow the grass

But seriously though :

Yes looks good, novel even. Thanks for the link. A lot simpler than a lot that have gone before. The FGM-3 has been around for years and is well regarded ( as is Bill Speake )

My first thought was "Stability" of the hetrodyne mixer, but on closer reading he has covered that, so yes go for it!!

As for "accurately and reliable" predictions , hmmmm, even the professionals cant do that even without beserkerslawnmowers   Have you a big garden to get it well away from cars and people etc and in a temperature controlled environment.

 

[Carl Reade]

8 minutes ago, SilverAstro said:

as Dave_D  links , also in this parish https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/276176-lawnmower-red-alert/ so just be sure to fit a disable switch by the door so that your good lady can switch it off when she goes out to mow the grass

But seriously though :

Yes looks good, novel even. Thanks for the link. A lot simpler than a lot that have gone before. The FGM-3 has been around for years and is well regarded ( as is Bill Speake )

My first thought was "Stability" of the hetrodyne mixer, but on closer reading he has covered that, so yes go for it!!

As for "accurately and reliable" predictions , hmmmm, even the professionals cant do that even without beserkerslawnmowers   Have you a big garden to get it well away from cars and people etc and in a temperature controlled environment.

 

Yes the old grass cutter caused a stir? I do have a road nearby with minor local traffic and the garden not that big so I'm positive there will be interaction but not much can be done on that score. The temperature I'm hoping will be reasonable in the insulated pipe underground.

[Carl Reade]

Well I now have all the electronics for this. I built the stable regulated power supply and connected the sensor with the ultrasonic transducer then tested with the bat detector and it works. Best way to do scribe it is it sounds just like a metal detector.

Just now need to build the sensor housing and have a burial ceremony and see what I get.

Carl

[Carl Reade]

Here is a pic of the sensor with regulated power supply to be buried. Tests above ground look very good. 

 

[happy-kat]

interesting project

[Carl Reade]

Hi, the magnetometer is now on test. It's been underground for 24 hours so far switched on to stabilise the temp. I just started the chart today after 12:00 GMT (30 sec interval) and have let it run it is certainly measuring something. I think there is more tinkering to do yet in Spectrum lab software etc.

Carl

 

[ChrisLX200]

Would you not have been better off with those voltage regulators well away from the detector? They give out a fair amount of heat which will accumulate in (be magnifiied by..) your insulated pipe.

What happens when you have a lot of real Bats flying around?

ChrisH

[Carl Reade]

12 minutes ago, ChrisLX200 said:

Would you not have been better off with those voltage regulators well away from the detector? They give out a fair amount of heat which will accumulate in (be magnifiied by..) your insulated pipe.

What happens when you have a lot of real Bats flying around?

ChrisH

Hi this is the recommended supply design by Speake and co. I have to assume they know their onions. The current is negligible and stepping down twice should deal with any heat.

As long as temp is stable should be ok.

As for the flying mice ? as long as they don't come into the house not a problem. The other half I have no doubt will alert me if she sees one?

[Carl Reade]

Hi all the magnetometer was left on last night for the first time and successfully captured activity in the early hours of this morning. It also corresponds to other magnetometer data in Europe.?

 

[Carl Reade]

A strong kp5 storm is in progress and putting the magnetometer to the test? results are in line with the UK's other magnetometers. Happy with this project?

 

 

[Carl Reade]

Hi just a quick update on the project. This shot is a CME hitting earth as I type. The diy magnetometer is recording this attack from the sun very accurately.

 

[happy-kat]

It looks like it's very strong kp 7.57 though just fell to 7.33 but cloudy where I am (eu aurora watch site)