Low cost Cloud Detector released
Hi all,
I've finally run my CloudDetector/Alarm software for long enough to be happy it works properly.
This uses the $145US IR thermometer from Extech to monitor the sky conditions, sounding an alarm if the configurable thresholds are passed.
It's a two-part application, so you can run the alarm app on a different PC to the one monitoring the sky conditions out at the scope.
This is useful if, like me, you don't have an automated observatory capable of closing itself. I can run the alarm app on a laptop in my bedroom to wake me if I need to go out and cover the scopes up.
The software is available for free download from my website as usual:
http://winfij.homeip.net/development/CloudDetector.html
If you give this a go, please do drop me a line to let me know how it works for you.
Cheers,
John
P.S. If you do have a fully automated observatory, Stan Ralph has used this same sensor to drive an ACP weather station plugin, which should close the obs automatically. It's in this same forum for download.
Phidgets IR Temp sensor for cloud detection
This company makes a IR temp and ambient temp sensor as well as the acrylic cases that will protect them. Has anybody tried making a cloud monitor with this hardware?
http://www.phidgets.com/products.php...roduct_id=1045
http://www.phidgets.com/products.php...roduct_id=1124
http://www.phidgets.com/products.php?category=30
Total cost = about $120.00