New rain detector

[kinetic]

I have discovered a brilliant new rain detector method.
So far it has been faultless in detecting rain and heavy dew on my dome.

After about a week of tests I have found that this ingenious little device
shows there is rain about, and so far there have been no false positives.

It is still in the early development stage but I'm hoping to be able to connect a
USB or ASCOM type communication interface and read directly from this
device.

Steve

[DeanoNZL]

:lol::lol: :thumbsup:

[TrevorW]

Won't sell doesn't return the data quick enough you might have too slug it get a market

[BerrieK]

You shouldn't need a USB connection or ASCOM interface - data transfer is what the tentacles without eyes are all about ie. wireless!! And if you look really closely at the slime trail it is, in fact a series of 0's and 1's - thats the weather predictions in binary. Although it looks like the snail leaves the slime behind it, it is in fact just waste from the digital to analog conversion process (which mostly occurs in the shell apparatus) before the data (electronic analog signal) is sent out via the tentacles. The newer models are in fact digital so the slime trail will slowly (though the evolution of the weather predication snail) become a thing of the past as data will be transmitted in binary with no waste, all in the name of decreasing slime-house emissions. Digital Snails will, however, maintain their shells without the DAC apparatus in order to avoid looking too much like slugs. Ick.

Kerrie

[marki]

Animals are great weather forcasters . I used to have a cat that everytime she washed behind her ears it would rain 48 hours later:). Ants are also good forcasters, they always run around like mad before a storm.

Mark

[BerrieK]

Portable dome with built in rain detector.

(yes its raining here )


Kerrie

[leon]

Hey Kerri, you are dead right, when these little buggers come out you know, that they know what they are on about and take heed.

Leon

[stephenb]

Since it is bucketing down here in Melbourne (what's new, I hear to say), I could help you with a steady supply of these devices from my backyard. Let me know, PM or email me. Or.. as a last resort snail mail.. :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Spanrz]

Does it come in a Wireless version or have you got to plug the ethernet cable to get the data? :rofl:

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol:

[DJDD]

:rofl:

:rofl:

[Fossil]

One has to ask WHERE you plug the data cable in ??? :eyepop:

[DJDD]

Kerrie's right- it has built-in wireless...

[kinetic]

Progress with this mysterious device has moved at a snail's pace and
not without some personal cost as well.

Day 1.
Took Kerrie's advice and tried to detect a wireless signal with headphones and
radio tuned to all bands with these devices all over the neighbour's fence.

Day 2.
Wife says neighbours not talking to us anymore. Strange people.

Discovered beer seems to slow down the internal clock until all activity
ceases in the device.
Tried rebooting devices. Tried a cold boot, a warm boot, even
a steel capped boot.....no luck.

Day 3.
My gut feeling is that they are a sort of Enhanced Serial Communications
Asynchronous Rain Gauge Output Transciever.....or ESCARGOT for short.
All speculation of course.

Day 4.
Wife has taken kids and car.
Miss kids dearly.
However must press on.....

Steve

[DavidU]

:lol::lol:

[mozzie]

:rofl:where do you plug the 12v or 230 into
mozzie

[Hagar]

All I can say is "You must be bored Steve" Have you finished all your projects?

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol:

[multiweb]

Those guys aren't actually bad with a bit of butter and garlic in the oven. :evil:

[kinetic]

Aww gross Marc!!!!:scared2:

Yes Doug....cabin fever here.....sick of these rain systems coming through
every 2-3 days.:sadeyes:

Steve

[multiweb]

What? :shrug: Everybody seems not to mind eating stuff that comes out of a chook's a** though? It's just an acquired taste. Like vegemite :lol:

[Baddad]

Hi Steve, Kerrie, :):lol::lol:

Very good. I thought that was very clever and funny. We don't have any snails on our property so we have modernised
You may be behind the times a little.
While Gastropods are accurate they are prolific emitters of that slime-house emissions. A much more slime-house friendly alternative is the

New Age Digi-Weather Rock:

Suspend on string fastened to tree branch.

If rock is dry it is fine
If rock is wet, it is raining.
If rock is green, it rained a while ago.
If rock is white, it is snowing.
If rock is shaking, there is an earthquake.
If rock is swinging, it is windy.
If rock is warm, the sun is out.
If rock is not visible, its dark outside.
If rock is under water, there’s a flood.
If rock is gone, there’s a tornado... Run! :lol:

No emissions, low power consumption and accurate requiring no calibration.

Cheers Marty

[dannat]

how much are you going to charge for this amazing piece of technology:shrug:;) & will postage be extra

[kinetic]

Marty, Umm...does it matter how big the rock is?
You don't mention size anywhere...:shrug::D

[BerrieK]

Well Steve and Marty, in the absence of snails and rocks you can always try the good old cup of coffee method...


Make a cup of coffee. Hot tea or hot cocoa will work too. This can be done in or near your obseratory, or in my case on the lawn, the kitchen, lounge, or wherever I happen to be. It also works at work (but only in scheduled breaks of course).

When you pour the coffee into your cup, watch the bubbles.

If the bubbles move to the edge of the cup rather quickly, that's a good sign. Expect clear skies for the next 12 hours.

If the bubbles hang around in the center of the cup, get out your rain gear. You can expect rain in 12 hours.

If the bubbles slowly move to the edge of the cup, you may get a bit of weather, but it should be clearing in a few hours.

If you've managed to make a cup without bubbles, flop a spoonful of coffee back into your cup and make some more bubbles.

The theory behind this trick is that high pressure will push the bubbles to the edge, and high pressure indicates a period of sunny, calm weather. Low pressure won't move the bubbles and low pressure systems typically bring unsettled weather.

But don't test it out in the bath.

Kerrie :D

[UK1]

You can always buy the new faster upgrade.....
throw the cat out if it comes in wet..... it's raining