Anemometer and Wind Vane Connections without RJ11 Connectors
Hi, I have been working on the weather station project but I'm kind of new to this stuff. I got to the anemometer and wind vane connections but since I didn't have the RJ11 breakout boards I decided to do a direct connection without the connectors. However I tried to connect based on the diagrams shown but instead with only the wires but neither the anemometer nor the wind vane is connected properly and I'm not sure why. I haven't been able to find much information on wiring these things without the RJ11 connectors so I hope I can get some advice. Thanks!
Re: Anemometer and Wind Vane Connections without RJ11 Connectors
Which diagrams are you looking at? If possible post a link so we can look at them?
Re: Anemometer and Wind Vane Connections without RJ11 Connectors
Hi sorry for the late reply.
This is the diagram I have been using provided by the Raspberry Pi project directions. I have been trying to figure how I would connect the anemometer without using a RJ11 breakout board as shown in the diagram since I have already cut off the RJ11 connector.
I am connecting one wire to GPIO 5 and one wire to a ground pin.
This is the diagram I have been using provided by the Raspberry Pi project directions. I have been trying to figure how I would connect the anemometer without using a RJ11 breakout board as shown in the diagram since I have already cut off the RJ11 connector.
I am connecting one wire to GPIO 5 and one wire to a ground pin.
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- This is the diagram I have been using provided by the Raspberry Pi project directions.
- wind_speed_bb.png (240.01 KiB) Viewed 308 times
Re: Anemometer and Wind Vane Connections without RJ11 Connectors
I assume you are using this as a guide. https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en/pro ... -station/5
The Python code supplied there should work. If not and there are no error messages, I would double check that you have connected the wires to the correct GPIO pins. They are not numbered consecutively. If the software is programmed to read GPIO 5, it will not work if the sensor is accidentally connected to a different pin.
I hope this helps, if not let us know more about the problem.
The Python code supplied there should work. If not and there are no error messages, I would double check that you have connected the wires to the correct GPIO pins. They are not numbered consecutively. If the software is programmed to read GPIO 5, it will not work if the sensor is accidentally connected to a different pin.
I hope this helps, if not let us know more about the problem.
Re: Anemometer and Wind Vane Connections without RJ11 Connectors
I'm pretty sure that I have connected the wires to the correct pin slot. My main problem is that when I turn on the raspberry pi, it has trouble staying on. I think that the anemometer is somehow interfering with the power but I'm not sure how. I'm wondering if I need a better resistor in order to keep the power from shorting out. Thanks for all the help!
Re: Anemometer and Wind Vane Connections without RJ11 Connectors
You said in your first post that you have connected the anemometer and the wind direction vane. In your most recent post you said that your Raspberry seems to suffer from inadequate power with the devices connected.
So the problem could be caused by either sensor. If you temporarily disconnect the Wind Direction Vane, you will then know about the problem. If the Anemometer part then works on its own, you could then disconnect it and attach just the Wind Vane on its own.
By testing each part on its own, you halve the problem.
The wind vane part is more complex so my guess is that the problem is in that area, but that’s just a guess.
If they both work separately but then fail when used together, you might be using an inadequate power supply.
So the problem could be caused by either sensor. If you temporarily disconnect the Wind Direction Vane, you will then know about the problem. If the Anemometer part then works on its own, you could then disconnect it and attach just the Wind Vane on its own.
By testing each part on its own, you halve the problem.
The wind vane part is more complex so my guess is that the problem is in that area, but that’s just a guess.
If they both work separately but then fail when used together, you might be using an inadequate power supply.
Re: Anemometer and Wind Vane Connections without RJ11 Connectors
Sorry for the confusion. Currently, I have been trying to connect the anemometer. I tried connecting the wind vane after the anemometer didn't work without it connected. The wind vane didn't work either but I think if I can figure out a way to connect the anemometer properly then figuring out the wind vane shouldn't be as difficult. I have been tinkering with ways to connect it (I am using a breadboard by the way) and with the new configurations the anemometer doesn't interfere with the power. However, I am pretty sure that the raspberry pi hasn't detected it bc the program wasn't working and I am further away from the correct configuration than I was before when there was interference. You may be right that I need a better power source so I can try that next.
Another thing I noticed when I boot up my raspberry is that there is a lightning bolt on the screen which I think is the symbol for insufficient power. This randomly started showing up and happens even when I unplug all my sensors. Could my raspberry be the problem? It is a Raspberry Pi 2 Model B that I have had for a couple of years but haven't touched much until now.
Thanks!
Another thing I noticed when I boot up my raspberry is that there is a lightning bolt on the screen which I think is the symbol for insufficient power. This randomly started showing up and happens even when I unplug all my sensors. Could my raspberry be the problem? It is a Raspberry Pi 2 Model B that I have had for a couple of years but haven't touched much until now.
Thanks!
Re: Anemometer and Wind Vane Connections without RJ11 Connectors
The lightening symbol does indicate that your Pi is not being feed enough power. I always use the official Raspberry Pi power supplies because I know they provide enough power. If you are using some other power supply, it might not output enough amps. Or the usb cable might not be thick enough to carry the power to you Raspberry.
Once you have improved the power supply, you can return to checking your sensor. The anemometer is just a reed switch that gets closed twice each time the cups complete a 360 degree rotation. If you Rotate the cups slowly by hand even without electrical power, you will probably hear a slight “click” as the magnet passes the switch.
The wind vane makes a lot more clicks when you rotate it because there are 8 reed switches.
So thinking of the anemometer as just a switch, you don’t have to write a complex program to calculate wind speeds right away, Just write the absolute minimum to detect the closing of the switch. If that works then you know your wires are connected correctly. If that does not work, either your program or connections are incorrect.
If at that stage you are convinced your program is right, you can improvise a switch using your breadboard and a resistor. Disconnect the anemometer and connect two spare wires instead. Then touch the bare ends of those wires onto either end of your resistor. That will serve as a crude switch and your program should detect that the switch was turned on.
Testing that way is more visible than testing with a reed switch hidden inside the anemometer. It also precludes the slight but not impossible risk that your anemometer is not actually closing the reed switch. If you have a multi meter you could check the anemometer with that.
I hope this helps a bit.
Once you have improved the power supply, you can return to checking your sensor. The anemometer is just a reed switch that gets closed twice each time the cups complete a 360 degree rotation. If you Rotate the cups slowly by hand even without electrical power, you will probably hear a slight “click” as the magnet passes the switch.
The wind vane makes a lot more clicks when you rotate it because there are 8 reed switches.
So thinking of the anemometer as just a switch, you don’t have to write a complex program to calculate wind speeds right away, Just write the absolute minimum to detect the closing of the switch. If that works then you know your wires are connected correctly. If that does not work, either your program or connections are incorrect.
If at that stage you are convinced your program is right, you can improvise a switch using your breadboard and a resistor. Disconnect the anemometer and connect two spare wires instead. Then touch the bare ends of those wires onto either end of your resistor. That will serve as a crude switch and your program should detect that the switch was turned on.
Testing that way is more visible than testing with a reed switch hidden inside the anemometer. It also precludes the slight but not impossible risk that your anemometer is not actually closing the reed switch. If you have a multi meter you could check the anemometer with that.
I hope this helps a bit.