Simple Static electricity detector

[weather1967]

hello Dimitris,

Yes I think like that is ok.I have seen more project using a detection plate like yours.

Do you think you can get a certain reference valua so you know activity is low or high ?
like around 100mv as normal without activity ,or in what value are you mesuraments made ?

are you shure you do not need a smaller metal plate under the detection plate as negatice capacity ?

Anyway your project is interresting.  

Krgds Chris

Thank you Chris
My measurements it is until 2 volt dc  2 days now without  electricity in air  ,the circuit it have this design if there are electricity it go down the voltage ,2 days i watching it and yesterday morning midday it was 1,25 - 1,40 ,at the night 1,50-1,60
Today morning it was 1,70-1,80 and now the midday 0,90-1,00 volt
But yet we do not have thunder here for test it ,but i beleive with thunder it will go up-down very fast.
You are correct i thought it about second metal plate for the negative capacity ,i will experiment at day with thunder with cable antenna ,after with one metal plate ,and after with second metal plate.

[chris vreewijk]

Hi Dimitris,

Has the load from the LED no impact at the results?

Maybe ad 1 extra transistor so the LED wil work perfect, witout any effect with respect to the messurament.Or do you think no differance?

Iám interrested about your point of vieuw,

Cheers Chris

[weather1967]

Hi Chris again
Without led it do not work the circuit  

http://i82.servimg.com/u/f82/11/22/64/62/detect10.gif

But if you do not want the led ,you can put a simple diode 1N 4001 - 1N 4007 like this ,and work the same  

http://i82.servimg.com/u/f82/11/22/64/62/diode10.jpg

[chris vreewijk]

Dimitris,

I have monitored your site earlyer and noticed that you are running L+R from Frank.
I looked at almost all stations at http://bernd-kiener-online.de/blitzortung/LR_C.html

And o yeah no current would be there you are right.
without the LED.

But I was thinking as the current true the led due higher/lower voltage increases/falls the measurament will be affected,but without led no current at all.
do you think the measurament will go into minus value like -2 volt ? if not maybe a j fet with increasing voltage is interresting?instead of falling voltage.

It is interresting if the static electricity is earlyer detected as the strikes from lighting.

Today I detected a lot off strikes above Germany.

One more question the static electricity you meassure thats realy a local measurament or not.
Any idea how many km around ?

 so a lot of questions.

best regards Chris

[weather1967]

Chris
I work LR and i am very impressive about it .
Not it do not measurement down from 0 minus
I do not think  can measurement minus with another J fet tranzistor.
I do not know about distances yet ,because 2 days i work it  
But i thing it will is for small distance about 10 km
But i am not sure.
And for 10 km if it is for me it is good ,because all the lightning detectors at near thunder it show wrong position,from the very strong signal,it will beautiful if we know from statistic electricity if a thunderstor come to us or go away from the change voltage,at nearest distances .
Now where i want a thunder,for to test it ,here we do not have thunder  

[chris vreewijk]

Dimitris,

Sorry for my poor discription.

Now you are using a n channel fet and can not go negative, also minor field more output voltage.
As I see your vidio the led fades by higher field or not ?? when you hold the pen to the antenna part?


if you would use a p channel fet the output voltage
would be increasing and the range would be larger I think if the filed is stronger,as  now maximum field is zero volts or are I mistaking?


anyway this is a nice extra to my weather station and I will make one for shure.

Is there any differance to put the disk on your roof or in the garden ?

hopefully you get some lightning soon.

regards Chris

[weather1967]

Chris
I found this where you want

http://www.techlib.com/Karen/misc.htm#Electrometer

A circuit where to measurement Negative  or positive static electricity  
I will build it for to see what happen

Yes antenna must to is over to roof for better .

[chris vreewijk]

Hi Dimitris,

Thanks for the link,
Ok on the roof is better you think.

Just waiting for some lightning now.

If there is any news Iám interrested.

kind regards Chris

[weather1967]

Hi Chris

I build and the second version and it is very better ,more quality sensitivity at tests,and with potentiometer it can work more easy, and to show more better the possitive and negative static electricity with out for little second black out, if there is strong static electricity like version 1.I put and my antenna in my roof.
I make test with a comb my hair over to my roof and with telephone my wife inside to my home say to me at mA at multimeter  
And the range it is 10 meters away,i am sure it show measurement when we have thunder,now i want to see how km away will it have range

http://i82.servimg.com/u/f82/11/22/64/62/detect11.gif

http://i82.servimg.com/u/f82/11/22/64/62/detect22.jpg

http://i82.servimg.com/u/f82/11/22/64/62/detect23.jpg

http://i82.servimg.com/u/f82/11/22/64/62/detect24.jpg

http://i82.servimg.com/u/f82/11/22/64/62/detect25.jpg

http://i82.servimg.com/u/f82/11/22/64/62/detect27.jpg

And the antenna

http://i82.servimg.com/u/f82/11/22/64/62/detect26.jpg

Video at tests

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_e_svdWIqM

[chris vreewijk]

Hi Dimitris,

Yes I will start building this one,nice photo's and vidio.

 we have to wait  for some activity now.

By the way nice palm trees on the background.

as my version is ready I will send you some photo's.

cheers Chris