A simple weather station that periodically wakes and sends data to a Thingsboard server database for action and historical record keeping.
I run a Thingsboard server for storing a host of temperatures, humidities, light levels, etc inside a building. I'm most interested in understanding just how warm or cool it gets and how humid or dry it gets so that I can avoid problems.
Like so many others, I put together a weather station. I use it to complement the data from inside the building.
Hopefully, something in this project might help or inspire others in their projects. I was inspired by the hackaday project below and give credit to the author https://hackaday.io/project/165061-solar-powered-wifi-weather-station-v20
This project uses Arduino IDE, Thingsboard, SPIFFS, JSON and ezTime. Sensors are a BME280 and TSL2591. My project is powered by a Lipo battery charged with a solarcell through a TP4056 control unit. The microcontroller is a D1 mini pro.
Also included are images of the finished project along with Fritzing and CAD files.
Partial BOM of purchased parts: D1 Mini Pro microcontroller Adafruit TSL2591 High Dynamic Range Digital Light Sensor YDL 3.7V 4000mAh 606090 Lipo battery Micro USB 5V 1A 18650 TP4056 Lithium Battery Charging Module 2.5W 5V/500mAh Solar Panel (130 x 150 mm) BME280 Digital Sensor 8dBi WiFi RP-SMA male Antenna PMMA to cover TSL2591 sensor
Notes: The red LED is mounted on the top of my unit beneath the solar cell. The CAD files do not include this opening.
- All electronics are coated with sealant. I use a silicone modified conformal coating from Amazon (MG Chemicals 422B).
- All penetrations are sealed with silicone.
- The light sensor is mounted off the top of the solar cell support. A small piece of PMMA or Acrylic is cut to cover the top rectangular hole. The entire light sensor assembly is sealed with silicone.
- The Lipo battery is mummy wrapped with a self-sealing silicone tape to keep all moisture out. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Nashua-Tape-1-in-x-3-33-yd-Stretch-and-Seal-Self-Fusing-Silicone-Tape-in-Clear-1210364/203534911
- I used PETG filament for the station pieces. All pieces were spray painted white. We'll see if this prevents excessive weathering.
- The bottom_mount part is designed to connect the weather station to a flat corner brace. If you choose to use a brace, you may need to either drill holes in the brace or redesign the part to match hole spacings.