You might be able to detect lightning by looking out the window or listening for a loud boom, but getting a machine to do this is a bit more tricky. For this purpose, Smdking’s EMP sensor does the job nicely.
The device was developed after parents were concerned about kids being injured by lightning during sports training sessions due to nearby lightning strikes. Now outdoor training can be stopped if lightning is detected within a 30 km radius.
While avoiding lightning yourself is obviously a good thing, another exciting application of this sensor is to photograph the phenomenon. The product listing notes that it works quite well, though you’d of course need to aim the camera in the correct direction.
While other sensors like this are available, they either operate on their own, or are simply integrated circuits that require other accessories like an antenna. This device features a digital output that can be used as a device trigger, as well as an analog output to study details of lightning intensity. It also beeps if you need a human “readable” warning.
Incidentally, if you’d like to know where you can use this type of device, here’s an article about the most lightning prone places in the world. While I thought the Tampa Bay area where I reside was #1, the title holder is reportedly Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. Orangetree, Florida, south of Tampa, does hold the title of #1 in the US, so perhaps naming professional sports teams after airborne electricity isn’t too far off!
