This Python module let's you control the AS3935 lightning detector. The board used is the MOD-1016 from EmbeddedAdventures.
- It works with Pigpio instead of the common RPi.GPIO, in order to be able to use it without being root.
- The communication with the device is done via I2C serial protocol.
- It allows you to perform every action described in the datasheet.
To install it from Pypi:
$ pip install as3935
If using a 40-pin GPIO Raspberry Pi, the device should be connected as follows:
| Pin on AS3935 | Pin name on RPi | Pin number (BCM) |
|---|---|---|
| Vcc | 3.3V | Any |
| IRQ | Any available GPIO | e.g. 4 |
| SCL | Clock | 3 |
| SDA | Data | 2 |
| GND | Ground | Any |
Install the Pigpio daemon, either from source or via:
$ sudo apt install pigpio
Configure Remote GPIO using (if on Raspbian):
$ sudo raspi-config
Enable the daemon and start it now:
$ sudo systemctl enable pigpiod
$ sudo systemctl start pigpiod
Install the Python interface:
$ pip install pigpio
For further information, visit Pigpio's webpage.
This module has been tested on Python 3.7. It might work on other versions as well. The only library used, a part from Pigpio, is time
It is very simple to use. Just import it and create a new object with the configuration you need.
import as3935
import pigpio
irq_pin_number = 4 # BCM number (code after GPIO)
bus = 1 # On newer Raspberrys is 1
address = 0x03 # If using MOD-1016 this is the address
sensor = as3935.AS3935(irq_pin_number, bus, address)
# We need to calibrate the sensor first. Use the tuning cap provided
# or calculate it using sensor.calculate_tuning_cap(*args)
sensor.full_calibration(12)
sensor.set_indoors(True)
# Every time you sense a pulse on IRQ it means there is an
# interruption request. You can read it like this:
def irq_callback(gpio, level, tick):
interruption = sensor.get_interrupt()
if interruption == as3935.INT_NH:
print("Noise floor too high")
elif interruption == as3935.INT_D:
print("Disturbance detected. Mask it?")
elif interruption == as3935.INT_L:
print("Lightning detected!")
distance = sensor.get_distance()
try:
cb = sensor.pi.callback(irq_pin_number, pigpio.RISING_EDGE, irq_callback)
while True:
pass
finally:
cb.cancel()
sensor.pi.stop()
This above is a very simple example. Check the full documentation to learn all the methods you can call.
Created by Eloi Codina during December 2019. There are other Python modules that allow you to use the AS3935 sensor. However, none of them use Pigpio It is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (please read LICENSE.txt)
python_AS3935
Copyright (C) 2019 Eloi Codina Torras
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
(at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- INT_NH: noise level too high
- INT_D: man-made disturbance detected
- INT_L: lightning detected
It provides an object to control the AS3935.
- irq: (int) GPIO pin number the IRQ is connected at (BCM number)
- bus: (int, optional) the bus the AS3935 is connected at. Default = 1
- address: (int, optional) the address of the AS3935. Default = 0x03
You can access the following properties from this object:
- address: the address of the AS3935
- bus: the bus of the AS3935
- irq: the GPIO pin number the IRQ is connected at
- pi: pigpio.pi instance. You can communicate with the GPIO with this.
- i2c_device: an integer representing the connection with the AS3935
read_byte(self, address)
Returns the value of the byte stored at address.
:param address: (int) the address to read from
:return: (int) the value of the address
write_byte(self, address, value)
Writes value at address. Raises ValueError if the value is not correct. It sleeps for 2 ms after writing the value
:param address: (int) the address to write to :param value: (int) the byte value (between 0x00 and 0xFF)
full_calibration(self, tuning_cap):
Performs a full calibration: antenna and RCO
:param tuning_cap: int: tuning number for the antenna. Can be calculated with self.calculate_tuning_cap()
power_down_mode(self):
Sets the AS3935 on power down mode (PWD)
listening_mode(self)
Sets the AS3935 on listening mode (PWD)
set_default_values(self)
Sends a direct command to 0x3C to reset to default values.
calibrate_rco(self)
Sends a direct command to 0x3D to calibrate the RCO (CALIB_RCO)
get_indoors(self)
Checks whether the device is configured to be run indoors. (AFE_GB)
:return: (bool) whether the device is configured to be run indoors
set_indoors(self, indoors)
Configures the device to be run indoors or outdoors. (AFE_GB)
:param indoors: (bool) configure the AS3935 to be run indoors
get_watchdog_threshold(self)
Returns the watchdog threshold (WDTH)
:return: (int) the current watchdog threshold
set_watchdog_threshold(self, value=0b0001):
Sets the watchdog threshold to value (WDTH). If called without parameters, it sets it to the default configuration. Can raise a ValueError if not 0 <= value <= 0b1111
:param value: (int, optional) The value to be set. From 0b0000 to 0b1111. Default=0b0001
get_noise_floor(self)
Checks the current noise floor threshold (NF_LEV).
:return: (int) the current noise floor threshold
set_noise_floor(self, noise_floor=0b010)
Sets a new noise floor threshold (NF_LEV). If called without parameters, it sets it to the default configuration. Can raise a ValueError if not 0 <= noise_floor <= 0b111
:param noise_floor: (int, optional) The value to be set. From 0b000 to 0b111
lower_noise_floor(self, min_noise=0b000)
Lowers the noise floor threshold by one step (subtracts 1 to the current NF_LEV) if it is currently higher than min_noise. Can raise a ValueError if not 0 <= min_noise <= 0b111
:param min_noise: (int, optional) the minimum NF_LEV the device should be set at. Default = 0b000 :return: (int) the new noise floor threshold
raise_noise_floor(self, max_noise=0b111)
Raises the noise floor threshold by one step (adds 1 to the current NF_LEV) if it is currently lower than max_noise Can raise a ValueError if not 0 <= max_noise <= 0b111
:param max_noise: (int, optional) the maximum NF_LEV the device should be set at. Default 0b111 :return: (int) the new noise floor threshold
get_spike_rejection(self)
Checks the current spike rejection settings (SREJ)
:return: (int) the current spike rejection setting (SREJ)
set_spike_rejection(self, value=0b0010)
Sets a new setting for the spike rejection algorithm (SREJ). If the function is called without any parameter, it sets it to the default value of 0b0010 Can raise a ValueError if not 0 <= value <= 0b1111
:param value: (int, optional) the value to set SREJ. Default = 0b0010
get_energy(self)
Checks the last lightning strike's energy calculation. It does not have any physical meaning. (Energy of the Single Lightning *SBYTE)
:return: (int) last strike's energy
def get_distance(self)
Checks the estimation of the last lightning strike's distance in km (DISTANCE).
:return: (int/None) last strike's distance in km. None if out of range, 0 if overhead
get_interrupt(self)
Checks the reason of the interruption (INT). To know what it is, use the constants: INT_NH: noise level too high INT_D: disturber detected INT_L: lightning strike detected
It sleeps for 2 ms before retrieving the value, as specified at the datasheet.
:return: (int) the interruption reason
set_mask_disturber(self, mask_dist)
Sets whether disturbers should be masked (MASK_DIST).
:param mask_dist: (bool) whether disturbers should be masked
get_mask_disturber(self)
Checks whether disturbers are currently masked (MASK_DIST).
:return: (bool) whether disturbers are currently masked
get_min_strikes(self)
Checks the current configuration of how many strikes AS3935 has to detect in 15 minutes to issue an interrupt (MIN_NUM_LIG). In case of an error, it raises a LookupError
:return: (int) number of strikes. Possible values: 1, 5, 9, 16
set_min_strikes(self, min_strikes)
Sets the minumum number of lightning strikes the AS3935 has to detect in 15 minutes to issue an interrupt (MIN_NUM_LIG). Can raise a ValueError if min_strikes is not an accepted value.
:param min_strikes: (int) min number of strikes to issue an interrupt. Possible values: 1, 5, 9, 16
clear_lightning_stats(self)
Clears the statistics built up by the lightning distance estimation algorithm (CL_STAT)
get_display_lco(self)
Checks whether the antenna resonance frequency is currently displayed on the IRQ pin (DISP_LCO)
:return: (bool) whether the antenna resonance frequency is currently displayed
set_display_lco(self, display_lco)
Sets whether the antenna resonance frequency should be displayed on the IRQ pin(DISP_LCO).
:param display_lco: (bool) whether the antenna resonance frequency should be displayed
set_tune_antenna(self, tuning_cap)
Sets the antenna calibration. It adds or removes internal capacitors according to tuning_cap (TUN_CAP). If tuning_cap is unknown, this could be calculated by calculate_tuning_cap(self, frequency_divisor, tries_frequency) Can raise a ValueError if not 0 <= tuning_cap <= 15
:param tuning_cap: (int) the number to calibrate the antenna
calculate_tuning_cap(self, frequency_divisor=16, tries_frequency=3, seconds_try=4)
Measures the frequency of the LC resonator for every possible tuning_cap and returns the best value. If possible, use the default values for frequency_divisor, tries_frequency and seconds_try. This function takes a long time. It should take about tries_frequency*seconds_try*16 seconds given that there are 16 tuning possibilities.
The ideal frequency is of 500 kHz
Can raise ValueError if frequency_divisor is not a valid number.
:param frequency_divisor: (int) the divisor the AS3935 uses to divide the frequency before displaying it on the IRQ
:param tries_frequency: (int) number of times the current frequency is calculated during *seconds_try* seconds to calculate an average
:param seconds_try: (float) seconds during which pulses on IRQ will be counted to calculate the internal frequency
:return: (int) a tuning number between 0 and 15
calculate_resonance_frequency(self, seconds)
Sets the AS3935 to display the antenna resonance frequency on the IRQ during *seconds* and counts the number of pulses in this time to calculate the internal frequency. To get the real frequency multiply this value by the frequency divisor ratio.
:param seconds: (int) number of seconds while it should count spikes :return: (int) internal frequency
get_frequency_division_ratio(self)
Gets the current frequency division ratio. Number by which the real antenna resonance frequency is divided to display on the IRQ pin (LCO_FDIV). Can raise a LookupError if there is an error checkig the configuration.
:return: (int) frequency division ratio. Possible numbers: 16, 32, 64, 128
set_frequency_division_ratio(self, divisor=16)
Sets a new frequency division ration by which the antenna resonance frequency is divided to display on the IRQ pin (LCO_FDIV).If called with no parameter, it defaults to 16. Can raise a ValueError if *divisor* is not an accepted number.
:param divisor: (int, optional) frequency divisor ratio. Accepted values = (16, 32, 64, 128). Default = 16
get_display_srco(self)
Checks whether the SRCO frequency is being displayed on the IRQ pin.
:return: (bool) whether the SRCO frequency is currently displayed
set_display_srco(self, display_srco)
Sets whether the SRCO frequency should be displayed on the IRQ pin.
:param display_srco: (bool) whether the SRCO frequency should be displayed
get_display_trco(self)
Checks' whether the TRCO frequency is being displayed on the IRQ pin.
:return: (bool) whether the TRCO frequency is currently displayed
set_display_trco(self, display_trco)
Sets whether the TRCO frequency should be displayed on the IRQ pin.
:param display_srco: (bool) whether the TRCO frequency should be displayed
calibrate_trco(self)
Calibrates the TRCO by sending the direct command CALIB_RCO and toggling the DIS_TRCO bit (low-high-low)