Wind Speed & Direction Meter

with a clever touch

This ingeniously designed circuit may be just the ticket for those interested in weather observations, in particular, wind speed and direction. The clever bit about the instrument is that both wind speed and wind direction are measured with a single sensor: a rotational speed meter with three blades, one fitted with a small vane. One advantage of the specific design of the combined sensor is that the mechanical construction of the anemometer is far simpler than that of traditional meters while also reducing the risk of wear and tear as well as breakdowns. The instrument readout showing wind speed and direction is on an LCD as well as via a serial output that allows a PC or an (NMEA compatible) navigation instrument to be connected.

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Materials

030371-PCB.pdf

030371-11.zip

Gerber file

CAM/CAD data for the PCB referred to in this article is available as a Gerber file. Elektor GREEN and GOLD members can exclusively download these files for free as part of their membership. Gerber files allow a PCB to be produced on an appropriate device available locally, or through an online PCB manufacturing service.

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PCB

Download Gerber file: 030371-1.zip

Component list

Resistors:
R1 = 1kOhm 8
R2,R3 = 1kOhm 5
R4,R5 = 5kOhm 6
R6,R8-R11 = 10kOhm
R7 = 1kOhm
P1,P4 = 47kOhm multiturn preset with top adjustment
P2,P3 = 4kOhm 7 multiturn preset with top adjustment
Capacitors:
C1,C6 = 1µ F 16V
C2,C3 = 15pF
C4,C5 = 100nF
C7 = 1µ F 25V
Semiconductors:
D1,D2 = 1N4148
T1 = BC547
IC1 = LM 358
IC2 = PIC16F876, programmed, order code 030371-41
IC3 = 78L08
IC4 = LM78L05
IC5,IC6 = UGN 3503 (Allegro)
Miscellaneous:
X1 = 16MHz quartz crystal, miniature case
K1 = 9-way sub-D socket (female), PCB mount
K2 = 10-way pinheader
K3 = 4-way pinheader
JP1,JP2 = 2-way pinheader with jumper
Standard LCD, 2 x 16 characters
PVC tube, dia. 32mm, length approx. 200mm
PCB, available through The PCBShop
Disk, project software, order code 030371-11 or Free Download