Technical Questions Regarding SparkFun Lightning Detector AS3935 (SEN-15441)

Sensors
1

Dear SparkFun Technical Support Team,

as part of a technical investigation, we are currently evaluating the SparkFun Lightning Detector AS3935 (SEN-15441). We would appreciate your support in answering a few questions about the sensor’s configuration and performance.

Although we have reviewed the available documentation, we would like a better understanding of how the device operates and the recommended setup.

  1. Recommended Parameter Configuration for Outdoor Operation:

We use the sensor in outdoor mode and have noticed that during nearby thunderstorms with confirmed lightning activity, the AS3935 often reports disturbance events instead of actual lightning detections.

Could you please provide guidance on:

  • The recommended configuration parameters for reliable outdoor lightning detection.

  • Appropriate settings for the noise floor level, watchdog threshold, spike rejection, and other relevant parameters.

  • Conditions that may cause genuine lightning events to be classified as disturber events.

  • Any best practices for minimizing false disturber detections while maintaining lightning sensitivity.

  1. Explanation of the Detection Diagram in the Datasheet:

We would appreciate a more detailed explanation of the detection and classification diagram presented in the AS3935 datasheet.

In particular, we would like to understand:

  • How the sensor differentiates between noise, disturbers, and lightning events.

  • The sequence of internal decision steps represented in the diagram.

  • The practical interpretation of the diagram when tuning the sensor for field measurements.

  1. Sensor Placement and Sensitivity Optimization:

We would also like to ask for recommendations regarding sensor positioning and installation.

Specifically:

  • What sensor orientation is recommended for optimal lightning detection performance?

  • What are the minimum clearances required from metal structures, cables, power electronics, and other sources of electromagnetic interference?

  • Does enclosure material and plastic significantly affect sensitivity?

  • Are there proven installation guidelines that maximize detection range and reliability in outdoor environments?

We would greatly appreciate any additional application notes, technical references, or practical recommendations from your engineering team.

If these topics would be easier to discuss verbally, we would be happy to arrange a short Microsoft Teams meeting at your convenience.

Thank you for your time and support. We look forward to your feedback.

Kind regards,

Rober

2

You can start with the recommended default configuration. Then tune the noise floor and watchdog threshold experimentally.

3

The hookup guide has a few notes on false positives (example 2’s code has much more info on adjusting the settings)

The specific values for your use-case will need to be determined experimentally (as noted in the above post). As for how the device interpolates the signals into discrete values consult the datasheet

4

Have you checked the manufacturer of the IC for more details? Some of your questions are answered in their site, and some are proprietary to their specific algorithms.

5

Thank you all for your replies and recommendations. I’m trying to contact the IC manufacturer, but am still waiting for a reply from them.