SwitchDoc Labs WeatherSense Reference guide

Version 1.1 June 2021
WeatherSense
Solar Powered AfterShock Earthquake Sensor
Assembly and Test Manual
June 2021
Version 1.1

Version 1.1 June 2021
Table of Contents
Cautions when building and using WeatherSense Sensors ............................................................................... 2
Errata ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2
What is The WeatherSense Solar Powered AfterShock Earthquake Detector Sensor? ................................ 6
Before You Build Your WeatherSense AfterShock System .............................................................................. 8
Step by Step Assembly and Parts List ................................................................................................................ 9
What are we doing here? .................................................................................................................................. 9
Parts List ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
Parts you need to buy separately from the kit .............................................................................................. 14
What else do you need for Assembly and Weatherproofing? ..................................................................... 15
How to select a LiPo Battery .......................................................................................................................... 15
Step by Step Assembly ........................................................................................................................................ 16
Initial Testing ................................................................................................................................................... 23
Testing WeatherSense AfterShock .................................................................................................................... 24
What does the JSON from the WeatherSense AfterShock mean? ............................................................. 26
Final WeatherProofing ....................................................................................................................................... 28
Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................................................ 29
Cautions when building and using WeatherSense Sensors
1) Keep all water away from the electronics and power supply at all times!
2) This is not a toy! Keep it out of reach of young children and pets.
3) SwitchDoc Labs assumes no liabilities in the use of this kit, beyond the refund of the purchase price.
Errata

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What is The WeatherSense Solar Powered AfterShock Earthquake Detector Sensor?
Easy to build. Easy to learn about the IoT (Internet of Things) and the Raspberry Pi.
The heart of the new WeatherSense Sensor is the our new 433MHz MiniProPlus CPU board in working in
conjunction with the SwitchDoc Labs AfterShock Earthquake Detector Board.

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The WeatherSense AfterShock kit is so simple that even middle school children can build it with just a little
adult help for configuration and installation.

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Full Open Source Arduino IDE compatible C Software that you can Modify and the open source Python3
software for the Raspberry Pi.
We provide the Python3 software (for the Raspberry Pi) and C for the WeatherSense AfterShock Earthquake
Detector. All open source with the kit. The Pure Python software can be modified to add new sensors, support
new cloud software and connect up to your own projects and software.
Before You Build Your WeatherSense AfterShock System
You should build and test your WeatherSense AfterShock system as BEFORE you put it in the optional 3D
Printed case. The WeatherSense AfterShock Assembly and Test manual will tell you how to do that. Get it
working first, then put it in the case. Believe us, it is always easier to debug the system before you close it up
in the case! All manuals are available on the WeatherSense AfterShock Product page on shop.switchdoc.com.

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Step by Step Assembly and Parts List
Cautions: Keep your static charge to a minimum during your assembly and operation. Touch metal before
handling parts. Avoid shuffling your feet. Before starting assembly, layout all the parts above and familiarize
yourself with the various parts.
What are we doing here?
We are assembling and weatherproof the WeatherSense AfterShock System.
In this manual, we are going to assemble the WeatherSense AfterShock system and test all the functions.
Parts List
Part A
SwitchDoc Labs Grove Mini Pro Plus
Part B
Short USB A to Micro USB

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Part C
433MHz Transmitter with Antenna
Part D
AfterShock Earthquake Detection Board

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Part E
330mA 6V Solar Panel
Part F
SunAirPlus2 Solar Power Data Collector
and Controller
Part G
3.7V LiPo Battery (Not included)
Part H
Three (3) 20cm Grove Cables

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Part I
Box Bottom
Part J
Box Top
Part K
Air Quality Housing (Not used)

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Part M
Box Plug
Part N (Combined with Part M in newer
Kits)
Joiner
Part O
Bent Joiner
Part P
Saucer Lightning Housing Top (Not
used)

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Parts you need to buy separately from the kit
• 3.7V LiPo Battery
• Raspberry Pi
Part Q
Saucer Lightning Housing Bottom (Not
used)
Part R
Solar Bracket

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• Compatible SDR Software Defined Radio (For example: https://hpjhlytllzrwf4qn-
24552113.shopifypreview.com/products/software-defined-radio-sdr-and-antenna )
• 32GB SD Card (unless you bought the SD Card from SwitchDoc Labs)
• Power Supply for the Raspberry Pi
What else do you need for Assembly and Weatherproofing?
• 1 – 510mm x 3.6mm screen spline (any hardware store)
• 6 – 6mm M3 screws (Amazon - https://amzn.to/2K200QC)
• 8 – 5mm M3 screws
• 6 – 8mm M3 screws
• 2 – 16mm M3 screws
• 2 – 12mm M3 Screws
• 8 – 5mm M3 Brass Threaded Inserts (Amazon - https://amzn.to/39Rf9iL)
(All this hardware is available as a small hardware package here:
https://shop.switchdoc.com/products/weathersense-Lightning-Lightning-hardware-parts-kit )
1 Package of Duct Seal (for covering holes and screws)
(Amazon - https://amzn.to/33SMkyE
Any Hardware Store)
How to select a LiPo Battery
The WeatherSense AfterShock requires an 3.7V LiPo battery.
How large of a LiPo battery you need depends on how much sun you get and how often you have cloudy
weather. Generally, we would recommend a 6600mAh battery such as https://www.adafruit.com/product/353.
Adafruit has a great selection and you can find good ones on SparkFun.com too.
WARNING: if you get them off of Amazon, check the wiring. Most of them are wired backwards.
Here's a great website showing the problem and how to rewire the batteries if you wish:
https://docs.particle.io/tutorials/learn-more/batteries/

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Step by Step Assembly
You will need to disassemble the unit that you assembled in the WeatherSense AfterShock Assembly and Test
and follow the assembly instructions below.
Step 1: Superglue 4 5mm brass inserts into the bottom box (Part I) as in the picture below. Use a screw to help
you position and glue the inserts into the box. Apply glue to the outside of the inserts then push them into the
hole and gently unscrew the screw. If they are too tight to push in, gently pound the screw (with the insert
attached as below) into the bottom box.

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Step 2: Attach the MiniProPlus (Part A) to the bottom box (Part I) using two 5mm screws as shown below. As
always, tighten, but don’t over tighten the screws as you will strip the plastic threads.
Step3: Take the AfterShock board (Part D) and thread two 8mm M3 screws through the top two holes as
shown.

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Step 5: Attach the AfterShock board (Part D) to the bottom box (Part I) as shown. Don’t overtighten the
screws. If you do, you will strip the plastic threads and have to glue to board into the bottom box (Part I).
Step 6: Take the 433MHz transmitter (Part C) and plug it into the TX header on the MiniProPlus board (Part
A). Make sure you have bent the pins slightly (down-up-down) to ensure that you get a good connection.
Step 7: Take the 20cm Grove Cable (Part H) and plug it into the Grove connector marked J5-I2C on the
MiniProPlus board (Part A). Plug the other end into the AfterShock Board (Part D) in the Grove connector
marked I2C. Take an additional 20cm Grove Cable (Part H) and plug it into the Grove Connector marked J6-
D2/D3 on the Mini Pro Plugs board (Part A). Plug in the other end of the cable into the connector marked
INT1/INT2 on the AfterShock Board (Part D) – cutting the locking clip on the Grove cable if necessary. Make
sure you get this right. Things won’t blow up, but they won’t work if you get these two cables reversed.

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Step 8: Plug another 20cm Grove cable (Part H) into the J7-I2C Grove connector on the MiniProPlus (Part A)
and plug the other end into the SunAirPlus board (Part F) Grove connector.
Step 9: Plug the USB micro to USB Type A cable (Part B) into the MiniProPlus (Part A).

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Step 10: Insert your LiPo Battery (not included – example shown as Part G) into the space provided. You can
use Velcro or double sided tape to secure the battery to the bottom box (Part I).
Step 11: Making sure the SunAirPlus2 switch is in the off position (slide towards the battery connector), plug
in the battery (Part G) to the JST-2 connector marked Battery on the SunAirPlus2 Board (Part F) as shown
below.

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Step 12: Attach the Solar Panel (Part E) JST-2 plug to the JST-2 connector on the SunAirPlus2 (F) board as
shown above.
Step 13: Attach the USB Cable (Part B) to SunAirPlus2 (Part F) as shown above.
Step 14: Attach the SunAirPlus2 board (Part F) to the bottom box (Part I) using two 5mm screws as
shown.Don’t overtighten as they are plastic threads!
Step 15: Check to see that the Box Plug (Part M) fits in the right side hole of the bottom box (Part I). If it
doesn’t, file the Box Plug (Part M) down until it does fit. And it should fit pretty snugly.
Step 16: Screw the Joiner (Part N) into the Box Plug (Part M). Don’t screw it all the way in. Just until it is
snug. Part N and Part M are joined in newer prints.

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Step 17: Take the two 16mm screws and thread them through the lock blocks on the right side of the bottom
box (Part I) as shown. You won’t have the Grove Cable extending through the hole with the AfterShock kit.
Step 18: Take the Solar Bracket (Part R) and screw in the Joiner (Part N) and Box Plug (Part M) assembly.
Again, don’t screw it all in, just until it’s snug and oriented correctly as shown below. The wire channel on the
Box Plug (Part M) should be pointed down while the panel should up be at 45 degrees. You can use a drop of
glue if the threads don’t hold. This forms the Solar Bracket Assembly.

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Step 19: Remove the plastic from the front of the Solar Panel (Part E)
Step 20: Slide the Solar Panel (Part E) into the slots on the Solar Bracket (Part R) with the wires facing down.
If it is too loose, secure with tape or glue.
Step 21: Slide the complete Solar Bracket Assembly into the bottom box (Part I) hole on the left side, making
sure all wires are in the slot and not being pinched by the assembly. Align the holes on both sides of the Box
Plug (Part M) with the lock screws. Tighten the lock screws. Use a wire tie to make the wires neat. You will
not have a Grove cable coming through the box hole with the AfterShock kit.
Initial Testing