Raspberry Pi Anemometer: Measuring Wind Speed!

Raspberry Pi wind speed measurement using a DIY anemometer based around an IR reflectance sensor. This ExplainingComputers episode extends the Raspberry Pi weather station project that started in this video: • Raspberry Pi Weather S...
You can download my code and the see the wiring diagram for this project here: www.explaining...
The IR reflectance sensor I used is available from Adafruit here: www.adafruit.c... and from Pimoroni here: shop.pimoroni.... Note that I have no association with these companies.
High impact polystyrene (HIPS) sheet, sometimes branded as “plasticard”, is available on Amazon.com here: amzn.to/3ax2fX8 (affiliate link). In the UK, you will find a wide selection here: www.newmodelle... (no association).
More videos on SBCs and wider computing and related topics can be found at:
/ explainingcomputers
You may also like my ExplainingTheFuture channel at: / explainingthefuture
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:05 Parts & Plan
04:14 Assembly
06:59 Connection & Code
15:28 All Together
17:25 Outside Test
19:45 Next Steps

[@JeffGeerling]

LOVE that you built the actual thing by hand using household parts; truly a project in the Pi Day spirit!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Hi Jeff -- thanks for this! :) Love your channel.

[@dylandowdy3687]

@@ExplainingComputers I enjoy watching both Jeff and explaining pc channels . You guys are awesome!

[@bc-kelley]

Love seeing creators in the comments of other channels! Jeff always seems like a stand up guy.

[@mikehensley78]

Happy pi day everyone

[@TheTechieScientist]

@@ExplainingComputers wow , two of the best Pi creators in one comment , what more could a pi liver ask??

[@wolfcrossing5992]

My wife happen into my office at the end of the segment as Chris was musing about building a monitor for his greenhouse…now, she expects me to watch every Sunday and get the information to build a monitoring station for her greenhouse. Great!

[@SJPretorius000]

This is the reason why I love Sundays.

[@ExplainingComputers]

:)

[@torki7189]

Finally a nerd in KZbin, who can made some thing useful and applicable rather than just showing off.. Bravo 👏👏👏

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks! 😃

[@MVVblog]

No 3d printed parts. YOU ARE MY HERO!

[@ExplainingComputers]

:)

[@ninline2000]

I've always had a desire to build a greenhouse. Now that I'm retired I'm going to finally get to do it. I look forward to seeing your projects in yours.

[@themusesquad8554]

OMG I have the same comput cleaner thingy.. ive order it and wanted the pro one (the black one) and got the white one like you have.. but ive contacted them.. they have notice their mistake and sent me the black one charge free.. very respectful way of doing business.. even if they lose $ they made things right after making a mistake that something i dont see many companies do thous days.

[@wallaceshackleton1889]

I just love the way you designed this project, everything but the sticky backed plastic and the loo roll holders.

[@BeefIngot]

3d printing has really changed my brain. Now, even if something else is faster, 3d printing is such a hammer in my tool box that it just feels too easy to always go that route. Everything is a nail to 3d printing. In this case, it even looks like he probably made it faster than designing then printing would have taken him, yet I still found myself thinking "oou, I could 3d print that!"

[@bayanicustodio3998]

👍🙂 to further the anemometer build, the addition of direction indication, use of an array of reflectance sensor against a disc with BCD encoding for the direction... thanks for the great information. Much easier than a synchro transmitter. Hmmmmm....

[@NicolasChapadosGirard]

The green house project is something I want to do! Hope to see yours!

[@ExplainingComputers]

I had a solenoid valve arrive two days ago . . .

[@firepowerg]

Use it to grow raspberries.

[@tubegor]

This is a wonderful way to celebrate PI Day. I'm looking forward to greenhouse monitoring. Hopefully RPI Pico gets something to do too. 😊

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks. :) I have been shooting a Raspberry Pi Pico video . . . will post here fairly soon.

[@maxout7306]

Well Chris, what can I say? Talk about creating value through craft, electronics and code writing skills, not to mention video production. Very good indeed and a tremendous help to those You-tubers interested. Liked.

[@mikekelly7963]

I've just finished a similar project, using the "Inspeed" 8-pulse anemometer and Rasberry Pi Zero W. I used "wiringpi" library for interrupt handing and "curl" library to send the results to my weather server.

[@storage000]

the latest 3d printers got nothing on Stanley the Knife ! love the video Mr. Barnatt Thank you

[@NewAgeDIY]

Great weekend project Chris. I build something similar to your design a few years ago but I used reed switch and magnet for my sensor. I’m now working with my grandkids on different projects, they love your videos. Take care & we will see you next weekend.

[@PixelCraftAnimationStudio]

Wow, You are a Great IT Engineer

[@tpobrienjr]

Most excellent! Stanley was happy to be of service.

[@chuckmuckamuck8001]

Another great project video, thanks!. Also I note the use the word "biro" for ballpoint pen; the US and UK are separated by a common language.

[@ashtonhaynes1573]

Happy Pi Day! Shame that there's not a new Pi but I shouldn't have expected one until next year.

[@chriholt]

Brilliant project Chris! I've had a personal weather station online since 2007, and I find it a very fun hobby!

[@KowboyUSA]

With online retailers serving the world we don't usually build things with our own hands so much like we once did. So cool project 👍

[@InclusiveDriving]

Brilliant. I'm late to the show here, but as a fan of KZbinr Robert Murray Smith, I'd have to recommend improving the design by using skater bearings on the biro axle!

[@alliejr]

Excellent!!! But the animated anemometer is spinning backwards <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="220">3:40</a> 🤣

[@ExplainingComputers]

I know, I've just realized. I am kicking myself. I spent so long on this video, and such a basic mistake! But this is the problem with a weekly schedule -- everything is done so quickly . . .

[@peterbrown6224]

@AstroCat We gave you Imperial measurements, and this is the thanks we get ;-)

[@alliejr]

@@ExplainingComputers Brilliant project and video. It’s all good and all part of the charm! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@johnweller5491]

@AstroCat Not from choice! It was forced on us by the government. :-)

[@3ATGL]

Or maybe it is experiencing negative wind ? ;^)

[@Duewester]

Mr Barnatt, I get just a tad smarter every Sunday because of you.

[@kevincaulkett9358]

Thanks again Chris for a wonderful enlightening video. You cobble things together faster than Wallace and Grommit! I gave my young niece my old RPI3 and she was immediately enthralled with it, just like I was in my bygone days with the Timex-Sinclair. In fact I even challenged her to follow your build and she is now asking how she can make a "waterproof bearing " for the rotor.......If she comes up with a good idea, I promised to get her the RPI400. It is so refreshing to see her off the social media and using the creativity you have inspired it her!!! she will soon be explaining all your videos to me in "laymans layman" terms I am sure :)

[@ExplainingComputers]

This is all great to hear -- and what both KZbin and the Raspberry Pi should be all about! I wish your niece well in her endeavours. :)

[@samaitcheson7057]

Brilliant Chris! Once again, a great example of real world applied computing. Fascinated to see what you are going to develop for your greenhouse 😁

[@etienne6641]

So inspiring! Can't wait to see the rain meter now 🌧️

[@mrroobarb]

Great stuff - good luck with the greenhouse, you've got your work cut out there. Loving your videos and I hope to view one verrrrry soon

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks 👍

[@martinsmith5028]

Another great true home project. If you ever get the time in your schedule, I'd love to have a home streaming Raspberry Pi device. I built the Pi NAS with OMV 5 and a 2TB SSD and I'd like to convert it to a streaming device, preferably with safe port forwarding so I can access it when babysitting away from home. Have fun!

[@lesliedeana5142]

Wishing everyone a Happy PI Day!!!

[@traviseddy6447]

Hi friend

[@tristanlouthrobins]

Oh Chris, these videos are absolutely brilliant. I can't wait to start fiddling about with my Pi (holidays pending..) So much inspiration radiating from your good work here. *seven thumbs up*

[@danlscan]

Thanks. Reminds me of building a Heath Kit with my friend such a long time ago.

[@ZillionPrey]

The timing of the video couldn't be better. I was considering upgrading my smart home with a diy wind speed sensor. Thanks!

[@resrussia]

This a very cool project. This something I might do for my wife who always giving an update on the weather conditions. I think a two useful additions would be a GUI interface and an internet feed of from the weather service. I need finish a up a project using the raspberry pi pico for a friend of mine.

[@GordonjSmith1]

What an excellent 'build your own' project.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Many thanks!

[@RupertBruce]

Wow - I was just searching for 'anemometer, raspberry pi' in google and you posted this 7 hrs ago! 😎 My project is AI controlled drones so wind speed along the circuit is a handy feature!

[@Arsenico13]

Very great simple build and thanks for all the explanations

[@DJWilliamShaw]

My current pi project is an automated greenhouse with web interface. Cant wait to see what you do

[@plica06]

I hooked up a Temp and Humidity sensor to my Pi and can view a graph of the data in a webpage. Took me months to get it working !

[@klaxoncow]

Ah, but a good thing with coding is that you'll find that if you tried to do it again, then you'd get it all done way faster. Donald Knuth - the god of programmers, who we always quote - has it that all good code gets written multiple times. The first time is totally about learning. Working out what the hell you're even doing. Then the second time, you have the understanding to code it well. And then the third time is where you start getting clever - optimising it - so it's now not just "code that works", but "good solid code that really works exceedingly well". Bill Gates was also known to have a similar rule: "third time's the charm". The notion that all software is just a bit crap until its third version. Because it just takes that long for the coders to finally, properly, understand what they're doing. (Indeed, I've always wondered if the fact that Valve software can, famously, never count to three - Half-life, Half-life 2 but no Half-life 3; Portal, Portal 2 but no Portal 3 and so on - is due to the fact that Gabe Newell used to work for Microsoft, before he started Valve, and this is his way of sending a message to his old boss, Bill, that he fundamentally disagrees.)

[@rogerkoh1979]

A nice addon to the weather sensor to PI. Looking forward to more.

[@ahmad-murery]

Nice useful project, it brings back my memories to an old project on MSX1 using a photoresistor connected to the joystick port Thanks

[@lillebrornmb]

I just buy my first Pi and yours videos are so good.

[@MrBobWareham]

Very nice wind speed sensor that must be the fastest pen in the universe and thank you for explaining the code it's always nice to have code explained for people like me that find it hard to understand code I would have thought cutting the balls in half was the hardest part?

[@ExplainingComputers]

The ball cutting was easier than I imagined it would be -- achieved with nail scissors.

[@markhurrell8830]

Great addition, nice one Christopher. It was your original video featuring the BME280 that inspired me to make my own monitoring network. I have 3 Pi Zero monitoring setups (garage, office and garden) that use BME280 and VEML7700 sensors with the internal setups coupled with an SSD1306 OLED. All stations cache locally to a database and then sync to a master database on which Grafana is used for visual output/graphing. I'm in the process of adding a touch screen to my lighting system on which this information is received via MQTT messaging. I'm soon to add a rain sensor to my setup - but this too would be great addition. Your videos are so inspiring - keep up the great work!

[@AndrewAHayes]

I have been using 3D printed bearings for various projects quite lately and they are so useful, I believe that their usage could be employed in this project for the pen as long term usage without a bearing will cause wear on the pen.

[@AndrewAHayes]

@AstroCat They work really well

[@franciscalderbank8623]

Sunday afternoon and I've just finished some C programming tutorials (getting a little bored) and this little gem pops up on my subscribed list. This really grabbed my attention the simplicity of the build and the great presentation of the video make this a project I will be doing soon. Thanks Chris.

[@traviseddy6447]

Hi friend

[@williamhorton9763]

The only good thing about Daylight Saving Time is I'm on time for the latest EC videos.

[@daveseddon5227]

That's all very well for you but I'm in the UK and DST doesn't happen for another 2 weeks! 🤣🕑

[@plica06]

@William Horton It's kinda nice to have an extra hour of light in the evening too.

[@saintuk70]

And here is me putting together a weather, river, and footfall sensor dash :) Really like the use of sensors and IoT especially when within the context of learning and community driven data.

[@ExplainingComputers]

:)

[@soulhunter0]

I'm really enjoying these building projects and learning how to make use of something i've been curious about for a long time but could never realy get myself to a point where i could start. Thanks for teaching us!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Great to hear!

[@NomadicSage]

You did it again, another amazing video that is not only fun but educational as well.

[@royireland1127]

Thanks for this. I have a weather station that used a now defunct web server for interpreting the sensor data, so the thing is useless as is. I will attempt to modify it, using your ideas together with the existing sensors (wind, precip., humidity and pressure). It should be a fun project, and may restore the equipment to functionality.

[@slimplynth]

Looking forward to your next update on the greenhouse controller, it reminded me that someone on Radio 4 (GQT) said they did a thesis on watering plants because his dad always said that it's better to leave your watering hose inside the greenhouse to heat the water inside.. apparently the warm water promotes plant growth to the point where it equates to adding 6-8 weeks to the growing season 😁 sorry, I don't know why I remember these things or why I find them interesting..

[@BeOurBee]

I recognize that untwisted "quad" phone cabling coming from your sensor. Nice reuse of cables! I used to work as an ISP technician, and it was sometimes my job to get fast ethernet through an older apartment without the ability to pull new wiring, so abuse of the existing quad wiring in the walls to push 100Mbps Ethernet was a weekly occurrence. I'm sure it wasn't ideal, but sometimes a job must be done with less than ideal constraints. It seemed to transmit HD video streams without noticeable issues, anyway.

[@williamwatson1532]

I took over a building which had Systemax cabling in it (ie pre CAT type) , originally designed for 1mbit I suspect. I got 1Gbit down it. Mind you, it was beautifully terminated at each end.

[@gramstalex]

You actually did it! Nice job Christopher!

[@merlinathrawes6191]

Only thing missing was double sided sticky tape. Otherwise, it was like watching something from my 70's childhood. Fair brings a tear to the old, tired eyes. Had great time saying t***s at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="264">4:24</a>. Made my Sunday.

[@ExplainingComputers]

:)

[@deechvogt1589]

Thanks for the wonderful Pi Day video. Keep up the around the house Pi projects. Very practical and yet very educational application of Pi technology. Cheers and stay well!

[@RollerCoasterLineProductions]

Seriously, you MUST be telepathic. Been looking at weather stations.

[@Hector-nx4js]

Am i the only one who couldn't care less about the content of the video, but nevertheless finds himself watching due to how relaxing Christopher's presentation skills are?

[@hirundine44]

Jeez an' all I do when going out... just wet my index finger and hold it up. While not precise, surprisingly accurate for me... overall love this and other projects! All I'm really looking for, is a how-to on a pair of security cameras.

[@RichSad45]

A great video. Here in the US we call that "Macgyver"ing. Macgyver is a fictional special agent who can build things with just common parts. Nice job.

[@ExplainingComputers]

I remember MacGyver -- the series was big in the UK. :)

[@traviseddy6447]

Hi friend

[@jackspence2645]

Thank you so much! I asked you for this on the first video. I have always wanted to build my own weather station!

[@karllaun2427]

Very instructional. I need to get up to speed on Pi and Python. Doing mostly Arduino for the past years. Automation in plant growing has always been an interest. Looking forward to more.

[@amazingshadowin9796]

thanks you so much. you save our project. we were stuck since 2 week

[@ExplainingComputers]

Glad I could help.

[@jaimecosta2966]

Excelente vídeo and a fantastic project... Wish you well and stay safe

[@sanjaybhatikar]

Another wonderful video with Raspberry Pi and the magic of film-making :)

[@burghmuir]

Great video. I like it when something useful is created from odds and ends. I would like to see this project running on a Pico. Low power and could be battery operated. Great idea. Something to build with this kids.

[@sphericalmobius]

Cheers to Explaining Computers for another great pi tutorial. Excellent work in design. Anemometers can be quite expensive.

[@benrawner5218]

Great video again. Cant wait to see your technologically advanced greenhouse.

[@cdl0]

This is an excellent project. One "good practice" coding tip is to calculate pi and save the number for subsequent use, rather than use a constant. The formula is, pi = 4.0*arctan(1.0). The advantage of this method is that the value is given to the same numerical accuracy as is available on the computer. Moreover, this is also "good practice" in the sense that it never does harm to be consistent in coding, but may sometimes do some good. Obviously, this is not important in the present application; however, it is needed for high-precision calculations.

[@ExplainingComputers]

As you say, good practice if precision is required. :)

[@SingletonGuy]

Inspiring project! Eager to try it out on my Raspberry Pi. Hello from Mauritius.

[@fredhair]

Picked a perfect time for it in the UK.. not sure where you are but here on the east coast (Great Yarmouth) the wind has been howling for days now.

[@Colin_Ames]

Excellent. I would never have considered using a Biro as a spindle, such a great idea. Keep up the good work Chris.

[@SBCBears]

Looking forward to your greenhouse projects.

[@S-I-T]

Yay favourite time of the week again

[@ExplainingComputers]

Greetings Stephen. :)

[@zackaboy1236]

I love the new animations Chris!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks.

[@thedroneguy2024]

Hey Chris. Love the video, love that you are getting into Weather Data on the raspberry Pi!.

[@k5at]

a much simpler anemometer is to use a hobby motor, the output of which is fed into an adjustable pot read by an A/D converter. to calibrate is to hold it out the window of your car and adjust the pot so as to match the speed of your car. Enjoyed your video!

[@richards7909]

This is great. It’s just pure genius and simplicity rolled into one. I like the idea of the phone cable. Perhaps you could wire up sockets on the Pi and just plug the none sensor end in to that to keep it tidy/plug and play sorta thing?

[@perrymcclusky4695]

Fascinating results! Time and hard work pays off once again. You have my congratulations and admiration. Looking forward to your next video.

[@PeterJasper]

Fantastic educational project! All you need now is to add a rainfall sensor and you can (with appropriate code) link it to the UK Met Office (WOW - Weather Observation Website) ...

[@BobPhleming]

Hi Chris, That's a nice practical application of things that can be done with the Pi, particularly the use of the phone cable. I'm not sure what ideas you have for the greenhouse, or how far you want to go with it, but I have a couple of ideas that you may be interested in. One application I have been thinking about for our allotment greenhouse is to make a system whereby you can use a temperature sensor to open and close a window with a motor to regulate the temperature in the greenhouse, ideal for us tomato growers! Another idea I have would be to use a moisture sensor in the soil to control an automatic watering system. Both these ideas would need a certain amount of hardware and obviously code for them to run efficiently and be reliable, however if this was achieved it would be a great system to have in place for those times when I can't visit the allotment! Cheers for the video!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks for this. Your second idea -- moisture sensor and a watering system -- are what I will be doing first. Before that I'll be posting a video on running a Pi on batteries (that can power the Pi and also the servo valve). Stay tuned!

[@LMacNeill]

Using Pi to calculate airspeed on a Pi. And on Pi Day, no less!! I have a feeling you planned this... ;-)

[@boblowes]

I would love to see a Raspberry Pi cultivation system.

[@ahuman6825]

Or weed!

[@rikprince8414]

This was brilliant!! Well done, Sir!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thank you kindly!

[@spikekent]

Outstanding Chris. I love Pi projects.

[@johandeklein5253]

Awesome video David, just love finding good functionality for single board computers. Happy Pie day. (March14)

[@piercebros]

Simply brilliant! I love this channel oh so much.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Wow, thank you!

[@gravestoner2488]

Great video, unique and interesting. Plus I have some of these ir sensors i salvaged from old printers that use them for distance measuring. Now I understand them more. Thank you :D Not gonna lie during your schematic animation of the turbine spinning, it really bothered me that it was spinning backwards lmao.

[@ExplainingComputers]

The bacwards spinning now bothers me too! Don't know how I missed that. Making 52 of these a year means production is always done in haste.

[@leonidasapostolidis4898]

a really interesting video from our favourite YouYube channel

[@ExplainingComputers]

:)

[@ZookeeperJohnG]

Thanks so much for sharing your code, with the clues in your video, I finally have the code on my 8266 board working like yours.

[@pranavr1099]

Awesome video as usual! I have a couple of project ideas hopefully you'll cover it: DonkeyCar Self-Driving car using Raspberry Pi and another project is RTLSDR to get satellite images using Raspberry Pi

[@chandlerlabs2478]

Thank you for this video. I like your teaching method and follow your code "flow" logic. I'm looking forward to this project and excited to "play with code" again. I will be sure to check out your other videos as well. Good job!

[@luisdiassilva]

Wonderfull. The way you program in python makes it look so easy.Waitinf for the next projects.

[@R.-.]

Calculating the real time wind speed every rotation and plotting a live graph would make this more fun to play with :-)

[@ExplainingComputers]

Yes, a definite possibility.

[@andrewmcclaren8780]

Excellent project - especially for lockdown!

[@alerey4363]

Excellent class about putting to practical use geometric and physics concepts altogether with electronics and programming! This is so much needed for kids nowadays, they need to be inspired to get interested in learning the important stuff, double thumbs up!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Many thanks!

[@sirmeowcelot]

Very cool project.and thanks again for another contribution to the education.

[@rdhunkins]

Very creative design! Probably not hugely durable, but really cool. Next: Wind direction, rainfall amount, rainfall rate, dewpoint?

[@allandacasin9041]

Excellent as always. I'm missing your Explaining The Future channel though.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Me too! I do hope to pick it up again later in 2021, when other things settle down in my life.