Raspberry Pi Solar Weather Station

Instructable’s user PiJuice took on the challenge to make a Raspberry Pi Weather Station which could sustain itself off grid and dispatch weather data with a wireless connection from any location. Sounds challenging right? The maker makes his own Raspberry Pi power system and his own sensing module. How is that?

With AirPi as inspiration, a neat and uncomplicated prototype is assembled by using some basic sensors that sense temperature, humidity, light levels and common gases. Of course, one can always add more sensors and the more sensors you add the more meaningful data type you receive.

Since the Weather Station is off grid, Raspberry Pi+ is used as it consumes relatively less power. EFCom Pro GPRS/GSM module is employed to send the sniffed data. The module can send a text straight to the maker’s cellphone. Handy, right?

This GSM module is built into the circuit once the sensing circuits is constructed. The module will communicate with the Raspberry Pi via serial channel using UART. To take control of the Pi’s serial port it will need to be configuration first. Once it is ensured that the GSM module is working the minicom can be closed as it won’t be needed further in making or service of the project.