Posted by Brian Albert | tagged: wood, circuitry, internet

Not feelin' today's weather when you look out your window? Then look out this window instead!

Plug this baby into your FiOS-powered computer and simulate the real-time climate of any location in the country -- rain, lightning, fog, sunshine.

Get creative -- got any new weather effects you've figured out how to add to your Personal Weather Machine? We'd love to hear about 'em on the forums!

MATERIALS:

Weather Window
* Submersible fountain pump (for rain)
* 120-volt relay board
* Safety strobe light (for lightning)
* 1/2” diameter copper pipe
* 2 feet of vinyl tubing (1/2” inside diameter)
* Fog mini-diffuser
* Plexiglas
* Silicone glue
* 18"x24" wood case and wood picture frame

Relay Circuit (to control weather changes)
* 8 Solid State Relays (SSRs)
* 10' bulk wire (14 gauge - 5' of white, 5' of black)
* 14-3 wire (we prefer rubber coated)
* Pig Tail (14 gauge)
* Crimp connectors (optional)
* Machine bolts with nuts
* 120V Indicator (optional)
* 5-10 1/2" wire clamps
* 2 4x4 electrical boxes
* 4 outlets
* Project box (to hold SSRs)
* DB-25 Wire
* Internet connection (FiOS recommended)

STEP 1: Construct the elements tank

Use plexiglas and silicone glue to build the tank (also known as the Rainmaker). Cut half-inch copper pipe to length. Use a drill press to make rain holes in your copper pipe.

STEP 2: Connect pipe to pump

Connect the copper pipe to the submersible pump, using vinyl tubing.

STEP 3: Put together the circuit board

The Weather Window Relay Circuit is comprised of an array of power sockets connected to solid state relays. These relays are then connected to a DB-25 cable connected to a computer. This connection acts as a bridge port to a computer’s Ethernet Internet connection. The relays will turn the respective weather elements on or off. Input data via an ethernet connection control the relays. A server side application running on the Internet will trigger the individual relays to turn on and off the different "weather scenarios": rain, lightning, fog and sunshine.

For Techno-Guru Lloyd’s full breakdown of the circuit parts and wiring schematic, click here.

CAUTION: You are building an electrical circuit board that utilizes HIGH and LOW VOLTAGE. Remember, always use caution and common sense when working with electricity and electrical components to prevent injury to yourself or others.

• How 2.0: Always Be Strapped

  Use grounding straps when working with circuitry more

STEP 4: Attach window

Add your elements, then attach the window to the front of the Elements Tank.

STEP 5: Plug in to power and connect to Web

Plug your PWM into 120v power supply.

Next, connect the Personal Weather Machine to the Internet, using an Ethernet cable.

Your Personal Weather Machine responds to XML data feed from Internet weather services such as www.wunderground.com to represent various real-time climatic changes from geographical locations of your choice. Lloyd used an application that serves as a bridge between the XML and the relay circuit. (Here’s an example of the XML code that the PWM application will retrieve from www.wunderground.com.)

Type in an address or zip code, and watch as your PWM visualizes the climate just outside your front door or a half world away!