The AAG Cloudwatcher is a complete weather detection system and comprises:
A box with a special exterior finish that includes 4 sensors that are shown in the accompanying AAG Cloudwatcher Software through their corresponding graphs. They allow a thorough and easily understandable measurement of atmospheric conditions: PLEASE NOTE! The photos of the Cloudwatcher give the impression of poor finish around the sensors. This is misleading. These sensors are heavily protected with sealants to ensure long life and consistant operation is all weather conditions
Cloud sensor
Rain sensor
Light sensor
Temperature sensor
and an optional Anemometer for wind speed.
Supplied with the Cloudwatcher is a 10m weatherproof cable with IP68 connector. This is used to connect the AAG Cloudwatcher to your PC (or standalone 'Solo' Cloudwatcher computer), 12V/1A Power source and a relay.
The Cloudwatcher software allows you to setup your own parameters for what constitutes an unsafe condition. When this condition is met the Cloudwatcher software will notify relevant imaging applications with safety monitors. These in turn will perform required safety actions. The standalone Solo Cloudwatcher computer allows monitoring of the Cloudwatcher without requiring the main PC to be turned on. However when it is, the PC can monitor the Cloudwatcher as if the software were running on it natively. A further notification of unsafe conditions comes with the Cloudwatchers relay output which is closed when the unsafe condition is met. If this is connected to devices such as a Lunatico Dragonfly or Talon Observatory system, various fucntions can be carried out. The Dragonfly can activate other relays based on the signal (it could for instance loop through to the Talon) and also run scripts to perform functions within applications such as warming up a CCD camera before shutting it down.
For any kind of unattended imaging whether it is an observatory at the end of your garden or a remote system at a place like E-Eye, the Cloudwatcher is an essential piece of equipment.
The AAG Cloudwatcher is offered in a number of configurations. It can be purchased on its own as here and used directly with a PC. Note this will require the PC to have a D-9 connector based COM port (or suitable adapter to USB). It can be combined with the optional Anenometer for adding wind speed data. These devices can combined on a single mounting bracket that can be fixed to either a wall or 1.25"-1.5" mast. Finally the system can be connected to the Solo standalone Cloudwatcher PC for autonomous operation without the need to keep the main system PC running.