Weather Station, With A Shake!

About The Project

This project can be completed in under 5 minutes. This tutorial will show you how to build the Weather Station using no tools. The code for this project is simple using Micro:bit's drag-and-drop platform.

Introduction

I built this Weather Station using the Micro:Bit and a couple of ☒CHIPs from XinaBox. It is a very simple and quick build. The XinaBox technology made this project extremely easy to do by eliminating the need for soldering and tools. The Micro:bit interface allows me to program easily. You can easily modify the code to add other data from the Weather Sensor, such as Barometric Pressure and Altitude.

Step 1: Assemble the circuit

• Click the OD01 and SW01 together using a ☒BUS connector (from the XC10 pack).

• Click 2 ☒BUS connectors to the left side of the IM02 then click on the connected SW01 and OD01. Make sure that the ☒CHIPs faces the same way up, so you can see the SW01 name and the IM02 name both facing up.

• Use another ☒BUS connector to connect the MD01 to the PB04. Set aside the connected PB04 and MD01 with 3 ☒BUS connectors and the AA batteries.

• Click the Micro:Bit into the IM02. Make sure the LEDs faces up - same way as the SW01 name and the IM02 name.

• Attach a Micro-USB connection from your computer to the Micro:Bit. Notice the yellow LED on the bottom side turning on.

Step 2: Install package

• Open a browser and go to https://makecode.microbit.org

• Scroll down to "Advanced"

• Then Scroll down to "Add Package"

• Search for "weather" and click on "weather-bit" to add the package

• Repeat points 2 and 3

• Then paste this URL into the search bar : https://github.com/xinabox/pxt-OD01 then click on OD01 to add the package

Step 3: Programming

• Drag and drop code elements until you get something that looks like the image below.

• You can also cheat and click on the "{ } JavaScript" button on the top and simply copy and paste the code into the code section below. Click on "Blocks" again to see the result.

Step 4: Flash and Test

• Click on "Download"

• Drag the downloaded file, typically named: microbit-Untitled.hex, to your Micro:Bit drive, typically name: MICROBIT.

• See the result on the scrolling LED display and OLED screen.

• Place a finger on the sensor to see the temperature go up ... hopefully! If it doesn't retrace your steps until you find the problem and correct it.

• Shake the unit to see if the humidity reading appears as instructed in the code.

Step 5: Complete Weather Station

• Disconnect the micro:bit from the Micro-USB connection.

• Insert the AA batteries into the PB04

• Use the 3 ☒BUS connectors to connect the PB04 and MD01 to the IM02 and SW01 as seen in the picture below.

• Turn the switch on the PB04 on.

• Now your Micro:bit weather station is portable and ready to be controlled via motions you input.