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How to Build a personal weather machine

Jun 5, 2008 08:55 PM

Scenic landscape with mountains, trees, and a calm body of water.

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)

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