Lightning Storm Detector and Alert System using AS3935 and ESP32

Lightning kills and starts fires, and the most useful warning is simply knowing a storm is approaching while it is still kilometres away. The AS3935 is a remarkable little chip: a tuned lightning detector that listens for the specific electromagnetic signature of a strike, rejects man-made noise, and estimates the distance to the storm front in kilometres. This project puts it on a student-built prototype with an ESP32: the sensor's strike and distance data drive a three-LED distance display (near, approaching, distant), a buzzer for close strikes, and a 20x4 LCD that announces the storm distance plainly. The report is honest about the physics — the distance is a statistical estimate, not a measurement, and the system complements rather than replaces official weather warnings — which makes for a stronger viva than an overclaimed gadget.

1. The AS3935 with its tuned coil antenna continuously listens for lightning electromagnetic signatures via SPI to the ESP32.
2. On a validated strike event, the chip reports the strike energy and its statistical distance estimate to the storm front.
3. Firmware maps the distance into three bands: distant (green LED), approaching (yellow LED), near (red LED + buzzer).
4. The LCD updates with the storm distance and alert text each time a strike is registered.
5. The AS3935's disturber-rejection registers are configured per the tuning guide to suppress man-made switching noise.
6. An external whip antenna extends reception range; the tuning procedure verifies the resonant setup on the student's build.

Tech stack:

• ESP32 DevKit v1 (Arduino/C++ firmware)
• AS3935 lightning detector module (SPI)
• Tuned coil antenna + whip antenna
• 5 V buzzer module
• Red/yellow/green indicator LEDs
• 20x4 character LCD

• [AS3935 lightning sensing] A dedicated lightning-detector chip with a tuned coil antenna captures strike electromagnetic pulses and reports strike energy and estimated distance.
• [Storm distance estimation] The sensor's front-distance algorithm reports the storm front in kilometres, shown live on the LCD.
• [Three-band LED alert] Red, yellow and green LEDs map to near, approaching and distant storm bands for at-a-glance awareness.
• [Buzzer alert] A 5 V buzzer sounds on close strikes, with the alert threshold configurable in firmware.
• [Live LCD storm display] The 20x4 LCD announces storm distance and alert state in plain language.
• [Disturber rejection] The AS3935's man-made noise rejection is configured and documented, with the report explaining false-positive sources honestly.
• [Antenna setup guide] Coil-antenna tuning and placement guidance so the student's build actually receives strikes instead of noise.

• Working detector prototype (ESP32, AS3935 module, antennas, buzzer, LEDs, 20x4 LCD)
• Arduino firmware with distance bands and alert logic
• Antenna tuning and placement guide
• Wiring diagram and connection list
• Disturber-rejection configuration notes
• Project report PDF, PPT presentation and viva Q&A document

• Storm distance is a statistical estimate from strike energy, not a measurement — the report explains the algorithm's limits openly.
• The detector needs real storms to demonstrate fully; the report includes a buzzer/LED self-test mode and a simulated-strike test procedure for dry-season demos.
• Man-made electrical noise can cause false positives despite disturber rejection; antenna placement per the guide matters.
• This is an educational alert aid, NOT a substitute for official meteorological warnings or a certified lightning-safety system.
• Indoor operation attenuates reception; the guide covers outdoor placement for best results.