Outdoor light sensor in a glas jar.

[white shadow]

Putting the LOLIN Ambient sensor on top of the rig, putting everything inside a flipped glas jar works perfect!

It could be controlled by a standard D1 Mini, but as I had some LOLIN D1 Mini Pro V2.0 laying around I used those in this project. 230 VAC is converted to 5VDC using a AC-DC 110V 120V 220V 230V To 5V 12V Converter Board

I fixed the bracket to the wall, screwing the lid to the bracket, and then filling the holes with silicone to seal the jar. Then putting the rig inside the jar, which has power connectors prepared.

LOLIN Ambient Light Sensor: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32885969140.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.10.633e1802jYkB74
LOLIN D1 Mini Pro V2.0: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32724692514.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.20.633e1802jYkB74
AC-DC 110V 120V 220V 230V To 5V 12V Converter Board: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001651483616.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.114.633e1802jYkB74

Here is the LOLIN D1 Mini, which I could have used 🙂
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32529101036.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.185.633e1802jYkB74

substitutions:
  devicename: lyssensor-ute
  friendly_name: Ambient outdoor sensor
  comment: Ambient outdoor sensor
packages:
  device_base: !include common/d1_mini_esp8266.yaml
captive_portal:
i2c:
  sda: D2
  scl: D1
  scan: False
sensor:
  - platform: bh1750
    name: "Outdoor light"
    address: 0x23
    update_interval: 30s

[rustic bramble]

👍 for wago 😄 You could use a standard cable gland... but I would put electronics inside and connect only light sensor via i2c.

Btw, how hot is inside during a standard summer day where is > 30 C outside? 😄

[white shadow]

It´s rarely > 30 C in Norway 😂

[white shadow]

By "putting electronics inside" you mean keeping only the light sensor in the jar, and all other electronics inside the house?

[rustic bramble]

yup 🙂

[white shadow]

How long could the i2c cable be, then?

[rustic bramble]

I had some sensors in lab connected via 2 m cable. For lowspeed sensors it is ok. But if you need 20 m, then you would need some buffers to drive it, like PCA9605 or P82B715D (will test that in few weeks once boards from oshpark arrive)

or at least but that in a standard waterpoof junction box and then connect that jar with a ~ 30 cm cable

sure, this is nicer - everything in a jar 😄

[wooden kestrel]

I have had great luck with LTC4311 I2C extenders (https://www.adafruit.com/product/4756) I can use I2C sensors over 30 m of outdoor rated CAT6 cable with no issue.

SparkFun also has PCA9615 (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/16988) based extenders that have worked well for me. Those are bit more work to use though, as you need them on both ends of the ethernet cable.

[frigid gust]

I measure UV also, so glass wouldn’t work I guess. Do you have idea for casing? I use plastic containers, but outside they broke in less than a year

[wintry mantle]

I would suggest to just put an LDR outside, 30m of cable is no issue with the typical resistance of the resistor.

There is glass available that allows UV to pass, you probably want to check that with specialty vendors. (We have special glass lid sockets at work to do IR inspection of our ICs.)

[errant abyss]

Here's a similar project.
https://community.home-assistant.io/t/outdoor-lux-sensor/421926?u=mahko_mahko

[frozen vector]

Out of curiosity, what are you using the sensor values for? I always thought that for light-related automations, I could also just run them at a specific time of the day.