Raspberry Pi 2/3 Weather Sensor Shield - Review

Table of contents

RoadTest: Raspberry Pi 2/3 Weather Sensor Shield

Author: ninjatrent

Creation date: 29 Dec 2017

Evaluation Type: Development Boards & Tools

Did you receive all parts the manufacturer stated would be included in the package?: True

What other parts do you consider comparable to this product?: Raspberry Pi Sense HAT , Pimoroni EnviroHAT

What were the biggest problems encountered?: Thermal interference to the sensor readings from the Pi 3's BCM2837 Processor. Limits access to unused GPIO pins.

Detailed Review:

DPP904R000 - MEAS  PI  WEATHER SENSOR SHIELD BY TE CONNECTIVITY

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

    The  MEAS  Pi  weather  shield  provides  the  necessary  hardware  to interface  the  HTU21D  digital  relative  humidity  sensor;  MS5637  digital barometric  pressure  sensor;  temperature  system  sensor  (TSYS)01 digital  temperature  sensor;  TSD305-1C55  digital  thermopile  sensor  to any  system  that  utilizes  Raspberry  Pi  compatible  expansion  ports configurable  for I2C  communication.  The  HTU21D sensor  is  a  self-contained  humidity  and  temperature sensor that  is  fully  calibrated  during  manufacturing.  The  sensor can operate  from  1.5V to  3.6V,  has  selectable  resolution,  low  battery detection,  and  checksum  capability.  The  HTU21D has  a  low  power stand-by  mode  for  power-sensitive  applications. The  MS5637  sensor is  a  self-contained  pressure  and  temperature sensor that  is  fully  calibrated  during  manufacturing.  The  sensor can operate  from  1.5V to  3.6V.  The  sensor  module  includes  a  high-linearity pressure  sensor  and  an  ultra-low  power 24-bits  ΔΣ  ADC  with  internal factory-calibrated  coefficients. The  temperature  system  sensor  -TSYS-01  series  is  a  self-contained temperature  sensor that  is  fully  calibrated  during  manufacturing.  The sensor  can  operate  from  2.2V  to  3.6V.  The  TSYS01  has  a  low  power stand-by  mode  for  power-sensitive  applications.  The  TSD305-1C55  is  a  contactless  temperature  measurement  system located  in  a  TO5  package.  The  TSD includes  an  infrared  sensor (thermopile) and  a  sensor  signal  conditioner.

Specifications

HTU21D - Digital  Humidity  Sensor

http://www.te.com/usa-en/product-CAT-HSC0004.html

•  Measures  relative  humidity  from  0%  to  100%

•  Measures  temperature  from  -40°C to  125°C

•  I2C communication

•  Fully  calibrated

•  Fast  response  time

•  Selectable  resolution  8/12-bits  resolution  for humidity;  11/14-bits  resolution  for temperature)

•  Very  low  power consumption

MS5637 - Digital Pressure Sensor

http://www.te.com/usa-en/product-CAT-BLPS0037.html

•  Measures  pressure  from  300  mbar to  1200  mbar

•  Measures  temperature  from  -40°C to  125°C

•  I2C communication

•  Fully  calibrated

•  Fast  response  time

•  Very  low  power consumption 

TSYS01 - Digital Temperature Sensor

http://www.te.com/usa-en/product-G-NICO-018.html

•  Measures  temperature  from  -40°C to  125°C

•  I2C communication

•  Fully  calibrated

•  Fast  response  time

•  Very  low  power consumption

•  24/16-bits  resolution  for temperature

TSD305-1C55 - Digital Infrared Thermopile  Sensor

http://www.te.com/usa-en/product-G-TPMO-101.html

•  Measures  temperature  from  0°C to  100°C

•  I2C communication

•  Contactless  temperature  measurement

•  Fully  calibrated

•  Up  to  ±1°C accuracy

•  Operating  Temperature  Range:  -10°C … +85°C

•  Low current  consumption

Performance

•  0% to  100%  relative  humidity  range  (HTU21D sensor)

•  Operating  pressure  range:  300  to  1200  mbar  (MS5637  sensor)

•  Measures  temperature  from  -40°C to  125°C, accuracy  from  0.1°C to  0.5°C  (TSYS0101  sensor)

•  Contactless  temperature  measurement  from  0°C  to  100°C  (TSD305-1C55)

Testing

This Weather  Sensor  Shield  has been personally  tested  and  confirmed  as compatible  with  the  Raspberry  Pi  3  and the  Raspberry  Pi  Zero  Wireless.

I  have  tested  this shield directly  attached  to  the  Pi 3’s GPIO Connector,

attached  to  a Pimoroni BLACK HAT HACK3R GPIO Breakout Board with ribbon  cable,

and directly  attached  to  a Pi Zero  W.

Getting Started

The most recent Raspbian Stretch Lite and Desktop is found at the Raspberry Pi Foundation's website.

https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

The  Python  Framework  and example  source  code  provided  by  TE Connectivity  on the  corresponding  github  page is very  helpful  for getting  started  with  this  Weather  Sensor  Shield.

https://github.com/TEConnectivity/piweathershield-python

git clone https://github.com/TEConnectivity/piweathershield-python

  sudo i2cdetect -y 1

python setup.py install

IBM Bluemix

IBM Bluemix recipe available at

https://developer.ibm.com/recipes/tutorials/connect-te-connectivity-digital-sensors-to-cloud/

With  this Shield  connected  directly  to  the  Pi 3, the  sensor  readings  are affected by heat generated by the  BCM2837 processor. This  can be remedied with the  use of a GPIO  ribbon  cable and heatsink. With  the  use of  the  ribbon  cable, sensor  readings are very  accurate.

sudo python example.py

Notice the Object Temperature matches the temp reading of the TSD305 Infrared Thermopile Sensor.

This is because there is nothing in range of the sensor. When I place my hand in front of this sensor,

the reading is very consistent with the known average temperature of the human body.

This Weather Shield is compatible with the Pi Zero  Wireless, and  there is less thermal interference to the  sensor  readings.

This Weather Sensor Shield is confirmed to work with the Raspberry Pi Zero Version 1.3.

Attached to the bottom of the Pi Zero Ver. 1.3 is a Zero4U - 4 Port USB Hub with a TP Link USB WiFi Module.

There is a strip of 3M Dual Lock Command Adhesive on the bottom for modular attachment.

The  Pi Zero W with the BCM2835  processor seems to  be  an ideal  candidate for this  Shield.

This  TSD305-1C55 infrared  thermopile  sensor  is a very  interesting  sensor  to  find  on a Raspberry  Pi  Shield. It is  the key feature that  attracted  me to  this  product.

In order to determine the accuracy of this sensor, a block of solid ice water was placed in front of the thermopile and a few temp readings were captured. The range of this sensor is 0°C to 100°C.

Freshwater  freezes at a temperature of  0°C or 32°F and boils at a temperature  of 100°C or 212°F.

With  the  thermopile  sensor  aimed  at the ice block, readings were found  to  be  consistent  with  the  known  freezing  temp of water (+/- a few degrees).

Notice the TSD305 is sensing an Object Temperature of 0.3°C  or 32.54°F. Cool!

Final Remarks

The DPP904R000 - MEAS  Pi  Weather Sensor Shield by TE Connectivity is a excellent collection of precision sensors on a Raspberry Pi HAT.

With the Python code and IBM Bluemix code provided by the supplier, it is very easy to get started with this Sensor Shield.

I am impressed with the quality of manufacture.

Each sensor is labeled with an easy to read, silkscreen font.

The TSD305 - Contactless Infrared Thermopile Sensor is a great feature, bringing new functionality and innovation to the Raspberry Pi.

This Weather Sensor Shield has been tested and confirmed to be compatible with the Raspberry Pi 3, Pi Zero Wireless, and Pi Zero Version 1.3.

The BCM2837 processor of the Pi 3 can generate heat that might affect sensor readings. Use of a heatsink or means of extending the GPIO connections with a GPIO Ribbon Cable is recommended.

Suggestions for future versions of this Weather Sensor Shield.

-  Addition of pinouts for the Pi's GPIO not used by the Shield.

- Daylight and UV Sensors

- Analog pinouts

- Version in Raspberry Pi Zero form factor.

Thank you for your time in reading this Element 14 Road Test Review.

And thanks to everyone at Element 14 and TE Connectivity for allowing me the privilege of test driving this product.