SparkFun
Wind Vane
· MPN: SEN-28868
This wind vane is used to indicate the direction from which the wind is blowing. Inside the vane are eight switches, each paired with a unique resistor, allo...
This wind vane is used to indicate the direction from which the wind is blowing. Inside the vane are eight switches, each paired with a unique resistor, allowing a microcontroller to read direction based on the vane’s position.
As the vane rotates, a magnet closes the reed switches. In some positions, two switches may close at once because of their proximity. By adding an external resistor, you can create a voltage divider and measure the output with an analogue-to-digital converter on your microcontroller.
There is no single universal conversion function, as the voltage output depends on the external resistor value you choose. SparkFun recommends treating degree 0 as North for ease of use, and aligning the small direction indicators correctly when installing your weather meters.
This is the same wind vane used with the SparkFun Weather Meter Kit, making it a handy replacement part or component for DIY weather station projects.
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
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Wind Vane Mechanical Drawing
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Supplier page — sparkfun.com
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