Sensors: SI1145 problem

[WirthmU]

I now have a problem with the SI1145 light sensor device:

(indi-allsky) pi@meteotux:~/indi-allsky $ ./misc/sensor_test.py
[WARNING]: Initializing [Sensor A] TSL2561 I2C light sensor device @ 0x29
[WARNING]: Initializing [Sensor B] SI1145 I2C light sensor device @ 0x60
[WARNING]: Initializing [Sensor C] MLX90615 I2C temperature device @ 0x5b
[WARNING]: Initializing [Sensor D] Ecowitt API Sensor
[WARNING]: No sensor E - Initializing sensor simulator
[WARNING]: No sensor F - Initializing sensor simulator
[ERROR]: SensorReadException: float() argument must be a string or a real number, not 'NoneType'
[ERROR]: SensorReadException: SI1145 Error: 0x8d
[INFO]: [Sensor C] MLX90615 - ambient temp: 56.0c, object temp: 50.6c
[INFO]: Sensor 2: {'data': (55.99000000000001, 50.63000000000005)}
[INFO]: [Sensor D] Ecowitt API - temp: 56.7f, feels like: 56.7f humidity: 59%
[INFO]: Sensor 3: {'dew_point': 5.851673756894119, 'frost_point': 4.082120677861212, 'heat_index': 30.3887777064444, 'wind_degrees': 61.0, 'data': (13.722222222222223, 13.722222222222223, 59.0, 1025.0599502999999, 3.084576, 3.3975039999999996, 0.0, 355.9, 3.0, 5.833333333333333)}
[INFO]: Sensor 4: {'data': ()}
[INFO]: Sensor 5: {'data': ()}

It used to work before.

[aaronwmorris]

Can you post your Support Info? Is the gain set too high?

[WirthmU]

SI1145 Visible Gain (Night) has been set (and I am not aware of doing this myself) to 32! The same for two or so other gain settings.
After putting everything back to the default (1x) fixed the problem.

Now I get:
(indi-allsky) pi@meteotux:~/indi-allsky $ ./misc/sensor_test.py
[WARNING]: Initializing [Sensor A] TSL2561 I2C light sensor device @ 0x29
[WARNING]: Initializing [Sensor B] SI1145 I2C light sensor device @ 0x60
[WARNING]: Initializing [Sensor C] MLX90615 I2C temperature device @ 0x5b
[WARNING]: Initializing [Sensor D] Ecowitt API Sensor
[WARNING]: No sensor E - Initializing sensor simulator
[WARNING]: No sensor F - Initializing sensor simulator
[INFO]: [Sensor A] TSL2561 - lux: 0.0111, broadband: 5, ir: 4
[WARNING]: Lux Raw Magnitude: 4.89
[INFO]: Sensor 0: {'sqm_mag': 30.885606273598313, 'data': (0.011111111111111127, 5, 4, 30.885606273598313, 4.885606273598311)}
[INFO]: [Sensor B] SI1145 - visible: 249, ir: 253, uv: 0.000
[WARNING]: Lux Raw Magnitude: -5.99
[INFO]: Sensor 1: {'data': (249, 253, 0.0, 20.00950163226066, -5.990498367739341)}
[INFO]: [Sensor C] MLX90615 - ambient temp: 17.4c, object temp: 10.8c
[INFO]: Sensor 2: {'data': (17.390000000000043, 10.750000000000057)}
[INFO]: [Sensor D] Ecowitt API - temp: 44.4f, feels like: 43.2f humidity: 74%
[INFO]: Sensor 3: {'dew_point': 2.5781902910940895, 'frost_point': 1.7285607295419823, 'heat_index': 44.558689545777796, 'wind_degrees': 72.0, 'data': (6.888888888888888, 6.222222222222224, 74.0, 1027.0917837, 1.385824, 1.385824, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 2.6111111111111125)}
[INFO]: Sensor 4: {'data': ()}
[INFO]: Sensor 5: {'data': ()}

Are there any gain values that can be recommended?

[aaronwmorris]

I think the most common cause for things like this is if you use a mouse wheel to scroll down the config and you happen to land over a one of the select fields, it can change the select field by accident.

I tried to parse through the data sheet for the SI1145, but I could not quite understand what the gain actually does to the values. I think gain 1x might be the best overall option if you want consistent light readings for SQM values.

The reality is I am not sure SI1145 is the best sensor for low light measurements. The TSL2591 is probably much more appropriate.