Get the latest tech news
Lightning Detector Circuits
(Also see magnetic antenna version , op-amp version and Compound Transistor version) Also: Original Lightning Detector Page To observe the lightning strikes on a map in near real time try: https://www.iweathernet.com/lightning/latest-lightning-strikes-on-google-maps The latency is usually under 10 seconds but that's long enough to make correlation with a flash from your detector with a flash on the map a bit challenging. This new lightning detector circuit uses a single inductor tuned circuit to receive static pulses from lightning at a frequency near 200 kHz.
Hook your prospective coil to a high-gain audio amplifier and if you hear distant lightning crackles you probably have a good candidate (assuming a storm is within a hundred miles or so). I then decided it needed to flash an old "Mazda" (GE trade name) 3 volt light bulb but the transistor in the array can't handle the current. The horizontal diode rectifies the 5 kHz ringing signal from the tuned circuit and the .01u and 10 megohm stretch the detected pulse for a bright flash.
Or read this on Hacker News