SkyScan P5 Lightning Detector (EA)

The seller did clearly show that they were selling a battery operated device. I wish that they would advise buyers that there is an AC Plug option. I would have ordered it right away. Again seller did nothing wrong! The device works great! I highly recommend it for any weather enthusiast or when outside at pool, golfing, etc.

THIS IS A MUST WHEN IT'S STORMY OUTSIDE. WE HAD ONE OF THESE IN COLORADO AND IT WARNED US OF UPCOMING LIGHTNING AND WE KNEW TO TAKE COVER. IF YOU ARE AN OUTDOORSMAN/WOMAN THIS IS A PERFECT ITEM TO HAVE. I USED IT FOR GOLFING, FISHING, BOATING, AND HIKING. KNOWING LIGHTNING IS COMING AND TELLS ME THE DISTANCE IS A LIFE SAVER!!!!!

It beeps when there is lightning within 40 miles, but the distance indicator is not always very accurate. I checked it three ways. First, watching and listening for lightning and thunder nearby. There can be a hundred or more strikes an hour around here, so there are numerous opportunities for visual-audio checks. This detector sometimes indicates lightning within 3 miles when clearly there is nothing. At other times, nearby lightning registers as far away. I checked the live website at lighningmaps to see where lightning was being recorded. Again, the correlation between this thing beeping and recorded strikes on the website was often inconsistent. I returned my first one for a replacement and had the two side by side for a week. There were many times when one indicated lighning nearby while the other did nothing, and vice versa. Even from one unit to another, they respond differently. I wish it worked more accurately but I don't see that it does. The National Lightning Safety Institute rates these as 50-60% accurate and my use of it shows that is probably about right. Makes you wonder about the other 40-50%. Made in China.UPDATE: The audible alarm failed after about three years so it's pretty much worthless now unless if you sit and watch for the alarm lights to come on.

Simply doesnt work properly. If on mains the defaults are useless (unsafe) and settings are not saved, so when you lose power settings are lost. The unit does not beep to alert you by default, so dangerous and by default the unit goes to sleep even when on mains so does not protect you. These points are confirmed in the manual which is available on the web, don't take my word for it. Caused £900 (approx US$1200) worth of damage by sleeping on the job within the first month. Promised me an updated replacement unit which should have arrived last summer. Broke this insincere promise - no replacement fixed unit turned up. Even with the settings manually fixed, the beep is so quiet that I can't hear it half the time when the device is only 10 feet away and my hearing is ok.

Wanted something to have on hand to show my sons why its not a good idea to play around outside when a storm is coming. Now they can see that even if the storm isn't right on top of us, there's still a danger in being out in the open. Good teaching tool. Works as described, have not had to replace the batteries yet.

I have had this unit for about six months. I waited that long in order to experience a number of actual thunder storms so as to give a fair review. First this thing is big and bulky. It tends to give a lot of false indications but also seems to miss actual lighting strikes that are near by. The LED indicators only stay on for a short time so unless you are looking right at the unit you could miss an alert. Overall I am not please. I believe that there are units from other Companies that are less expensive and work much better.

With in 5 days after receiving the Storm Detector.... we had the opportunity to "Test" it out.... It Worked.... Just like the description said.... Our "Youth Baseball" Park was Put on alert--- 10 Minutes---before the Storms arrived... We were able to remove the players from the Fields---in to a Safer place---until the Storm was over.... I Highly recommend this product for all "Parks and Recreation"-Facility's.......

Bought this for school football games and so far it has worked like a charm alerting us when lightning is around.