On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:33:44 GMT, Palindrome wrote:
>MM wrote:
>> On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:30:41 +0100, "ian field"
>> wrote:
>>
>>> "MM" wrote in message
>>> news:lpjg845jm3elmkn4df7u9q31cdbvonh5ku@4ax.com...
>>>> On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:05:29 +0100, Cynic
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:18:09 +0100, MM wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Happened again today. This time in Maplins. There I was, minding my
>>>>>> own business browsing the shelves. Already accosted by female members
>>>>>> of the staff three times "Can I help you, sir?" I was getting a tad
>>>>>> browned off when the fourth enquiry came: It was a guy this time. So I
>>>>>> explained a bit what I was looking for. He looked at me with an
>>>>>> accusatory gleam in his eye and a tone of voice dripping with
>>>>>> incredulity that suggested I would never find it in a million years,
>>>>>> and certainly not at Maplins: "YOU WANT TO CONNECT A PC TO A REMOTE
>>>>>> CONTROL???"
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Well, er, actually, yes, sorry. (Should I have knelt and begged
>>>>>> forgiveness already?)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> He had already lost interest, quite aware now that he couldn't sell me
>>>>>> anything (he did try to sell me something totally different for 60
>>>>>> quid).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The remote control in question would be one that controls a 3-pin
>>>>>> socket through the household mains, e.g. http://www.stoneaudio.co.uk/
>>>>> Not sure what you are trying to achieve, and the link you gave is a
>>>>> general audio site that doesn't give much of a clue.
>>>>>
>>>>> Do you simply want to switch the PC off and on at the mains by remote
>>>>> control? If so Maplins have various wireless remote mains switching
>>>>> units.
>>>> No, I want to switch a small water pump on and off via the PC. I can
>>>> buy a remotely controlled 13 amp socket, example as per the Stoneaudio
>>>> site. But that comes with its own remote control, as for a TV or VHS.
>>>> I want to control the socket outlet from the PC with a simple VB
>>>> program switching the socket on off at different intervals.
>>>>
>>>> In the meantime I have found on the Velleman site the "USB TO RF
>>>> REMOTE CONTROL TRANSMITTER"
>>>> http://www.velleman.be/ot/en/product/view/?id=370336 which looks
>>>> promising.
>>>>
>>>> This can transmit to other specific Velleman products. However, I
>>>> reckon the 433MHz transmission standard used by these devices in GB
>>>> should make it possible to transmit to other manufacturers' products,
>>>> such as the socket I mentioned.
>>>>
>>>> However, any suggestions you can come up would be most welcome.
>>>>
>>>> Yet another alternative is to built this kit and bypass the PC
>>>> altogether: http://www.esr.co.uk/velleman/k8015.htm
>>>>
>>>> But I'd quite like to experiment with the PC, since it is on most of
>>>> the day anyway (under power management).
>>>>
>>>> I omitted to explain that the pump needs to be switched on for 20
>>>> seconds, then off for ten minutes (both times variable).
>>>>
>>>> This is in conjunction with a solar water heater I am experimenting
>>>> with.
>>>>
>>>> MM
>>> How are your electronics skills?
>>>
>>> What you want is relatively easy by programming a PIC or AVR micro
>>> controller, you'd only need to add a few extra components to control a relay
>>> but there's a certain amount of outlay such as the programming adapter.
>>>
>>> Although the end result would be way more energy efficient than leaving a PC
>>> running all the time.
>>
>> Well, yes, it would. But my PC is running ~most~ of the day anyway,
>> and at night there's no need for the pump!
>>
>> I am investigating all possibilities using Stamps, PICs etc. The most
>> cost-effective so far is the Velleman multi-function relay switch
>> http://www.velleman.be/ot/en/product/view/?id=341552 which I can get
>> from ESR for £15.33 including delivery and VAT. The switch can be
>> programmed (through pots and dip switches) to give a different ON time
>> from the OFF time and the ranges are exactly in accordance with what I
>> need. However, that kit is not one of the simple Velleman kits and
>> while I can, and have, soldered a fair bit, I don't really have
>> electronic skills apart from the blindly obvious, so if the circuit
>> didn't work and I religiously checked for solder tracks and other
>> obvious funnies and it still wouldn't work, then I'd be stuffed.
>
>If you want, for the cost of buying one and posting it on to you, I'll
>buy one and assemble it for you. Including the soldering. :)
That's a great offer, thanks! (This is probably an area in which many
electronic buffs could earn a tidy few quid on the side by
fixing/finishing hobbyists' circuits for them.)
However, I have to be responsible for my own soldering, I'm afraid!
MM |