Re: Useless UK police get their just deserts.

MM wrote:
On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:33:44 GMT, Palindrome <me9@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

MM wrote:
On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:30:41 +0100, "ian field" <dai.ode@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

"MM" <kylix_is@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:lpjg845jm3elmkn4df7u9q31cdbvonh5ku@xxxxxxxxxx
On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:05:29 +0100, Cynic <cynic_999@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:18:09 +0100, MM <kylix_is@xxxxxxxxxxx> 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

An interesting answer. If this unit could have been bought pre-assembled, would you have insisted on stripping it down and re-assembling it and re-soldering all the joints?


Quite frankly, as kits go, this is going to be one of the easiest to complete and set to work.

The only thing that might give pause for thought is if it is used to switch mains voltages.. That can be avoided very simply - use this to switch low voltage (probably just the low voltage already used to power the unit) and use that to switch an external mains relay. This can be a relay with a screw-terminal* base, so that no soldering skills are put to the mains "test".

*Or something like an octal relay with soldered terminals so far apart that wires could be soldered to it successfully by a plumber..


However, the offer is still there. :)
--
Sue


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Useless UK police get their just deserts.
    ... The remote control in question would be one that controls a 3-pin ... I want to switch a small water pump on and off via the PC. ... However, I have to be responsible for my own soldering, I'm afraid! ...
    (uk.legal)
  • Re: Useless UK police get their just deserts.
    ... The remote control in question would be one that controls a 3-pin ... I want to switch a small water pump on and off via the PC. ... But that comes with its own remote control, as for a TV or VHS. ... However, I have to be responsible for my own soldering, I'm afraid! ...
    (uk.legal)
  • Re: Useless UK police get their just deserts.
    ... The remote control in question would be one that controls a 3-pin ... I want to switch a small water pump on and off via the PC. ... However, I have to be responsible for my own soldering, I'm afraid! ...
    (uk.legal)
  • Re: Useless UK police get their just deserts.
    ... The remote control in question would be one that controls a 3-pin ... I want to switch a small water pump on and off via the PC. ... buy a remotely controlled 13 amp socket, ... But that comes with its own remote control, as for a TV or VHS. ...
    (uk.legal)
  • Re: Useless UK police get their just deserts.
    ... The remote control in question would be one that controls a 3-pin ... I want to switch a small water pump on and off via the PC. ... buy a remotely controlled 13 amp socket, ... But that comes with its own remote control, as for a TV or VHS. ...
    (uk.legal)