How to make Magnet switch talk to EG?

[skribb]

What would be the most cost effective way of making a magnet switch talk to EG. I know you can do it via a smart home hub but I'm more interested in something a bit more direct, preferably via bluetooth, or sending signals to a tellstick?

[krambriw]

TellStick Duo as well as RFXtrx are both supported by EventGhost and would do exactly what you are looking for. A more expensive solution is based on Z-Wave. Also here this is supported by EventGhost, as example via a RaZberry plugin.

[piert]

Sorry for this, but may I take the opportunity to hijack this topic now that Walter has answered the initial question?

The question was for a magnetic switch. I am wondering if anyone has come across a good infrared 'sluice' solution. I don't know the exact name, but it is an infrared beam between a transmitter and receiver (or reflector), which, if the beam is crossed, transmits an alarm signal. They are often used with yard gates to detect if a car is at the gate. I would like to use it to detect persons.
Anyone any experience with this? I guess Z-wave would be the most reliable solution here too?

[skribb]

Sorry for this, but may I take the opportunity to hijack this topic now that Walter has answered the initial question?

The question was for a magnetic switch. I am wondering if anyone has come across a good infrared 'sluice' solution. I don't know the exact name, but it is an infrared beam between a transmitter and receiver (or reflector), which, if the beam is crossed, transmits an alarm signal. They are often used with yard gates to detect if a car is at the gate. I would like to use it to detect persons.
Anyone any experience with this? I guess Z-wave would be the most reliable solution here too?

I might use that instead of a magnet switch! Unfortunetaley I have no idea what they are called. It's like a tripwire only with IR light instead of an actual wire, right? Like the stuff that holds an elevator door open if you stand inside the door frame and cross the infrared stream.

[kgschlosser]

Arduino is the easiest and cheapest, can be done for less than 20 beans. (USD)

5 bucks for the microcontroller 10 if ya want to get one that can do more than just the one thing (i mean they all can but the memory is very limiting)

another 10 for the wifi or ethernet and then about another 8 for the ir detector and transmitter.

if you are more patient and are ok with learning you can get an esp8266 wifi (small microcontroller the size of a dime with serial wifi built in) and get the ir transmitter and receiver. and a battery holder or solarpanel for it should be able to run for a long while on the batteries and you can use sockets to set up a server for it to connect to to send the information

esp8266 $1.50 sensors are 8.00 battery holder .50

the latter solution is really nice because you can hide everything.


the transmitter and receiver are about the size of a dime as well as the esp8266

and there is a package made that will allow for accessing the esp8266 GPIO Pins. and will allow for flashing of the esp8266 with c++ code instead of just using it for wifi.
the esp8266 if really for someone that has more of a component level background and soldering skills.

the arduino is pretty much plug and play, but is alot larger of a footprint.

below is a link as well as some code already done up for flashing either the arduino or esp8266 firmware. there will be more required in the code department for the ethernet or wifi transmit of the data, just let me know if you need help if this interests you

https://learn.adafruit.com/ir-breakbeam ... s?view=all

i have already made up a plugin for sending and receiving from an arduino telnet connection.

[Sem;colon]

While Arduino is most likely the cheapest solution, you can also use a Raspberry Pi for this. If you're not familiar with programming it maybe easier to use.

[skribb]

I really don't see how it could be cheaper and easier than Tellstick+magnet switch

[krambriw]

@Piert

For monitoring applications you are writing about, a common detector for this is the IR Curtain Sensor. I am not sure if they would work with TellStick Duo, best chance is most likely the RFXtrx433E.

Typically, the below example is not that expensive, could be worth trying

http://www.amazon.com/KERUI-Wireless-Cu ... ullets-btf

http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/w ... 33MHz.html

[skribb]

An even cheaper idea is to use iSpy software + 30 dollar webcam + EG. Unless your EG system is more than 5 meters awayfrom the camera, you won't need a USB repeater. Sure , a camera is a bit more likely to make false alerts, but if you point them at strategic places and config them to react on motion ,they work pretty damn well as a standard motion detctor, with the added availabity of video taping the detected event.

It still irks me using a camera, but it IS cheap


Edit: thanks for further information spreading Walter

[kgschlosser]

see the break beam is a good idea, i have implemented the doorbell by using a zwave window sensor (i have a micasaverde vera3) the window sensor is a magnetic pickup and a doorbell is a big electromagnet.

doorbell rings trips the sensor the vera3 posts an event into eventgost, and eventghost then loads the camera i have connected on any TV in my home that's turned on. (as an overlay)

also mutes the audio and pauses the tv or movie.

but the break beam is a nice idea, i'll have to do up the little wifi chip and get it out to the end of my driveway. i already have proximity for me and my wife by using geofencing on the phones, and that works well. but when someone else pulls into the driveway would be nice. and those little esp8266's transmit a really far distance. it might reach to the end of my driveway. i am going to the store today to pick up a couple of pan tilt cameras to see if i can get those running (to be able to control them i mean)

i hope they are 12 volt i have a 12 volt supply for some driveway lighting that's not being used and the wire is already in the ground.

would love to put one at the end of the driveway

[piert]

@Walter thanks for the suggestion; I did not know these 'curtain IR detectors' existed. It looks like it is only fit for use indoors, while I am looking for an outdoors solution. Also, I noticed it is not using the 'break-beam' method; it looks more like ' break-slice'. I am not sure if such a larger detection range (compared to a beam) would result in more unwanted detections.

The problem with passive infrared motion detectors (PIR's) is they are often unreliable (e.g. a gust of wind changing the temperature in an area would result in unwanted detection alarms).
I did find outside motion detectors that are practically 100% reliable, and, in fact, I have two of them in use myself. They are Visonic Tower detectors, available both wired and wireless:
http://www.visonic.com/Products/Wireles ... r-20am-mcw

Problem is, they are rather expensive and have limited range. So, covering the full premises becomes expensive. I have been on the lookout for a less expensive outdoor solution to complement the Visonics.

@kgschlosser Thanks for the descriptions and link to the DIY solution. I like the 'break-beam' detection method, but don't want to build from scratch with Arduino type solutions. I am still looking for something that one can buy ready for use, proven reliability, works with Eventghost and at a reasonable price.

[kgschlosser]

need to know the distance i can put something together for ya for around 200 beans, has 35' range, adjustable. but you would need a power source for it. meaning an outlet.

unless you wanted to do low voltage to bury the cord and be a cheap solution to get power where it needs to be.

the transmitter/detector uses 12 volts and i would have to put a buck to step the voltage down to 5 for a micro controller.

let me put together a complete parts list and dollar amount. everything would be ip66 rated as well. and it will tell EG when the beam is broken and when it reconnects the beam.

as well as have some built in data logging so you could send a command to it from EG to see the last time it was broken as well as a history of events for say something like 7 days. and a trip counter to keep a current total of times it has been tripped (that would be stored in EEProm memory as not to ever get deleted)

just let me know. i'll put together an exact figure

K

[kgschlosser]

250 +shipping would be the price. i can't find a any that are WiFi capable.

could be cheaper just depends on what shipping is for me to get the components.

so building one seems to be what you have to do. a lot of the ones i have seen have a proprietary chime module. and are over 250 dollars

and this is not cutting up other companies product this is an industrial grade break beam with all new components

but this will be the transmitter/receiver up to 35' range (separate piece from the controller attached via a cord)

power supply for 120v, ability to connect an external 12v power supply (just in case you want to do a low voltage direct bury cable)

WiFi

micro-controller

waterproof enclosure

12v to v5 buck/step down (micro-controller is 5v)

all software needed to communicate via EG.

i can code out the firmware for it pretty quickly about a day. another week to get the parts in and another couple days for testing.

no reason why you shouldn't be able to have it in hand within 3 weeks or so.

i do take PayPal, MC, Visa. and i am willing to show a working product before payment.


K

[piert]

@kgschlosser I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I am really looking for a mass-produced solution with long proven reliability and at low price range.