Occupancy Sensing/Knowledge

[raster69273]

What about PHOTO-ELECTRIC switches to "count cars"?

[HA Dave]

What about PHOTO-ELECTRIC switches to "count cars"?

I am not sure how I would do that. Would a switch triggered by light blockage... detect (count) an intruders van... as if it was my pickup truck. Or would a misplaced item in the garage count as a parked car... if it blocked the photoelectric switch. If my wife left her car in the driveway (instead of the garage)... how would it be counted.

[BaBaLou.]

Your Cell Phone, is it capable of WiFi.
I have a BlackBerry Bold. It is set to connect by WiFi automatically to my Router at home and then the Business and as well at my Parents house.
NOW, how to make the router let X10 know that you are out of range and when you do get back into range.

Hold on, How about hacking an invisible fence kit for dogs, you know the ones that zap them or something when they leave the parameter of the yard.

Well, only an idea  to get more wheels turning.
Seems that is very easy to do around here.


I am trying to make a directional sensor.

Let's me know when I enter an area or leave an area by using the direction the person is moving.
I need to put 2 eagle sensors side by side and restrain the viewing area of the sensor to see only strait out and parallel to each other.
Need to lessen the repeated signals from a room sensor eg Bathroom. no need to keep repeating a signal for the period of time you are there. 

[Tuicemen]

I am trying to make a directional sensor.

Let's me know when I enter an area or leave an area by using the direction the person is moving.
I need to put 2 eagle sensors side by side and restrain the viewing area of the sensor to see only strait out and parallel to each other.
Need to lessen the repeated signals from a room sensor eg Bathroom.  no need to keep repeating a signal for the period of time you are there.

Very cool Idea BaBaLou. It will open up lots of possibilities!
Even I can think of a few!
Since the sensors don't care how they are mounted you could mount them on their sides with tops facing each other !
Since the field of vision is straight out side to side and down you'd only have to play with spacing between each and wouldn't need to block it's field of view!

[BaBaLou.]

The whole goal for me to try and get away from the multiple signals it creates, did try it as you have said but the overlapping of signals makes it hopeless and end up with a light that flashes on and off quickly  .

                                  I am already overloaded in RF traffic from other sensors and/or their heartbeats.


But another idea  is going to try and use a Beam of light similar to ones used for Garage door openers safety cutoff, and Hack it into say a Power Flash or Universal module.

                                  That would give me less traffic and hopefully a more efficient response trigger of the light.

[HA Dave]

Puck has a macro he created for direction detection on a stairs.   http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=15998.msg87862#msg87862

[HA Dave]

OK... after many hours of hanging around the Home Automation Chat asking questions and fishing for ideas. I popped the hood on a SlimFire (KR19A) remote and poked around a bit. By scraping off contact areas on the little board... I was able to short-out the circuit and cause a signal to be sent. (an image is attached)

I selected the KR19A because when a button is pressed it sends the signal for about two seconds... then stops. This should allow me to automate the button pushing using just one relay... and yet NOT flood the airways with RF signals.

The goal is to send an ON signal when a car starts. Then when the car is turned off send an OFF signal. Hence... an OFF signal could only mean the car is home. A relay connected to the car/trucks radio harness... borrowing a little power to operate a relay... should short-out the remote and send the proper signals.

[-Bill- (of wgjohns.com)]

I am trying to make a directional sensor.

Let's me know when I enter an area or leave an area by using the direction the person is moving.
I need to put 2 eagle sensors side by side and restrain the viewing area of the sensor to see only strait out and parallel to each other.
Need to lessen the repeated signals from a room sensor eg Bathroom. no need to keep repeating a signal for the period of time you are there. 

The whole goal for me to try and get away from the multiple signals it creates, did try it as you have said but the overlapping of signals makes it hopeless and end up with a light that flashes on and off quickly  .

                                  I am already overloaded in RF traffic from other sensors and/or their heartbeats.


But another idea  is going to try and use a Beam of light similar to ones used for Garage door openers safety cutoff, and Hack it into say a Power Flash or Universal module.

                                  That would give me less traffic and hopefully a more efficient response trigger of the light.

  If you're considering mounting a light source opposite the detector anyway, why not mask of the motion portion of the Eagle Eyes and just use their dusk / dawn sensors?   

[bitman]

OK... after many hours of hanging around the Home Automation Chat asking questions and fishing for ideas. I popped the hood on a SlimFire (KR19A) remote and poked around a bit. By scraping off contact areas on the little board... I was able to short-out the circuit and cause a signal to be sent. (an image is attached)

I selected the KR19A because when a button is pressed it sends the signal for about two seconds... then stops. This should allow me to automate the button pushing using just one relay... and yet NOT flood the airways with RF signals.

The goal is to send an ON signal when a car starts. Then when the car is turned off send an OFF signal. Hence... an OFF signal could only mean the car is home. A relay connected to the car/trucks radio harness... borrowing a little power to operate a relay... should short-out the remote and send the proper signals.

You go Dave.
And: I'll be watching you and this thread. 

[HA Dave]

I often create YouTube videos of my projects.... this project isn't too different. Except this time I decided to create the video as I experimented. I called the video "Trials, errors and tests". It was a (I think) a humorous glimpse into my modifications and videos.

As the 12 Volt positive connection slid into the negative... a bit of smoke and sparks... ended the video.

[beelocks]

Nice to to that I'm not the only one who sets fire to the bench when playing with electricity 

I now tend to attach my little clippy thingies to the opposite edges of a small plastic component box to prevent that kind of thing happening.

[-Bill- (of wgjohns.com)]

I often create YouTube videos of my projects.... this project isn't too different. Except this time I decided to create the video as I experimented. I call the video "Trials, errors and tests". It is a (I think humorous) glimpse into my modifications.

Enjoy.

Ahh, yes!  Nothing like the smell of burning insulation in the morning!   

Been there, done that, put it out with the T-shirt.   

[HA Dave]

Nothing like the smell of burning insulation in the morning! 

I don't mind... delays. But I really dislike failure. I have had no success with attaching something to the car (which would then cause car to report in for home or away). I am now looking at the varied devises for detecting cars.

steven r had the right idea all along.

But I don't think I could convince the wife that precise parking (like on a mat) would be beneficial. But if I can configure a parking device to merely detect the parked car.... that could work.

[raster69273]

But if I can configure a parking device to merely detect the parked car.... that could work.

this is where i thought the photo-electric eye would detect the parked car

[HA Dave]

this is where i thought the photo-electric eye would detect the parked car

raster69273 I see your point now! If the photo-electric eye was placed so as to be able to detect if a car was present or not... your idea is the best one yet. Sorry I was a bit slow.