Re: Custom AC power switch

From: John Crighton (john_c_at_tpg.com.au)
Date: 02/14/05

  • Next message: Larry Brasfield: "Re: How to design an infra-red circuit to detect small obstacle (e.g. finger) ?" 
    Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 04:27:57 GMT

    On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 07:54:49 GMT, Jonathan Kirwan
    <jkirwan@easystreet.com> wrote:

    >On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 12:03:21 GMT, john_c@tpg.com.au (John Crighton) wrote:
    >
    >>I am gradually getting the picture. I have heard
    >>that pet door flaps can be obtained that only
    >>open when the pet wearing the correct microchip
    >>goes near the door. You work out where you can
    >> wear the chip permanently. A finger ring, a bracelet,
    >> earring or under your skin like a pet does.
    >>
    >>You walk into the kitchen all power points are dead,
    >>swipe your wrist past the secret sensor built into the
    >>door frame and the power points become active.
    >>You could add extra interlock secret switches like
    >>pull open a drawer slightly, whistle a quick tone,
    >>before the power points become live.
    >>
    >>When you are finished in the kitchen, swipe the
    >>power points off or let them time out automatically
    >>if you forget to swipe them off.
    >>
    >>Is that any closer to being practical for you?
    >
    >Yes. That is pretty good, I think. I don't know if I mentioned this before,
    >but one of the things I considered was using an RFID encapsulated into a plastic
    >credit card, upon which I'd paste a picture for her. She could grab that card
    >and wave it near the microwave and all the necessary particulars would be
    >automatically programmed in. This would be an optimal solution for the
    >microwave, as I'm sure she could handle the popcorn picture just fine. It would
    >allow me to program copies of the same card or also to program other cards for
    >other foods I might want to test her with, each with their own pictures. That
    >microwave idea isn't general enough for other power outlets, most of which I
    >don't want her using at all. But the microwave is something she is *almost*
    >able to handle, if only something like the card existed today.
    >
    >The idea you mention above might work (room-wide basis.) I could see how if it
    >was too inconvenient. My gut tells me it would be trouble, though. I really
    >need the ability to experiment on a per-item basis with her, so that I can
    >tinker to get the whole picture right. An example would be that I shut off, by
    >default, too many things and that this causes her to stress out and wreck havoc
    >elsewhere in the middle of the night. Not being able to turn on the room lights
    >would be a specific example of this. I'd be able to anticipate some of this,
    >but really it would need to be convenient to change whatever the current
    >arrangement was.
    >
    >Sorry about the delay. Was on a business trip.
    >
    >Jon

    OK Jon, I am seeing a bit more of your problem.
    You mentioned experimenting with your daughter, one
    appliance at a time, so lets look at the microwave oven.
    Where I live in Sydney, people chuck out microwave
    ovens and other household goods on to the footpath
    rather than getting them repaired for scavengers like
    me to pick them up. Some ovens are very easy to
    repair. Some of the chuck outs still work fine. I have
    a box load of spares from discarded ovens for my
    existing working unit.

    I was thinking for you and your daughter. find a
    simple microwave oven with a mechanical timer.
    The "turn the knob" for so many minutes type. If you
    can't find one for free just buy an old one.

    Now, you modify or replace the existing mechanical
    timing mechanism with a timer for say 2 minutes maximum.
    Or build- in, a 2 minute electronic timer in series with the
    existing mechanical timer.
    Terry Pinnell's site has heaps of timer circuit ideas.

    Your daughter makes her pop corn in the night. Even
    if there was nothing in the oven, the magnetron
    would survive 2 minutes of abuse.

    If you or your wife want more than two minutes just live
    with the two minute maximum time and and hit the timer
    again or put in your own secret over ride.

    I know you were talking about cards but could your
    daughter learn to use a modified oven like this?

    Regards,
    John Crighton
    Sydney

  • Next message: Larry Brasfield: "Re: How to design an infra-red circuit to detect small obstacle (e.g. finger) ?"

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