#22
Post
by Fox3WheresMyBanana » Tue Dec 06, 2022 11:27 pm
Excellent response, Woody!
'Geek'="I don't understand what you do, so I'll insult you to cover up that fact"
On topic.
This year's projects, probably starting in February due to more mechanical works.
1. Use of W5100 ethernet to control electrics in remote building with wired connection.
Basis for project - I have over 100 feet between the building where I park my vehicle and the house.
Lighting does not cover the distance well, and if snow-shifting is needed the timers on auto-switchers isn't long enough.
So, I need to be able to switch on the lights (internal and external) in one building from the other. Lights from both buildings is sufficient.
IR sensor ranges leave too big a gap in the middle.
I can't place lights on poles in the gap. This would increase drifting snow problems. We can get 21 foot high drifting (7 years ago), so this is not a minor problem.
Current plan is an arduino with W5100 Ethernet shield, linked in to each building's electrics via relay boxes.
2. Building the ultimate mousetrap. Using lightbeam sensors and a cheap solenoid catch to trigger a rodent trap.
Basis for project - I live rurally. The commercially available traps are mechanical, optimised for rodent weight.
Problem is that different rodents can access them, leading to either small rodents stealing the bait from larger traps without triggering them, or large rodents shrugging off smaller traps after triggering them.
Plus, some rodents operate daytime, some night-time, and some 24/7.
I want to build a trap that triggers a trapdoor that will trap any rodent.
I have watched every d@mn video on youtube, but the problem is the triggering, not the trap design.
Rodents are field mice, voles, chipmunks, squirrels. It must not trap dogs, cats, skunks or raccoons. These are also around and very beneficial to me for other reasons.
A trap size entrance smaller than 6" square seems to work. I have 5-1/2" square traps I can modify for electronic control.
Outdoor temperature range +37 to -37. Mostly -15 in winter, +23 in summer.
I use Arduino.
Any advice much appreciated.
New PC uses Linux. I haven't used Linux Arduino yet. All my previous stuff was on Windows 7, which PC still works.