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Front porch lighting with PING sensor. — Parallax Forums

Front porch lighting with PING sensor.

matthelmmatthelm Posts: 19
edited 2006-04-27 16:34 in General Discussion
OK, I have a front porch that I would like to light when anyone is on the sidewalk, the porch or coming out the door.· The porch is on the north side of the house, so solar is out.· I've tried X10 sensors and a light, but the sensors were always going off when no one was there, or not going off when someone was there.· Instead I plan on using the PING sensor hung from the overhang, facing down.· BTW, I'm just going to turn all the lights on, not have any zones.· For the door, I just plan on using a door magnetic sensor.

I'm just going to get a 5 pack and spread them along the walk, and maybe 1 in the porch area.

OK now the questions.

1. I'd like to use a single BS2 to control all of them, but that means the signals might run up to 20 feet. Is the signal from the BS2 and then back from the PING going to be strong enough to get a good measurment? ·Or should I use some kind of buffer? ·If so, suggestions? (I MIGHT have enough BS1s to control each sensor if this can't be done)

2. I was told by tech support to keep the temp above 32 degrees, so will a small insulated case with heating in the cold weather work? I thought I'd just put a temp sensor at the BS2, and turn the heat on for all if needed. (12volts thru a resistor, maybe)· (shouldn't get too hot in the summer, as they'll be on the overhang, with only sun in the latest evening hours)

3.· Any problems or·suggestions I've missed???


Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2006-04-26 16:58
    Small ultrasonic sensors like the Ping have limited detection range with people -- our bodies and the clothing we wear tend to dampen the signal more than reflect it. I've used the Ping as a "beam break" sensor in a haunted house, but that was an application where the unblocked sensor could read a hard target about six feet away.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
  • matthelmmatthelm Posts: 19
    edited 2006-04-26 17:29
    Hummmmm.· Mine will be about 10 feet away (overhang to sidewalk).· If I remember right, that's too far.·· Any replacement to suggest?·· If it was just the porch, I'd use a beam break type sensor, but the sidewalk is all out in·the open.


    EDIT:·· I just read the Scary Terry's PIR Sensor Report·of the PIR,·and I think·it might work, if I use·his instructions to limit the angle.





    Post Edited (matthelm) : 4/26/2006 5:41:32 PM GMT
  • Tom WalkerTom Walker Posts: 509
    edited 2006-04-26 17:59
    I would think that a PIR or three ORed together would give you what you want. At least that's what most commercial units seem to rely on...

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    Truly Understand the Fundamentals and the Path will be so much easier...
  • matthelmmatthelm Posts: 19
    edited 2006-04-26 20:26
    Tom Walker said...
    I would think that a PIR or three ORed together would give you what you want. At least that's what most commercial units seem to rely on...

    Why 3?·· Just wondering?


    Oh, since this would be a 1 way signal (vs the PING)·think·the PIR·would work on a long (10+feet?) wire?

    ·
  • Tom WalkerTom Walker Posts: 509
    edited 2006-04-27 15:30
    matthelm,
    Actually, I was just trying to cover all of your "zones" without actually thinking about how they are physically laid out and assuming that you would not just use a "blanket" wide-zone detection scheme, but rather using some kind of "barn doors" to limit your PIR's zone of detection...

    As I recall, most PIRs provide a simple "on/off" signal that the Stamp can monitor without too much concern for the length (within reason) of the wire...

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Truly Understand the Fundamentals and the Path will be so much easier...
  • matthelmmatthelm Posts: 19
    edited 2006-04-27 16:34
    Tom Walker said...
    matthelm,
    Actually, I was just trying to cover all of your "zones" without actually thinking about how they are physically laid out and assuming that you would not just use a "blanket" wide-zone detection scheme, but rather using some kind of "barn doors" to limit your PIR's zone of detection...

    As I recall, most PIRs provide a simple "on/off" signal that the Stamp can monitor without too much concern for the length (within reason) of the wire...

    Oh yes, I plan on putting up more than 1.· I figured 5 or 6 looking only in the areas I want, all reporting to a single BS-II.


    ·
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