Projects

2010

Projects currently in progress:

12V battery monitor: Monitors home power system battery status and distribution of power.
Safety 12V lighting: Emergency lighting for power cuts, fires, etc.
Emergency 12V lighting: Emergency lighting for power cuts, fires, etc.
Automated curtains and blinds: Designing a solution for new installations and retro-fit installations.
Wireless door contact sensor: You would think it would be easy to find something to meet these simple requirements!
Computer controlled irrigation system: Garden and indoor irrigation system using harvested rain water.
Optical-isolated input board: Generic input board for use on our Home Control System (HCS).
USB I/O board: To add USB connected IO capability to our Home Control System (HCS).

Completed projects:

UPS protected network switch: Essential elements of our home IP network are kept running during power cuts.
Mains power failure detection: Enable our Home Control System (HCS) to detect when the mains power fails.
12V DC Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS): Maintain 12V DC power to our Home Control System (HCS) when the mains power fails.
Dallas 1-Wire twilight sensor: Enable our Home Control System (HCS) to detect dawn and dusk.

Recumbent quadricycle: The design and development of this project is under way.
Christmas lights: Real twinkling, external Christmas lights that require very little power.
1-Wire Input Board: Design and build for an 8-input circuit board using the Dallas 1-Wire networking technology and DS2405 devices.
X10 ambient email: Using X10 appliance module to switch an ambient device for new email notification.
X10 appliance control: Second experiment to test out X10 capabilities based around appliance control.
X10 hall light: Experiment to test out X10 capabilities by solving an initial automation challenge in our current home.
Router status monitoring: Monitors router status, connection speeds and devices connecting over wi-fi.
Bicycle USB charger: Dynamo powered USB port charger for iPhones, etc. whilst on your bicycle.
Home Control System (HCS) email notification: Email notifications and scheduled reports.
Network connection monitoring: Monitors network connection and tests performance.