I’m looking for a way to be notified if a gate was left at the end of the day.
Application - I would like to be notified if one of the gates on my property was left open at the end of the day.
Proposed solution
Hareware
Arduino Uno with an Ethernet shield.
Install a NO reed switch (burglar alarm type) in the gate. If the gate is open switch is in open state. Only when the gate is fully closed will the switch contracts be closed. Run the wires from each gate to an Arduino input pin. The Arduino sketch is pretty straight forward, test to see if switch is in open state at a specified time. If pin is high, send notification. If low, continue with sketch.
Notification
I would like to receive a text/SMS message. I’m thinking the easiest way to do that is to send an email. (My cellular provider supports email to SMS message.)
I haven’t reasearhced this but I presume their is a way for an Arduino with an Ethernet shied to send an email?
Ethernet shield will allow me to set time with an NTP server on the Internet.
Any suggestions for making this better?
Thank you
Is there WiFi nearby. An ESP8266 module (like the nodeMCU) can replace the Uno and shield at a lower cost and handle the switch sensing, notification and get the time from a NTP server with a wireless connection.
I do have WiFi. How many I/O pins does the ESP8266 have?
Depends on the module. I would recommend a nodeMCU or WeMos D1 as they have all the auxiliary stuff on board.
It might be easier to put a WEMOS at a gate a d have it connect wirelessly than to run long wires
Wemos look very interesting. Will probably use it for future project.
Only problem I see is I will have to run a wire to supply power. Or mess with batteries.
Running a wire would actually be prety easy in this application.
Are all your gate identical in construction, or like mine, 5 different, with 4 different type of latching?
Paul
There are a few ways to send wireless. the ESP8266 modules have a native ESP-NOW mode.
any Arduino can use one of may RF modules.
these come in handy when there is great distances involved.
if the application lends itself to wires, then all the better.
for home security, the alarmed state is a closed circuit. when you open the window, the circuit opens.
if the wire is cut, the circuit is open.
the WEMOS and nodeMCU, both have 9 digital pins. plus 1 analog, plus the RX and TX.
the UNO has more. the MEGA has even more. and all can be fitted with shift registers to expand to a LOT more.
as a point of interest, the ESP-8266 comes in a lot of configurations. the ESP-01 only has 2 digital pins. and requires an external 3.3v power supply. the WEMOS and nodeMCU are like the UNO and Mega, in that they have the power regulation on-board.
Since they all work very similar, pick your favorite.
All of the gates are of different designs. What’s in common is they are all made of wood.
I understand about the home security/burglar alarm being a NC switch. For my application I need NO. I can’t find any NO burglar alarm type switches but have found the NC switches with the NO switch contact but they are more than twice the price.
I think I will go with wired.
What about the email to SMS text notification. Is that reliable and pretty easy to set up?
As I think about this I’m thinking of other applications where I would like to be notified by by text or email of other conditions.
Doug101:
All of the gates are of different designs. What’s in common is they are all made of wood.
I understand about the home security/burglar alarm being a NC switch. For my application I need NO. I can’t find any NO burglar alarm type switches but have found the NC switches with the NO switch contact but they are more than twice the price.
I think I will go with wired.
What about the email to SMS text notification. Is that reliable and pretty easy to set up?
As I think about this I’m thinking of other applications where I would like to be notified by by text or email of other conditions.
Alarm switches are reed switches that are closed by the associated magnet. So, if magnet is present they cannot be NO. To use anything else, you would need a micro switch that used pressure to actuate. Do your gates all be made to close tightly?
SMS seems to have problems if Google is anywhere in the loop.
Paul
Take a look here are SPDT reed switches. They are NC for alarm and NO for my application.
These are surface mount, but I have also found them as mount in the fram type. In experimenting I have found If I mount on the hinge side of the gate the once the gate is open a couple of inches the switch changes state. I favore using the hangs side of the gate so everything is kept in alignment.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Recessed-Magnetic-Window-Door-Contacts-Alarm-Security-Reed-Switch-NC-NO/201960148798?hash=item2f05c34f3e:g:9mkAAOSwSONcAj2x
Doug101:
Take a look here are SPDT reed switches. They are NC for alarm and NO for my application.
These are surface mount, but I have also found them as mount in the fram type. In experimenting I have found If I mount on the hinge side of the gate the once the gate is open a couple of inches the switch changes state. I favore using the hangs side of the gate so everything is kept in alignment.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Recessed-Magnetic-Window-Door-Contacts-Alarm-Security-Reed-Switch-NC-NO/201960148798?hash=item2f05c34f3e:g:9mkAAOSwSONcAj2x
You are all set, then. And they are water resistant.
Paul
Here I found a link for the recessed ones. I think they are water resistant enough for where I live. And by mounting on the hinge side, they will be a little more protected. (Maybe not.)
Jus think they are a better solution than a mechanical switch which would probably get rusty over time and fail.
Front the comments I”ve received so far it appears I have a well thought out design so far.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lots-NO-NC-Recessed-Magnetic-Reed-Switch-Contact-Sensor-Door-Alarm-Entry-System/123450892540?hash=item1cbe3f20fc:m:mJG_bXebfYFGCY3W__tyh9w