Light monitor and controller

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Development
1

Hey,

i want to be able to monitor and controll lights in my room to prevent wasting electricity

i have 3 LDRs (one for indoor light, one for outdoor and 1 for ambiant light)

And a PIR to detect if someone is in the room

i also have arduino board and bread bord

i need to take in readings form LDRs and PIR and combine them to make a decision as to weather or not turn lights on or off. And i want to store what iv been monitoring so i can see what im saving/wasting

for the moment im not too pushed abot the controlling, if the lights should be on i want to light a green LED if not i want to light a red LED

powering the hold thing will be a problem, im thinking DC power supply??

The mjor thing thought at the moment is making a decision using all the sensors, iv a list of conditions and am working on what is optimal light for a room, but how do i use all the readings to make a decision.

please help, im abit of a n00b!!

Cheers

2

i need to take in readings form LDRs and PIR and combine them to make a decision as to weather or not turn lights on or off

The basic logic is simple enough

IF someone_in_room AND its-dark THEN turn_light_on

But will the PIR be reliable, if you're out of its sense area or just sit still it won't get you.

i have 3 LDRs (one for indoor light, one for outdoor and 1 for ambiant light)

Why do you need to know all thses lights, surely just the room in question is enough.

store what iv been monitoring so i can see what im saving/wasting

And compare it against what? All you will know is that you turned the light on/off and when. Or do you consider that every time you turn the light off that's a saving until you turn it back on? A reasonable assumption I guess if you aren't in the habit of turing the lights off when you leave a room.

Rob