How to turn on a wall socket from an infra-red beam?

[howardino]

The assumption presumably is that anyone wanting that functionality will use an (unswitched) socket and a separate relay.

Yes, that would equally well. Is this something I could wire up myself?
So when you say unswitched socket - are you talking about a wall socket with the manual switch removed and can still plug in any appliance into it - or what I think you guys call a fused spur - where the appliance would be hard wired. I would prefer the former as its an lcd monitor I'm looking to turn on.

Could I take a spur from an existing wall socket to create a new socket and have that controlled by the separate relay you mention above. In that way, I can plug in any lcd monitor. I'm new to all this relay wizardry, so apologies if I'm talking rubbish.

What is the name of the type of relay that you mention that would control the socket, so I can google it and can get some product info.

@EFLImpudence - What I'm trying to achieve is, that when someone steps foot onto my drive, the IR beam is broken, the relay turns on the mains socket, which turns on the connected lcd monitor, which is showing cctv. That way family members can quickly see who is approaching the property. Ideally, the monitor goes off after a preset time, so a relay with a built-in timer?

thx.

 

[EFLImpudence]

but you will have high voltage down where you put the beam,

(12V @ 0.5A) on the beam, but its all low voltage work. How does that sound?

Confusing

Up to 50V AC is extra-low voltage
>50V to 1,000V AC is low voltage.

 

[Mursal]

"but you will have high voltage down where you put the beam"
Apologies I should have said, voltage high enough to be dangerous

"(12V @ 0.5A) on the beam, but its all low voltage work."
Voltage that can be worked on by DIY people without the risk of getting electrocuted

It was never my intention to confuse, sorry about that ...........

 

[seasickstevie]

Apart from all the IR / Relay stuff, have you checked that when the monitor is simply powered up (by the socket) that the screen will display CCTV?

If it's a dedicated monitor maybe it will, but if you're using a TV, they usually stay in standby.

 

[JohnW2]

The assumption presumably is that anyone wanting that functionality will use an (unswitched) socket and a separate relay.

Yes, that would equally well. Is this something I could wire up myself?

As with all electrical work, that depends upon your knowledge, competence and ability to test your work to ensure that it is safe. Based on the sort of questions you are asking, and your admitted lack of knowledge of some of the things being discussed (like relays), it sounds as if it may well be a case in which you ought to get an electrician to do it for you.

So when you say unswitched socket - are you talking about a wall socket with the manual switch removed and can still plug in any appliance into it

Not 'removed' - just never there in the first place - like this click here.

Could I take a spur from an existing wall socket to create a new socket and have that controlled by the separate relay you mention above. In that way, I can plug in any lcd monitor. I'm new to all this relay wizardry, so apologies if I'm talking rubbish.

Yes, that's the sort of thing we're talking about (provided that the existing socket is not already an unfused spur from a ring circuit - in which case one is not allowed to spur from it - an electrician could check that). The relay would be wired in 'between' the existing socket and the new one.

What is the name of the type of relay that you mention that would control the socket, so I can google it and can get some product info.

There are countless available. Most are just 'bare', so you would also need to provide an appropriate enclosure ('box') for it.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Also don't really want high voltage wire going down to the bottom of the drive 17m.

You mean low voltage: //www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:voltage-bands

 

[howardino]

Apart from all the IR / Relay stuff, have you checked that when the monitor is simply powered up (by the socket) that the screen will display CCTV?

If it's a dedicated monitor maybe it will, but if you're using a TV, they usually stay in standby.

Funny you should mention that! Not only is their the problem of going into standby when powered up, there is also how long a tv/monitor takes to actually display a picture. The problem is that these 2 items are not usually listed on the spec sheet so internet research is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. So I had to do things the old fashioned way. Went down to currys and trying to look as normal as possible, switch tv's/monitors off and on and take some notes! Looking around occasionally, to see if I'm getting any funny looks saying that bloke's a nutter! Most tv's take around 8seconds to turn on. I did find a couple of monitors that take around 3 seconds to turn on. These are pc monitors, they do go into standby if there is no video signal.

 

[JohnW2]

These are pc monitors, they do go into standby if there is no video signal.

They generally do - but I think this is usually a function that one can 'turn off'. However, in the situation you've been describing, wouldn't a video signal already be present when they were powered up, anyway?

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What I'm trying to achieve is, that when someone steps foot onto my drive, the IR beam is broken, the relay turns on the mains socket, which turns on the connected lcd monitor, which is showing cctv. That way family members can quickly see who is approaching the property.

What will happen when you are all asleep?

Or out/away?

 

[howardino]

However, in the situation you've been describing, wouldn't a video signal already be present when they were powered up, anyway?

Very much so, so the standby issue wouldn't be a problem is what I was trying to infer. So these pc monitors are on my shortlist.

I'm actually using 7" lcd monitors at the moment as I found they are instant on. Which will do for now and are ok for displaying a particular video channel, not so good for displaying a matrix.

These are 12v driven, could the output of the beams run these directly (assuming the amp-age from the beam is sufficient?). the 7" monitor is 12v 6w which is 0.5A.

I'm guessing the relay will only provide power for a second or so. I'd need some sort of timer control i.e. the relay to trigger a timer of sorts.

The more I think about this, it does look like I need to use home automation type product, where I can feed the relay into, and then control programatically.

 

[howardino]

What will happen when you are all asleep?

Or out/away?

At the moment, I have a external pir sensor, with a rf socket and chime bell.
So when we are sleeping, the chime bell alerts us to any activity, and I can quickly check the monitor if there is anything untoward.

I'm trying to replicate this using beams, as the pir sensor covers the property itself and doesn't have enough range to the bottom of the drive. If I put another sensor at the bottom, I'm going to boundary overspill - the front of our property is completely open.

If we are out, it doesn't matter, the bell rings, the monitor comes on for 30secs and goes off. No big deal. If you wondering whether I get alerted to a visitor to the property, yes the dvr sends me an email alert.

 

[howardino]

Not sure whether you want to just turn the socket on with the beam, how were you thinking of turning it off?

Maybe you would consider a wireless connection between the sensor and socket?

http://bit.ly/16LpV0l

This one seems to have only one remote, but its just an example. I went for this one, not for the high IP rating (not sure where you intend to put the socket), but for the good range (70M). Most will turn on from inside the house, with the socket on the external wall.
You will have to replace the "turn on" button on one of the remotes with the relay contacts of the output relay (12V @ 0.5A) on the beam, but its all low voltage work. How does that sound?

You can then use a second remote to turn the socket off, if you so wish

I'm sure some of the other members, will have issues I may have overlooked.

sorry buddy, think I missed your post. I've often wondered if remotes could be hacked and some sort of relay switch put in. It does sound good, as there are quite a few sockets with rf remotes, but just not sure what sort of hack/parts would be required. Plus would also need some sort of timer to turn it off again.

 

[JohnW2]

However, in the situation you've been describing, wouldn't a video signal already be present when they were powered up, anyway?

Very much so, so the standby issue wouldn't be a problem is what I was trying to infer. So these pc monitors are on my shortlist.

That's what I was also implying.

These are 12v driven, could the output of the beams run these directly (assuming the amp-age from the beam is sufficient?). the 7" monitor is 12v 6w which is 0.5A.

I very much doubt it, but that would depend on the specification of the IR beam device. I suspect that most are only designed to produce a low current 'signal' output to interface with an alarm system.

I'm guessing the relay will only provide power for a second or so. I'd need some sort of timer control i.e. the relay to trigger a timer of sorts.

Again, that would depend upon the design of the beam device. If it only produces an output whilst the beam(s) are interrupted then, yes, you would need some sort of 'timer' to keep your monitor on beyond that. However, it's far from impossible that some of yhese devices have built in functionality which maintains the output for a period beyond that of beam interruption.

The more I think about this, it does look like I need to use home automation type product, where I can feed the relay into, and then control programatically.

It's certainly getting more complicated. Again, it could well be that you would be best off finding someone experienced in such matters - it's very possible that there are 'standard solutions' (and products) available for the sort of functionality you want, and an understanding of the spec and behaviour of the beam device would certainly be central to any designing.

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

I'm trying to replicate this using beams, as the pir sensor covers the property itself and doesn't have enough range to the bottom of the drive. If I put another sensor at the bottom, I'm going to boundary overspill - the front of our property is completely open.

Couldn't you simply point a PIR away from the boundary, so that it would only detect movement on your side of the boundary?

Kind Regards, John

 

[howardino]

Couldn't you simply point a PIR away from the boundary, so that it would only detect movement on your side of the boundary?

The problem with that is, it would leave open an area where someone could sneak up the side and put a bag or something over the pir.