Household (RSS)

Posts about the house and things in it
Thursday, November 29, 2007 10:27 AM

Phidgets project update

The implementation of my Closet Venting Project was so easy in all the languages I tried.  I had to make it slightly more challenging.  So, I took the .NET Assemblies (DLLs) and used Reflector to disassemble them in to C# code.  Once I had the ".cs" files, I recompiled it on the Linux box, using the latest version of Mono. 

Since all the C function names and parameters were the same in Windows and Linux, I just added one configuration entry to tell it to use "libphidgets21.so" when the DllImport calls refer to "Phidgets21.dll".  This forwarded all the wrapped C functions in that DLL to the Linux "so" (shared library).  Then, I took my original C# code and compiled that on the Linux box with Mono too.  It worked! :)

Here's the configuration line:

<dllmap dll="phidget21.dll" target="libphidget21.so" />

I had a couple new requirements for myself.  I needed it to run as a "service" so that I could restart it and replace it with new versions at will.  After a few tries, I realized that I could just use the /etc/inittab.  The entry looks like:

FC:2345:respawn:/opt/mono-1.2.5.1/bin/mono /home/tom/FanController/FanController.exe

This sets the ID to "FC" and runs it at runlevels 2,3,4,5.  What it also does is automatically respawn the process if it exits.  So, I needed a way to make it exit itself.  So, I added a very simple .NET Remoting interface into the app to kill it.  So, if you call FanController with a "/X", it connects to the currently running version of itself and calls a function.  This function sets the ManualResetEvent that the app normally waits on before it exits.

So, an upgrade consists of:
  • compile a new version
  • run "mono FanController.exe /X"
That's it!  I, for one, think that's pretty cool :)
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Wednesday, November 14, 2007 1:22 PM

Closet Venting Project

I had a problem with a closet full of computers getting too hot to the point that fans and power supplies were dying.  So, I decided to do something about it.  I used Phidgets for the sensors.  I wrote the software in C#, then PowerShell, and then , finally, in C in Linux (was easier for my deployment). 

There are photos here

When the temperature hits 80 degrees Fahrenheit, it applies 5V to the digital output, which triggers the Xantech controlled outlet.  This, in turn vents the room until the temperature goes below 80 degrees, at which time the 5V signal is dropped.

It was actually pretty easy to do.  The total cost was kinda high... maybe $250 if you don't count buying the Dremel tool.  The good part is that the Phidgets 8/8/8 Interface Kit supports 16 inputs (8 analog, 8 digital).  So, I can buy new stuff and add on to this much cheaper. 

Hopefully I'll have more to post about soon.

UPDATE: I posted some new info here
posted by Tom with 1 Comments
Friday, April 27, 2007 10:50 AM

*I* fixed an appliance!

OK... we have a U-line WC15 wine cooler (under counter model).  It stopped cooling.  So, we did the natural thing... bought a replacement (different product, same function).

Then, after a little prodding from my father during his visit, I decided to check it out.
The symptoms were simple:  The light worked... the rest of it never turned on.

So, my dad said that it's one of 2 things, either the relay switch that turns on the compressor is bad... or the temperature control is.

After using my multimeter and using a wire to jumper over the both of these, I determined that the temperature control was the culprit.  I found a cool site called RepairClinic.com that made it really easy to find a new part.  For about $65 I got a new one.  I installed it yesterday and everything's working fine now.  Pretty cool.

Luckily, I have a friend who is interested in buying the replacement I bought.  Since we gave it a two week test run, he knows it works well :)

Lesson learned:  I know enough about electricity and things to test my electrical things when they go on the fritz...
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Thursday, December 22, 2005 8:40 AM

I can stop whenever I want to...

Wired has a new article about how American's "need" their gadgets.  Duh!

How many people who are used to carrying them would like living without a cell phone?
And Tivo (or at least the functionality of one) is now as important to me as blood plasma.  (Though I did build a Myth TV box because I don't like some of the things Tivo has been announcing/implementing lately.  I only use Tivo as a backup now)  People ask me when a TV show is on, I kind of stare at them blankly.  Then I say "You don't have a Tivo?" as if I was saying "You don't own any pants?".

Some more projects that I look forward to being completely dependent on:
  • Video surveillance of the house on my PC (doors, driveway, back yard, showers -- just kidding)
  • Fingerprint scanners on the doors
  • Beer on tap
  • Full home automation -
    • whole house music (got it)
    • software-based grocery lists integrated with Palm/Pocket PC devices and the internet
    • Voice authentication and recognition sofware for doors, wine cellar, music playing, etc.
    • Automatic temperature monitoring of the wine cellar (with email / phone alert capability)
    • voice/internet/software controlled thermostats and humidity
    • (Eventually) Integrate the appliances with this system (notification that the dryer is done popping up on the TV or being played through the speakers when listening to music
    • Auto-pause / Auto-mute music / TV when the phone rings
    • Caller-ID popup on all TVs in the house (and possibly audibly announced through speakers).
    • Auto-close the garage door if we leave it open for too long.
    • Driveway trigger to tell us when someone drives down the driveway (Ding! on the speakers, popup on the TV)
      • Automatically pause and then switch the TV to view the driveway
    • Voice control of the TV
    • Touch screen interface for all house functionality in various rooms of the house.
The list goes on and on.  I can't wait to have all of it too :)

I am sure that, once I have these things, and they are working consistently, I will not be able to live without them.  There's nothing wrong with that, is there?
posted by Tom (Comments Off)