26 Jun
2001
26 Jun
'01
1:11 a.m.
From: Mike Ford <mikeford(a)socal.rr.com>
Reply-To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: power control
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 16:34:13 -0700
You might consider OPTP22 devices.
I'm currently working on a home automation project using OPTO22 technology.
I have found them to be easy to interface, flexible, cost effective, and
very reliable. The devices are controlled via a RS422 serial interface
(easily converted to RS232) and drivers are available for a number of OSs
including DOS, WINDOWS, and Linux. The protocols aren't that complex so
writing your own driver, if one is not available, wouldn't be too difficult.
Most of the work I've done so far is basic experimentation and prototyping.
I currently have a OPTO22 controller interfaced to a HP 9000/832 running
HP-UX 10.20. It can turn on and off a few lights, measure the temperature in
the house, etc... All the collected data is captured into an Informix DB.
The application(s) are written in PERL / CGI and I have put together a
rudimentary web interface. I don't have a static IP otherwise, I'd publish
the address so others could see the system in operation.
My ultimate goal is to build an automated Printed Circuit Board drilling
machine using a classic HP 3000 MPE computer running COBOL. I'm not sure if
OPTO22 is suitable for that application or not, I'll need to do a lot more
experimentation to make that determination. If it's too difficult, I may
wind up using a STD BUS computer as a smart controller/interface between the
drilling machine and the 3000.
FWIW: All the hardware I'm running is over 10 years old so, it is on topic.
With the exception of the 9000, most of it is closer to 20 years old.
SteveRob
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But as I said, it depends on what you want to do.
If all the devices are
close together, a simple relay-driver + relays might is probably the
Do you know what I mean by, the urge to engineer? It is the irresistable
force that makes us tinkering types want to make something instead of doing
it. ;)
Maybe that is why I have ended up doing process control work so many times.
Its just fun to turn stuff on and off with the computer, and the bigger the
mess of stuff, the better.
26 Jun
26 Jun
2:20 a.m.
Responses inline:
On Tue, 26 Jun 2001, Steve Robertson wrote:
Seconded.
Maybe that is
why I have ended up doing process control work so many times.
Its just fun to turn stuff on and off with the computer, and the bigger the
mess of stuff, the better.
You might consider OPTP22 devices. I'm currently working on a home automation project
using OPTO22 technology.
I have found them to be easy to interface, flexible, cost effective, and
very reliable. The devices are controlled via a RS422 serial interface
(easily converted to RS232) and drivers are available for a number of OSs
including DOS, WINDOWS, and Linux. The protocols aren't that complex so
writing your own driver, if one is not available, wouldn't be too difficult.
The protocols are a complete piece of cake. You wouldn't even need to
write a driver. It would be simple enough just to write a function that
generates the kind of checksum it wants, then just speak it's protocol
whereever you need to.
Most of the work I've done so far is basic
experimentation and prototyping.
I currently have a OPTO22 controller interfaced to a HP 9000/832 running
HP-UX 10.20. It can turn on and off a few lights, measure the temperature in
the house, etc... All the collected data is captured into an Informix DB.
The application(s) are written in PERL / CGI and I have put together a
rudimentary web interface. I don't have a static IP otherwise, I'd publish
the address so others could see the system in operation.
If anyone needs help using Opto22 stuff, I would only be too happy to
help. I have a LOT of experience with their stuff. Basically, all of the
sensors (including limit sensors) on our robots interface through Opto22
digital I/O racks. Each robot has more that 50 racks.
My ultimate goal is to build an automated Printed
Circuit Board drilling
machine using a classic HP 3000 MPE computer running COBOL. I'm not sure if
OPTO22 is suitable for that application or not, I'll need to do a lot more
experimentation to make that determination. If it's too difficult, I may
wind up using a STD BUS computer as a smart controller/interface between the
drilling machine and the 3000.
This is not what Opto22 devices are designed to do. STD BUS is designed
to do this kind of thing, but you run into other kinds of problems.
There is a company called MEI that makes motion control cards for a
variety of busses, including STD BUS and PCI. They even make VME stuff.
I am going to be replacing all the doors in my house with electric pocket
doors controlled by MEI VME cards in a Sun 4/670.
FWIW: All the hardware I'm running is over 10
years old so, it is on topic.
With the exception of the 9000, most of it is closer to 20 years old.
SteveRob
Anything related to this issue that is not older than 10 years old is ok
to me, because I find it interesting 8-).
Peace... Sridhar
10:25 a.m.
Reponses inline:
On Tue, 26 Jun 2001, Mike Ford wrote:
Absolutely 8-)
I am going to
be replacing all the doors in my house with electric pocket
doors controlled by MEI VME cards in a Sun 4/670.
And then comes madness. ;) Are these going to go "whoosh"?
Absolutely. I am setting up miniature speakers in the door frames. I am
serious.
What sort of cost are you figuring?
I figure I can do my whole house for under $1000, figuring as I am going
to be doing all of the design and wiring myself.
Peace... Sridhar
10:53 a.m.
On Tue, Jun 26, 2001 at 06:25:23PM -0400, Vance Dereksen wrote:
On Tue, 26 Jun 2001, Mike Ford wrote:
I'm building an automatic door too. It would be easier to use a screw
drive but I thought the "whoosh" would be completely natural if it were
driven by an air cylinder instead. The main problem is I need to find
electric air valves to control which end of the cylinder gets the air.
Any ideas where to look?
I plan to use a barn door slide that I had extra to hang the door
(rectangular track about 2 x 3 inches cross-section, with wheeled "trucks"
that ride in the track from which you hang the door), but it will make some
noise too. With a motor screw drive, it might end up sounding more like
the "cargo bay" doors. That might be OK, and the air cylinder thing is
kindof complicated anyway.
I'm not sure how to build one so that you hear only the "whoosh" and no
other sliding/rolling noises. Maybe if the door was light enough, it
could use an air suspension (blow air through holes in the bottom and
sides of the door, against tracks, thus no wheels needed); but mine is
heavy steel, well over 100 pounds I think. There's a picture here
http://ecloud.org/~ecloud/journal/photos/door.jpg
but I've done a bit more cleanup since then.
I also want to run a laser beam along the edge of the door and stop it
if the beam is broken. (This is also easier to do with a screw drive.)
--
_______ Shawn T. Rutledge / KB7PWD ecloud(a)bigfoot.com
(_ | |_) http://www.bigfoot.com/~ecloud kb7pwd(a)kb7pwd.ampr.org
__) | | \________________________________________________________________
Are these going to go "whoosh"?
Absolutely. I am setting up miniature speakers in the door frames. I am
serious. 
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4 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
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ecloud＠bigfoot.com -
mikeford＠socal.rr.com -
steven_j_robertson＠hotmail.com -
vance＠ikickass.org