Relay contact to SMS for Warnings - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2012, 11:24:13 pm
content: HiDoes anyone know of any off the shelf system that would take relay contact inputs and send out SMS messages?It's basically to extend a warning system.Obviously the hardware would need some sort of configuration, relay inputs and either a Lan connection or a mobile phone capability.There are plenty of SMS message services, so it would need to integrate with one of them. (An Australian one is a must but other countries too).I thought there may be something already out there as it is not a unique problem. I talked to a guy from MessageMedia who said most clients just make their own.Anyway if I can't find anything off the shelf I will develop my own, I already have suitable hardware based on a Netburner 5270 but it will take me a few weeks to get the software right.It would just run as a web client, using SSL and would have to hook into the Message services api. Also need some sort of configuration Gui.

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2012, 11:56:20 pm
content: Does it have to use a message service? Could you use an off the shelf sms module and have the device send the sms itself?Regards

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 21, 2012, 12:01:29 am
content: Quote from: HackedFridgeMagnet on August 20, 2012, 11:24:13 pmThere are lots on the market that will do just this. What's your budget? Crude message senders as a finished product can be had from a few hundred dollars to thousands for more sophisticated and capable systems. All a matter of what you want to achieve. Most decent home and car alarm systems now offer SMS add-ons."Integrate to message services" is a pretty broad requirement, Integrate how exactly? Sending SMS is the easy bit and you can get most hardware to this anywhere there is a cell network available if you just want to generate alarm messages, why do you need any service?I do a GPRS/SMS hardware, but it's extensively programmable, a lot more capable and sophisticated than a message dialler and priced accordingly. Are you looking for a finished ready to connect product or a bare board.

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2012, 12:32:37 am
content: Thanks for the input.The system needs to have a gui to maintain a list of people who need to be contacted.So the reason I am leaning toward a Message service is that it probably has a more sophisticated Gui for managing these contacts.QuoteCan you suggest one that takes relay inputs? That can be configured to send to various phone numbers. Most probably use RS232 which means I probably have to have additional hardware.Also I wanted a solution that would work in different countries, mainly Asia, Oceania and South America so I was leaning toward a http based solution. Rather than one that uses a particular phone network.QuoteThanks I will try and find one.I am looking for a finished add on, as my boss is thinking don't reinvent the wheel, but I think I wont find exactly what is required so I will have to do some development anyway.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 21, 2012, 01:02:01 am
content: Quote from: HackedFridgeMagnet on August 21, 2012, 12:32:37 amA list per alarm or a dynamic list such as a shift rotor and/or escalation and acknowledgement strategies.QuoteThis has been the traditional solution for use with soon to be redundant dialler systems. It brings about a whole gamut of other problems costs and operational issues to resolve.QuoteEven the most basic stuff can action upon contact closure provided you have reliable volt free contacts available as triggers.QuotePossible less hardware. RS232 is a hardware standard. What protocol are you after, what data does the system have to contend with?QuoteGSM SMS will work directly in most areas, a web based solution brings a bout another level of complexity and another set of reliability and operational issues. You do not need to be tied to any single phone network.QuoteIt all depends on your requirements, you are talking a system, the contact sensing part is the easy part. You don't need to design hardware, that is reinventing the wheel. You are definitely looking at programmable units such ashttp://www.glynstore.com/products/EZ863%252dQUAD%252dPY-Quad-Band-GSM%7B47%7DGPRS-Modem-Terminal.htmlBut to some degree you will still be reinventing the wheel, I also have commercial solutions available, depends on your budget and application. PM if you'd be interested in evaluating options.

author: arclight
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2012, 01:26:39 am
content: If you're into Arduino, you could use the open-source access control software and design. Check out:http://code.google.com/p/open-access-control/I've got dev boards and monitoring scripts that will do SMS as well.Arclight

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2012, 02:07:24 am
content: Sorry RS232 is out of the question. I do not have this output.The hardware I get the alarms from is either:3 x Dry contact: for Alarm, Warning and All Clear.or http via ethernet into a webservice hosted on an embedded controller (which there is no way I will get off the shelf hardware for)or ZigBee series 2 (which there is no way I will get off the shelf hardware for)I will look at some of the alarm options:I guess as far as budget goes I would be happy if I could get a working and very reliable box for 1k. That would enable mine operators to run it without asking too many questions.Most of the cost would not be the hardware but would be in the fact that it works well, reliably, is configurable by mine workers and takes minimum time to integrate.

author: itdontgo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2012, 09:38:56 am
content: My company manufactures these thingshttp://www.adventcontrols.co.uk/products.html

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2012, 04:35:50 am
content: Thanks I will look into it.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2012, 03:34:46 pm
content: Go to a burglar alarm supplier. There are all sorts of such devices available for this either SMS or speech with both land line and gprs etc. They will normally work of mains and or 12 volts, got one on my house alarm dials six numbers and sends messages for fire of forced entry. The board was quite cheap somewhere around £60.00 as I remember it.