Christmas Light switch... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: medictrode
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 12, 2016, 11:40:51 pm
content: Hello all, awesome forum,My mailbox is about 300 Feet from my front door, and last year I got some battery powered Christmas lights for it. It's a huge pain at the end of the night to walk out there, especially when all the other lights have on an indoor switch or 2. Anyway, I'd like to make a remote switch and I am thinking an XBee would do the trick, with maybe a relay and a lantern battery on the mailbox side so it lasts the whole season(LED Lights). Am I correct in assuming the Xbee would do the Job? I am a little overwhelmed by the amount of models there are, but it seems like a easy and useful project. Any ideas would be appreciated on what to buy, thank you..

author: Ammar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2016, 11:53:47 pm
content: XBee and Bluetooth and the like have data rates much higher than what you would need to switch lights on and off. I would grab one of those cheap wireless door chimes or an old remote control car and turn that into a wireless link.One of these maybehttp://www.ebay.com.au/bhp/remote-power-switch.At Bunnings, a warehouse shop in Australia, they have them for around $18 with one remote and a mains switch.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 12:29:42 am
content: Quote from: Ammar on October 12, 2016, 11:53:47 pmThey don't have anything like 300' range, although you could possibly add better antennas.Xbee would probably work, but why not use a simple timer?

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 01:13:43 am
content: I'd probably go for a solar charged battery and let it turn itself off when the charge falls below a set minimum.There are heaps to choose from all over eBay and other places.

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 05:55:37 am
content: Or a phototransistor & MOSFET (plus $0.30 worth of glue). $3 all-in on veroboard.What sort of battery are you using? SLA will die with deep discharge - you may want to lookk into cut-off and charging options as well. Or walk 300m to the switch!

author: medictrode
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 10:58:14 am
content: All great ideas, much appreciated. I guess I just like to overcomplicate things, plus I always wanted to use the XBee module..:-)

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 11:20:44 am
content: Quote from: medictrode on October 13, 2016, 10:58:14 amAhhh - now I understand!

author: Ammar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 11:21:39 am
content: They don't have anything like 300' rangeAh right, good point.

author: grifftech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 03:30:35 pm
content: just use some levers, string, pulleys, rods

author: ice595
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 10:46:43 pm
content: instead of a RF remote, how about using an infrared remote? just replace the IR LED with an IR laser diodeIR should work well at night.

author: JS
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 10:53:03 pm
content: Why not a photo sensor and a timer? I guess when sky goes dark you want it to turn on and a few hours after that off... A µC doing so would draw very little, sure the duration of the battery would still be imposed by the lights... The solar charger mentioned before would help with that.JS

author: Tim T
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 12:16:11 am
content: We have a couple sets of LED lighted snowmen powered by batteries (varies, either AA or D) which have an timer build into the battery case. Push the button once, and they power on for about four hours at the same time every day. I have yet to take mine apart - would be funny if it had a 555 timer.You are in the US, what I am talking about looks very similar to what can be found quite cheaply at that big box discount store everyone likes to hate. (Holiday Time 4-Piece Vintage Snowman Pathway Christmas Lighted Lawn Stakes Set ). If you don't like snowmen splice in LEDs of your choosing.tim

author: sycho123321
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 02:37:36 am
content: I use one of thesehttps://www.amazon.com/Thunbird-Channel-Wireless-Receiver-Momentary/dp/B00BQ842DG/ref=pd_lpo_267_lp_t_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XAZ36YTAX9M53XV6APZPworks really well

author: JS
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 02:51:30 am
content: Quote from: Tim T on October 14, 2016, 12:16:11 ami'd like to see those caps!JS