Weatherproof "button"
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From: ehsjr on 6 May 2010 01:06 D Yuniskis wrote: > Hi John, > > John Ferrell wrote: > >> On Tue, 04 May 2010 14:05:31 -0700, D Yuniskis >> <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote: >> >>> I need some sort of "button" (sensor?) that I can locate out >>> "in the elements" and use to activate the irrigation system. >>> I.e., "push this button to turn on the water supply". >> >> >> I have a switch on a sump pump at the bottom of a ramp entrance to my >> basement workshop. I has been there for about 17 years without any >> problems. Its purpose is to allow the pump to be turned off for >> service. It is a common electric switch from the home improvement >> store in a normal weather proof utility box from th same place. Meets >> code, works well and easily replaced when the time comes. Less >> than $20. > > > Weatherproof j-box is not "unobtrusive" :> > > Also, I don't want a "switch" that holds "state" (though I > can obviously deliberately *ignore* that state) since the > purpose of the "button" is to *call* for water -- not *gate* > the water supply. I.e., I will turn the water off "later" > without regard for the state of the switch *or* the manual > valve on the hose bib. > > I think the magnetic-sensor-with-attached-magnet scheme > I described elsewhere will work. I just need to come up with > a pleasing way of dressing it up! Affix your magnet to something that won't rust, and hang it on the hose bib. Something like a nylon or plastic shower curtain hook would work, so that the magnet is fairly close to the hose bib. (To make it less obtrusive looking.) Mount your reed close to the bib, but above it. The magnet hangs down, the reed is above - so you pivot the magnet around the bib once to get a momentary make on the reed. The rest is electronics for your on time. You can also build the electronics such that, if you hold the magnet there for a full second, it resets the timer, in case you want to manually turn the irrigation off before the timer does. Ed
From: Charlie E. on 6 May 2010 01:14 On Thu, 06 May 2010 01:06:51 -0400, ehsjr <ehsjr(a)nospamverizon.net> wrote: >D Yuniskis wrote: >> Hi John, >> >> John Ferrell wrote: >> >>> On Tue, 04 May 2010 14:05:31 -0700, D Yuniskis >>> <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote: >>> >>>> I need some sort of "button" (sensor?) that I can locate out >>>> "in the elements" and use to activate the irrigation system. >>>> I.e., "push this button to turn on the water supply". >>> >>> >>> I have a switch on a sump pump at the bottom of a ramp entrance to my >>> basement workshop. I has been there for about 17 years without any >>> problems. Its purpose is to allow the pump to be turned off for >>> service. It is a common electric switch from the home improvement >>> store in a normal weather proof utility box from th same place. Meets >>> code, works well and easily replaced when the time comes. Less >>> than $20. >> >> >> Weatherproof j-box is not "unobtrusive" :> >> >> Also, I don't want a "switch" that holds "state" (though I >> can obviously deliberately *ignore* that state) since the >> purpose of the "button" is to *call* for water -- not *gate* >> the water supply. I.e., I will turn the water off "later" >> without regard for the state of the switch *or* the manual >> valve on the hose bib. >> >> I think the magnetic-sensor-with-attached-magnet scheme >> I described elsewhere will work. I just need to come up with >> a pleasing way of dressing it up! > >Affix your magnet to something that won't rust, and hang it on >the hose bib. Something like a nylon or plastic shower curtain >hook would work, so that the magnet is fairly close to the hose >bib. (To make it less obtrusive looking.) Mount your reed close >to the bib, but above it. The magnet hangs down, the reed is >above - so you pivot the magnet around the bib once to get a >momentary make on the reed. The rest is electronics for your on >time. You can also build the electronics such that, if you hold >the magnet there for a full second, it resets the timer, in case >you want to manually turn the irrigation off before the timer does. > >Ed Ok, so as I understand this, what you want is to have a single irrigation line that actually goes to a set of faucets throughout your yard. This is for speciallized, temporary irrigation, NOT for car cleaning, window washing, or other uses that require flow or pressure, because you are using standard irrigation valves to provide control of this line. You are also building (or have built) a custom irrigation timer that you can have an external input to to operate a special, short term mode that will provide water to this line after an external input. Use the reed relay and an external magnet. Put the relay in a plastic flower, and the magnet in a plastic bee... Charlie
From: D Yuniskis on 6 May 2010 01:41 Hi Charlie, Charlie E. wrote: >>>>> I need some sort of "button" (sensor?) that I can locate out >>>>> "in the elements" and use to activate the irrigation system. >>>>> I.e., "push this button to turn on the water supply". > Ok, so as I understand this, what you want is to have a single > irrigation line that actually goes to a set of faucets throughout your No. I have an electrically operated (manual override) "master valve" that feeds a 1" PVC line that runs around the property. Off of this line, there are several valve manifolds for the various "irrigation circuits" (think of this as "watering the lawn" -- but we don't have a "lawn" per se). Each valve manifold feeds a set of irrigation valves and pressure reducers (since the nylon irrigation line doesn't like the full pressure of the municipal water supply). These are controlled by an irrigation controller. Meanwhile, that same 1" PVC has additional "taps" for "faucets" (like you would typically have mounted on the outside of your home). This allows municipal water (i.e., water that hasn't gone through the water softener) to be used in the yard. Typically, it is for supplemental irrigation, washing off garden tools, etc. > yard. This is for speciallized, temporary irrigation, NOT for car > cleaning, window washing, or other uses that require flow or pressure, > because you are using standard irrigation valves to provide control of No, the full municipal water pressure is available at these "faucets". The manual valve in the hose bib effectively acts as a pressure reducer by limiting flow *rate*. > this line. You are also building (or have built) a custom irrigation > timer that you can have an external input to to operate a special, > short term mode that will provide water to this line after an external > input. Yes. *Or*, I can "program" any of the "faucets" to run AS IF they were additional "irrigation circuits". E.g., in the winter, they will be used to "mist" the citrus trees on nights when the temperature falls too low. > Use the reed relay and an external magnet. Put the relay in a plastic > flower, and the magnet in a plastic bee... As stated elsewhere, I'll bury the sensor *in* the wall above the "faucet" and let the magnet drape over it. I'll nudge the magnet out of the way to "call for water" (i.e., "UNpush" the "button") and let it fall back into place (gravity -- no springs needed, etc.). Even if the magnet gets "stuck" out of place, the controller won't care as it can act on "transitions" and not "state".
From: JosephKK on 6 May 2010 08:04 On Wed, 05 May 2010 11:46:55 -0700, D Yuniskis <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote: >Hi Joseph, > >JosephKK wrote: >> On Tue, 04 May 2010 14:50:12 -0700, D Yuniskis <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> >> wrote: >> >>>> In article <hrq1s1$ve1$1(a)speranza.aioe.org>, >>>> D Yuniskis <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I need some sort of "button" (sensor?) that I can locate out >>>>> "in the elements" and use to activate the irrigation system. >>>>> I.e., "push this button to turn on the water supply". >> >> I have seen water timers that you place inline with your hose, it gives >> you a set amount of time (adjustable) and stops the flow. You have to >> disconnect it (pressure lock) to use it again. No batteries either. > >Yes, neighbor had one of those -- until their (large) dog >"tripped" on the hose and broke the plastic timer assembly >off of it :> Quite a bit of water in the yard before they >returned home to discover it! > >Controlling the duration, etc. is easy -- it's just another >"channel" on the irrigation controller. The tough part is >providing a means ("button") for the user to tell the >controller, "please begin irrigation cycle for circuit X". On mine it is just go to the irrigation controller, turn the knob, push a few buttons, and return the knob to the normal operation position. The new uC based irrigation controllers can be very nice to use. Spend 20 X as much and control it from your home PC as well.
From: Jan Panteltje on 6 May 2010 08:11
On a sunny day (Wed, 05 May 2010 16:21:01 -0700) it happened D Yuniskis <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote in <hrsu64$sag$1(a)speranza.aioe.org>: >But, mainly, it allows each faucet to be used as a supplemental >irrigation circuit as needed. E.g., I can run a hose from >a faucet to a new planting, program the controller to >"water daily" (required for new plantings) and, a few weeks >later, remove the hose and clear the supplemental program >as the "established" planting can survive on the normal >irrigation circuit (to which it's been plumbed). Well, as it seems you have a controller anyways, I my house I would put a small electret microphone outside (weather proof), and feed it into the home control system that runs perlbox-voice (in Linux). Then saying 'water water please', will let the PC know you are thirsty, and do with the controller whatever it wants whenever I wants. perlbox-voice is pretty good, if you set the volume so that you need to be close to the mike, I expect few false alarms. And as a bones the thirsty crying for water will get what they want. Or you could use the email button / feature of your cellphone, and send a precomposed email to the same home control PC. That way you need no wires at all, and have the 'key' always in your pocket. I have done something like that for other control here. Can be your door opener / lock too. |