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TonyNo
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| Posted: February 18 2007 at 16:08 | IP Logged
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Thanks.
The leads go to a wall wart. Batteries would not last long driving these emitters. Two alkaline AA's would only go about 35 hours, and that's not cutting it off once it gets below the voltage drop of the LED's.
This ir pair seems pretty directional; you need to have them aimed pretty squarely. I've done something similar to this before and ended up using lasers. These days, they are a bit cheaper.  Maybe I'll pick up some laser pointers and try them.
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guerrand
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| Posted: February 18 2007 at 23:02 | IP Logged
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gah, I came across an old laser pointer of mine. I didn't have the usual batts on hand for it but I had a couple A23's... hooked one up and pressed the button, nothing happened... so I'm fiddling with it and POW... just happens to go off while I'm turning it around and I catch it in my left eye. Didn't know it could go THAT bright. lol (note to self... replace burned out laser pointer.)
that's an interesting idea tho, using lasers. I might look into that too. The energy is more directly focused to the task.
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dhoward
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| Posted: February 19 2007 at 13:41 | IP Logged
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Now it's my turn, you guys ROCK! Very inspirational project. I'd be very interested in seeing the final schematics of the circuits that you finally settle on. Ive got a number of security door/window sensors back when X10 was giving them away for something like 4 for the price of 1. Never even opened them. Ive been wanting to come up with something similar to this using light beams to keep the pets out of the living room (two units mounted one above the other...the bottom one would be triggered by pets, the second one mounted high enough so that humans would trigger both...a little PH logic and Ive got a pet alarm) and it never even dawned upon me to possibly use these sensors that Ive just got lying around.
Keep up the great work guys!!!
Dave.
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guerrand
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| Posted: February 19 2007 at 17:09 | IP Logged
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We try to keep things interesting around here. You're always under your dev rock after all. :P
Incidentally, how's that next build coming? 
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TonyNo
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| Posted: February 19 2007 at 20:59 | IP Logged
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Picked up two laser pens today for $2.88 each...
These look like they can be reduced to a very small envelope...
More later!
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guerrand
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| Posted: February 19 2007 at 21:02 | IP Logged
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Nice. Are those dual beam?
hmm, you know what... I'm thinking this is starting to have the makings of a super cool spy movie security system. Just a few well placed mini mirrors..
Edited by guerrand - February 19 2007 at 21:03
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TonyNo
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| Posted: February 19 2007 at 21:59 | IP Logged
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Nah, one aperture is for a blue LED. 
Ooh. It may be easer to align a mirror than the laser...
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TonyNo
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| Posted: February 20 2007 at 00:01 | IP Logged
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Grr. These are 4.5V devices. 5V fried one...
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guerrand
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| Posted: February 20 2007 at 01:58 | IP Logged
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Ahh, well... I don't see what use a blue led would really be on a laser pointer pen.. lol
Oh no... I've given Tony and idea... this is gonna end like mission impossible... actually, no. That movie stank.
yikes, now that's a low tolerance. Good thing it was cheap.
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guerrand
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| Posted: February 20 2007 at 02:01 | IP Logged
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Hmm, Do you think this might be overkill?
linky
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TonyNo
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| Posted: February 20 2007 at 07:53 | IP Logged
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 Nothing beats melted phototransistors and scars.
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theowl
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| Posted: February 20 2007 at 19:15 | IP Logged
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After checkout out what the two of you are cooking up, I searched the net for a while to get further ideas. The following site might be in relation to what your doing, or something for a future project.
http://www.philohome.com/sensors/lasersensor.htm
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TonyNo
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| Posted: February 20 2007 at 23:25 | IP Logged
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Good info there! Thanks for posting.
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guerrand
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| Posted: February 21 2007 at 00:55 | IP Logged
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<hanibal Lector voice>goodie goodie</hanibal Lector voice>
Something else for me to try.
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guerrand
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| Posted: July 08 2007 at 02:51 | IP Logged
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Hey Tony, how did your sensor work out with both receivers in the one unit? Was the close proximity of them lead to any reliability problems?
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TonyNo
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| Posted: July 08 2007 at 09:51 | IP Logged
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Heh, still in-progress! I never found a suitable power supply that didn't fry the cheap laser pointers (the voltage needs to be regulated to 4.5v). I need to get back to this project.
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guerrand
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| Posted: July 08 2007 at 17:14 | IP Logged
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I know the feeling on the "work in progress" bit. I found after a month or so the sun got into a position where it would shine right on one of the sensors. (damn orbital inclination!)
I don't know what level your electronics skills fall into but you should be able to make your own with a few parts from radio shack. That might end up being the easiest way to make sure it's spot on to your specs.
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TonyNo
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| Posted: July 08 2007 at 18:18 | IP Logged
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Heh. I'm actually an EE, but just lazy.
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guerrand
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| Posted: July 09 2007 at 12:11 | IP Logged
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ROFL!
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onhiatus
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| Posted: July 09 2007 at 16:48 | IP Logged
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Not lazy. Efficient.
There's a difference, at least that's what I tell my wife...
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PowerHome Messageboard : PowerHome Programming
Topic: Multi-x and Extended x10
