Over the past few weeks we’ve been in and out of hospitals for routine stuff and with it comes the inevitable waiting, and waiting......... and waiting!
So, not to get bored too much my mind goes into thinking mode !
Our heating system at home can be controlled remotely via an app on the phone, we can turn heating on/off, set timers, control zones etc so long as we have 3G/4G WiFi from anywhere..... very handy to be able to do so remotely if we’re away from home and returning etc. I built it years ago using a raspberry pi and sensors and a multiple relay board.
Stuff available now out of the box to do it, but not back then...... the sonoff range being particularly interesting which I’ve worked with, but it’s predominantly 240vAC.
So, can I do it with the heating in the van?.... not so easy being restricted to 12vDC and wanting to control it via an SMS module if no internet available in van.
So, Plans drew up using the multi-output module from gsm-uk and thru a raspberry pi monitoring and controlling temperature and on/off state and switching a relay board accordingly.
Assembled it up over the past few weeks an have it sort of tweaked and working but temperature reporting not yet sorted.... but will get there. Draw on standby is 15mA and in use is from 30mA to 70mA, so a very acceptable current draw.
Interesting project that has a way to go but proves it can be done for about €30 and means that the heating can be controlled remotely. It should be possible to bring in water heater remotely too as one relay is still surplus, but that’s another day !
It’s bringing out my ‘Dilbert’ side
So, not to get bored too much my mind goes into thinking mode !
Our heating system at home can be controlled remotely via an app on the phone, we can turn heating on/off, set timers, control zones etc so long as we have 3G/4G WiFi from anywhere..... very handy to be able to do so remotely if we’re away from home and returning etc. I built it years ago using a raspberry pi and sensors and a multiple relay board.
Stuff available now out of the box to do it, but not back then...... the sonoff range being particularly interesting which I’ve worked with, but it’s predominantly 240vAC.
So, can I do it with the heating in the van?.... not so easy being restricted to 12vDC and wanting to control it via an SMS module if no internet available in van.
So, Plans drew up using the multi-output module from gsm-uk and thru a raspberry pi monitoring and controlling temperature and on/off state and switching a relay board accordingly.
Assembled it up over the past few weeks an have it sort of tweaked and working but temperature reporting not yet sorted.... but will get there. Draw on standby is 15mA and in use is from 30mA to 70mA, so a very acceptable current draw.
Interesting project that has a way to go but proves it can be done for about €30 and means that the heating can be controlled remotely. It should be possible to bring in water heater remotely too as one relay is still surplus, but that’s another day !
It’s bringing out my ‘Dilbert’ side