Hi all,
I'm new to this forum, and newly back to the forum game in general. Lately have been finding most the answers I need with Google alone. This one's different, because I am finding I don't know what to Google for...
My electrical understanding is mediocre at best. I know how to read a schematic, know the symbols pretty well, and can build a simple circuit off one. I have the hardest time understanding how all the parts work together, which is why I come to you. And this is all just so you know how to talk to me, me being new and all.
So here's my situation...And in exchange for your generous help, you are welcome to use my concept, ineffectual as it may turn out to be, however you want, and make billions of dollars off it (and am I getting delusional here?)
So....
I've been thinking of ways I could remotely control the solenoid-based watering cycles of an irrigation system without expensive WIFI-controlled equipment. And I may have come up with something, I just need some help with the circuit theories. I imagine they would be pretty simple, and am guessing 555 timers could be used for a lot of it.
Here's the basic concept:
A regular land telephone line would control a relay which controls the solenoid valve which lets water run to the plants.
This would require a countdown timer circuit that would open the valve for a few minutes and shut itself off.
The phone line would be called, and hung-up while it's ringing. I have discovered that when a land phone line is dialed and hung-up, the normally-constant voltage drops from 50vdc to 0 (or nearly 0) for a second, then goes back up to 50vdc
Therefore, the trigger mechanism could be a voltage drop detector circuit that would activate the countdown timer circuit when it detects this drop.
To prevent unwanted activation by random calls, another circuit would need to be included that allows activation only when the voltage drop is detected twice within the same minute (I would call, hang-up, then call back and hang-up within the same minute to activate the solenoid and countdown timer.)
So I need to find and build these circuits:
1) One that will detect the voltage drop of a phone line when it is hung-up (about 50vdc to less than 10vdc)
2) One that will activate a countdown timer only when 2 of the same voltage drops are detected within 60 seconds of each other
3) The countdown timer itself, which would close the circuit for a relay for 2-3 minutes, then open again.
Thank you for reading and for any help you can share! I will also share any progress I make with this...based on the help you are able to provide. Breadboard is ready! Thanks again.
David
I'm new to this forum, and newly back to the forum game in general. Lately have been finding most the answers I need with Google alone. This one's different, because I am finding I don't know what to Google for...
My electrical understanding is mediocre at best. I know how to read a schematic, know the symbols pretty well, and can build a simple circuit off one. I have the hardest time understanding how all the parts work together, which is why I come to you. And this is all just so you know how to talk to me, me being new and all.
So here's my situation...And in exchange for your generous help, you are welcome to use my concept, ineffectual as it may turn out to be, however you want, and make billions of dollars off it (and am I getting delusional here?)
So....
I've been thinking of ways I could remotely control the solenoid-based watering cycles of an irrigation system without expensive WIFI-controlled equipment. And I may have come up with something, I just need some help with the circuit theories. I imagine they would be pretty simple, and am guessing 555 timers could be used for a lot of it.
Here's the basic concept:
A regular land telephone line would control a relay which controls the solenoid valve which lets water run to the plants.
This would require a countdown timer circuit that would open the valve for a few minutes and shut itself off.
The phone line would be called, and hung-up while it's ringing. I have discovered that when a land phone line is dialed and hung-up, the normally-constant voltage drops from 50vdc to 0 (or nearly 0) for a second, then goes back up to 50vdc
Therefore, the trigger mechanism could be a voltage drop detector circuit that would activate the countdown timer circuit when it detects this drop.
To prevent unwanted activation by random calls, another circuit would need to be included that allows activation only when the voltage drop is detected twice within the same minute (I would call, hang-up, then call back and hang-up within the same minute to activate the solenoid and countdown timer.)
So I need to find and build these circuits:
1) One that will detect the voltage drop of a phone line when it is hung-up (about 50vdc to less than 10vdc)
2) One that will activate a countdown timer only when 2 of the same voltage drops are detected within 60 seconds of each other
3) The countdown timer itself, which would close the circuit for a relay for 2-3 minutes, then open again.
Thank you for reading and for any help you can share! I will also share any progress I make with this...based on the help you are able to provide. Breadboard is ready! Thanks again.
David