On 4 June 2012 23:18, James Harper <james.harper@bendigoit.com.au> wrote:
I need a 240V switch that can be controlled via USB, also being able to measure the current flowing (or at least the presence/lack of some current) via USB. Linux compatible of course :)
Arduino provides lots of nice interfaces via Linux & USB to hardware. I built this one: http://www.practicalarduino.com/projects/appliance-remote-control which allows you to turn on/off 240 volt appliances via radio which is a way to stay safe and legal from 240volt cabling. It switches on/off my heater (I also added a temperature sensor). I talk to it via serial over USB - sending commands to turn it on/off.
Ideally this switch would have a dead mans reset too - my linux controller would need to send an 'on' signal every (say) 30 seconds or it would turn off automatically.
Any suggestions? I could probably build the 240V logic myself but aren't qualified and it would suck if something caught fire etc because I did something stupid :)
Doesn't have your dead man's reset or current/voltage sensor but perhaps that book (http://www.practicalarduino.com/about) has some other projects (or the web) that you can adapt to fit your needs. It certainly describes the issues with control/manipulating HW in a way I found very understandable and practical for people with out much electrical experience. Mind you soldering and related skills do take a little bit of working at to get working... Andrew