How would you control lamps

[JAGedlion]

My current plan is to use like 8 relays to control power to 8 outlets in turn controlled by a d-type flip-flop in turn controled by the parallel port.
I wasn't sure I wanted to pull all the current to operate the relays from the parallel port is the only reason I'm using the flip-flop.
I want to avoid using a microcontroller, principally due to cost, and my knowledge of electronics is rather minor, but I am handy with a soldering iron and know what the parts do generally.

Aside from the hardware aspect, I also was wondering how you can send signals from the parallel port (if its even possible) because as much as I know about hardware, I know much less how to program and was going to have a friend do it for me, and he whas no idea how to directly control output signals accross the parallel ports pins.

Any input is gladly welcome, even if its just an I'm not sure if its possible post.

 

[MrDudeMan]

im curious what you are doing. if you give me some details i might be able to help you do it another, better way. im not saying your way sucks, but there may be a way you havent thought of.

anyway, details?

 

[kranky]

Isn't that the kind of stuff that x10.com sells?

 

[Analog]

This should be a fun project for you. I don't know how much programming experience you have, so here are two similar articles that use the parallel port. The first uses the parallel port to create an arbitrary waveform generator. It uses the same basic principles that you need to follow:

http://edn.com/contents/images/61302di.pdf

The second is for a switching application, very similar to what you want to do:

http://edn.com/contents/images/50202di.pdf

HTH.

 

[Trimper]

I think you should use the clapper and setup your computer like an alarm clock - when you want to turn on a light - trigger it - lights go on.

it could work...

 

[OrganizedChaos]

pull parts out of pc and throw them at lamps until they do what you want.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
pull parts out of pc and throw them at lamps until they do what you want.

:laugh:

 

[JRich]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
pull parts out of pc and throw them at lamps until they do what you want.

Brilliant! :beer:

 

[EKKC]

why go to the trouble when you can have this at a fraction of the cost?

Text

 

[JAGedlion]

Well, first I'll elaborate perhaps a little more on my first plan as requested.
I was going to buy some relays which would control ac voltage going to an array of outlets. These relays were going to be controlled by the parralel port, but realizing that they would probably require too much current from it I was going to put a flip-flop between the parallel port and the relays. The flip-flop would be directly connected to 8 (I think thats the number) of output pins on a parallel port and be powered by a spare powersupply I have. I thought that this would enable me to control my relays by outputing high/low on the pins connected to the relays followed by a pulse on the pin connected to the flip-flop's clock.

Ideally eventually we will sync this with the visualizer in winamp or something, but until then we could just preprogram certain patterns fand just control the program manually.

Wow, nice links yellowfiero, not sure if I really want to make a voltage doubler but I could probably just hook up a spare computer power supply, or buy more chips, but in all that looks very good, I'll check tommorow if ebay has that chip, that would definetlly make the project simple as hell. I can't tell though, can the chip handle 100 watts going across it? (I'm not sure I understand the data sheet but it looks like its not made for 120 volts across it let alone 120V at 1A)

And a clapper is not going to control 7 lamps in relatively precision timing ( at least not without rewiring something) And I doubt it will be a fraction of the cost either. A flip-flop is like a quarter and a relay a couple bucks (I'm not looking to pump huge watts, 1A per lamp is good enough for me)

 

[RCN]

http://www.x10.com/activehomepro/sdk/index.html

?

probably too much $$$ ....$50 + modules/ switches

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: RCN
http://www.x10.com/activehomepro/sdk/index.html

?

probably too much $$$

GOD I LOVE THIS STUFF : DROOLS; !!!

You know guys this is the exact type of reason why I went into my degree (Double major in CSE & EE) , I remember the first day I started learning programming, I was fasicnated by the idea of integrating everything at my house/car/office....into one control, a PC based control to be more specefic.

And know I see this stuff which I never heared about untill now, and it's just amazing, the possiblities are endless, I am telling you guys it's technologies like this that are going to pave the way for a whole new standard of living in the future!

This type of technology is sure to rocket sky high, it gives the average non-advanced users the power that master minds in programming and microcontroller's concepts have. And this is just the beginning IMHO, once the market starts booming, more research is made in those fields, meaning more competetion, and more ease of use and more diversity of application fields.

 

[MrDudeMan]

you can use transistors that need 5 volts and less than half an amp to turn on but will switch up to 12 volts at 5 amps or something like that. it might even be a lot more. they are like 5-10 dollars a piece.

 

[mackle]

Originally posted by: EKKC
why go to the trouble when you can have this at a fraction of the cost?

Text

Made in CHINA!!!!! ahhhhhh

 

[dullard]

Be careful, it is addicting.

I've never worked with the parallel port, but it can be done. There are lots of available example code and circuits online.

You correctly identified your first hurdle - the parallel port has pathetically small voltages and current capacity. Thus you might save yourself a lot of headaches if you went with a PCI or USB interface instead. There are commercial digital output boards for both that can be had for under $100. Then you have plenty of current (20 mA typical) and high enough voltage (5V) to run most relays directly.

Then for the easiest relay setup, I personally go with something like this:. See the mounting boards (PB4 or PB8) and the output modules (ODC5) at the top left for example. Sure there are smaller or cheaper versions, but for something easy and crude they are hard to beat. You'd be limited to 3 A per load though (but if all you control are lamps, that'll be plenty of power).

 

[GeekDrew]

You might want to check out http://www.planetchristmas.com and the forums therein for advice - this is what some people do in order to control/sequence their Christmas lights.

 

[gwrober]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
You might want to check out http://www.planetchristmas.com and the forums therein for advice - this is what some people do in order to control/sequence their Christmas lights.

:thumbsup:

There are a number of companies out there that sell computer controllers similar like this stuff - pretty powerful stuff (think of the christmas lights video that made the rounds recently)

 

[JAGedlion]

I'm sorry I didn't respond a little more to your guys ideas, but I felt like I had such massive success that I had to share what I did end up doing.
I used this schematic:
Vcc
|
+------+
| __|__
Relay /^\ Diode 1N4002
Coil /---
| |
+------+
|
5.1V Zener | /
diode 4.7K B |/ C
parallel >-|>|-----\/\/\/--| NPN Transistor: 2N2222A
port data |\ E
pin | V
|
parallel >-------------------+
port ground |
Ground
taken from
http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/parallel_output.html#relaycontrol
I etched and soldered 8 of these to pcb's from radio shack
I used 8 5 volt 120 Ohm 1 Amp DPDT relays purchased from ebay
Power was supplied using the 5 volt line of an old psu paperclipped to turn on.
This controled power to 8 outlets. The entire apparatus was put in a nice wooden box.

My roomate wrote an algorithm to interpret beats in the music using the windows media visualizer and use this to out put a series of 8 bits to the parralel port using io.dll from http://www.geekhideout.com/iodll.shtml which would then power on and off the outlets.
The series of numbers was generted from a nice program another one of my roomates wrote which would save it as a series of numbers in a text file.

Lights were made from coffee cans spray painted black in which we mounter light fixtures. Red, yellow, and blue gels were fitted onto the lamps. Due to relays we were limited to 120 amps per outlet so we used 40 watt bulbs in the red, 60 in the blue, and I think its was just a dim 40 in the yellow (the yellows were too bright with the normal 40's and the blues too dark)

After a massive amount of cabling we had a seriously rocking setup in the common room.

Take that, stick it in with a nice sub and 400 watts pumping (make sure that sound and lights are on seperate breakers). Mix in 3 cases of beer and 6 handles of vodka in punch and screwdrivers and viola your cramming over 100 people at a time (sorry no head count but easily over 200 people between 10pm and 1am) into your room for one hell of a party!

I'll post some pictures of the set up as soon as I get the chance. (two midterms this week so maybe I'll get them up by friday)

Right now we're trying to get the visualizer to work on any computer and then I might try using some d-type flip flops to control more lamps.

P.S. If you ever need uv reactive paint and you want it to be invisible in normal light, run over to to the supermarket and buy some clorox 2 color bleach. We painted it on the walls of our bathroom (rather, we had the art students do it) and stuck in a black light which came out awsome.

P.P.S. I dont think my schematic will post right so basically just look at the one I linked to but take out the diode going from ground to base and use the 5.1 volt zener diode recomended.