Re: Automatic reminder

["Patrick Lidstone" <patrick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, kimble <kim@d...> wrote:
> Patrick Lidstone wrote:
>
> > A bit of a tanget to your original question, but have you thought
> > about using a vibration detector (as would normally be used for
an
> > alarm system)? No vibration = wash cycle complete.
>
> Maplin do a "mercury free tilt switch" (ball bearing in a
can type)
> which would probably do the job (I have one attached to my back door
> with blu-tac which does a reasonable job of detecting people who are
too
> stupid to use a doorbell[1]).  Simply connect it via a 555 timer or
> microcontroller of your choice, and trigger your flashing
> light/buzzer/pager/whatever when it hasn't seen any vibration for a
> minute or two.
>

Actually Maplin do a dead good purpose made "knock detector" -
two
springy metal strips in a plastic capsule the same size as a reed
switch - which I use for exactly the same purpose as your tilt switch.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be listed on their web site.

Patrick