Re: Compact cheap "surveilance" camera

["Steve Foley" <steve.foley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Prometheus" <Prometheus@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:efQdx$dg+WoEFwIh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> In article <1151391872.623377.280000@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> bitsyboffin@xxxxxxxxx writes
> >Steve Foley wrote:
> >> I would also get a timer switch for the lights. You have to get up and
turn
> >> them back on every 30 minutes. I installed one in my basement because
the
> >> kids always forgot to turn off the lights and I was too lazy to go down
the
> >> stairs and do it myself.
> >
> >Now that's cooking with gas.  We have a resident sparky, I'll have a
> >chat to him about that.
> >
> >> If you could rig a magnet to hold the door open when the lights are on,
you
> >> would be well on your way to solving everything.
> >
> >That's not a stupid idea either, an electromaget hooked to the lighting
> >coil, a beeper say 30 seconds before the lights turn off so somebody
> >can go press the button.  That could just be doable.
>
> I would use a PIR to turn the lights on, if dark, and turn them off 15
> minutes after the last movement. This could still release a self closing
> and, locking door. A simple button on the inside by the door would allow
> anyone to close the door if they do not need it open.
> --
> Ian             G8ILZ

That sounds like a better idea. So when somebody is there alone when the
lights go out, they'll go back on when they stand up or move, and nobody has
to stumble through the dark looking for a switch.

I would simply put an on-off switch on the electromagnet. It only needs to
be on when someone wants the door held open.