Messages

1

Users / Re: Poor man's Sprinkler System

« on: June 26, 2009, 08:51:45 am »

So here is what I have come up with so far, this would be a good 1 zone system

    * Intermatic HomeSettings Outdoor Z-Wave Appliance Module ($25)
    * Honeywell AT140A1042 Universal Mount 24 Volt Transformer ($27)
    * Nelson Solenoid 7962 ($11)
    * Antenna for Z-Wave? ($20)

Possibility to add a rain sensor for around $25-$35. Z-wave is a good option for me as it doesn't use powerline communications. Since I move alot (currently in Europe, citizen of the United States) I needed something to use anywhere I go, and this seems like a good option for me. The appliance controller would have to have a 220 to 110V transformer attached, but it will still work. The "guts" of the system are going to be placed in a project box, and have some wires running to the solenoid that is attached to the water spicket.

Transformer>>Z-Wave controller>>24V Transformer>>Solenoid - Order everything would have to be in to control solenoid. I have drawn a schematic with the rain sensor in the system, as I will be using one.

Keeping with the open source spirit, I will be (after extensive testing) will be placing a how-to on how to do all of this on the wiki. My object is not to make money off of this, so if you want to do it yourself, you can do it, and modify it to your needs. I will, however (when the time comes), be accepting requests to make this. Just remember, I don't have alot of time to do these things, and I will not be stocking parts or anything. The purpose in this is to create hacks and inform users of LMCE on how-to's so that they can get the most out of their systems, even on a budget.

http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/User:Bdfoster - For continuing updates, visit my user page. And as always, leave your comments here.

2

Users / Re: Poor man's Sprinkler System

« on: June 26, 2009, 08:42:00 am »

You may want to try a simple X10 switch to a motorized pool valve or zone valve (used in radiant heating). Both solutions aren't too expensive. Since you aren't dealing with a lot of water or heat, you can probably get away with one of the cheaper pool valves and the zone valves are relatively cheap anyways.

Electric solenoids are cheaper, and I've found a few that run about $10. Check out my user page on the wiki.

3

Users / Re: Poor man's Sprinkler System

« on: June 26, 2009, 08:40:50 am »

Have a system where when motion detectors or cameras outside detect motion in your front yard, it turns your sprinklers on to deter hooligans I always end up with drunken randoms in my front yard on friday and saturday nights.

Outdoor x10 motion sensor, sprinkler system with x10, and thats it. Don't even need LMCE. X10 sprinkler controller would respond to the motion detector events, and when the motion detector doesnt report any motion, then it stops. Of course, LMCE might make it easier.

4

Users / Poor man's Sprinkler System

« on: June 21, 2009, 12:12:39 am »

Here, I will be documenting the build of a poor man's sprinkler system. What I mean by that is:

1. Hooks up to your outdoor spicket
2. Be able to control it via LMCE
3. Keep the cost low
4. Make a solution that can be used both 110/220V and 50/60Hz
5. Not have to dig up your yard to install it

Ideas: Use a Z-Wave, X10, or Insteon device to control it through an appliance controller. Could also use it through a wifi connection. If I can get this to work right, I might try to sell some kits and pre-build them into a case or something similar. Many hours of research is needed.

If you guys have any ideas, please post here. I know there are some of you that don't want to have to dig up your yard to have a programmable sprinkler system. I know that there are those battery powered timers, but what is the fun in that if you can't control it while sitting on the couch, or at work, or anywhere.

5

Installation issues / Re: ASterisk reinstall?

« on: June 13, 2009, 08:27:59 am »

I'm having this issue as well, must be something with the latest alpha.

6

Users / Re: READ: Website Help Needed

« on: June 13, 2009, 07:41:55 am »

Starting on the Front Page mockup...

Then we can go from there, because that should set the basis as far as organization of the site.

7

Users / Asterisk Issue - Cannot write to sip.conf, retrieve sip.conf in 0810

« on: June 13, 2009, 07:29:12 am »

I just reinstalled 0810 on my core, and I tried to setup my phone lines. I used the webadmin to input the voip settings using the sipgate hack because my provider isn't on the list. I went to FreePBX to see if it took and to change the sip.conf a little, and it gives me those two errors. When I try to manually apply configuration changes, I get this error log:

   ^{1.
      exit: 1
   2.
       
   3.
      Checking for PEAR DB..OK
   4.
      Checking for PEAR Console::Getopt..OK
   5.
      Checking for /etc/amportal.conf ..OK
   6.
      Bootstrapping /etc/amportal.conf ..OK
   7.
      Parsing /etc/amportal.conf ..OK
   8.
      Parsing /etc/asterisk/asterisk.conf ..OK
   9.
      Connecting to database..OK
  10.
      Connecting to Asterisk manager interface..OK
  11.
      Added to globals: ASTETCDIR = /etc/asterisk
  12.
      Added to globals: ASTMODDIR = /usr/lib/asterisk/modules
  13.
      Added to globals: ASTVARLIBDIR = /var/lib/asterisk
  14.
      Added to globals: ASTAGIDIR = /usr/share/asterisk/agi-bin
  15.
      Added to globals: ASTSPOOLDIR = /var/spool/asterisk
  16.
      Added to globals: ASTRUNDIR = /var/run/asterisk
  17.
      Added to globals: ASTLOGDIR = /var/log/asterisk
  18.
      Added to globals: CWINUSEBUSY = true
  19.
      Added to globals: AMPMGRUSER = admin
  20.
      Added to globals: AMPMGRPASS = adminsecret
  21.
       
  22.
      Warning: fopen(/etc/asterisk/extensions_additional.conf): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /var/lib/asterisk/bin/retrieve_conf on line 414
  23.
       
  24.
      Warning: fopen(/etc/asterisk/meetme_additional.conf): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /var/lib/asterisk/bin/retrieve_conf on line 414
  25.
       
  26.
      Warning: fopen(/etc/asterisk/sip_additional.conf): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /var/lib/asterisk/bin/libfreepbx.confgen.php on line 25
  27.
      [FATAL] Cannot write SIP configurations Failed creating/overwriting SIP extensions file: /etc/asterisk/sip_additional.conf
  28.
       
  29.
      1 error(s) occured, you should view the notification log on the dashboard or main screen to check for more details.}

Anything I can do at this point? Looks like permissions, but I am not for sure. This didn't happen last time I installed, a little over a week ago.

8

Developers / Re: New boot splash graphics

« on: June 03, 2009, 10:38:25 pm »

Might I add, this is would be a default splash. Because many of you I'm sure would like to change it to whatever you want, let me make it clear.

Change it if you want.

9

Developers / Re: New boot splash graphics

« on: June 03, 2009, 09:10:20 pm »

Thom made a great looking one for the WebDTs, is there any reason not to be consistent across the core/MDs/orbiters?

Well whatever we decide to use we could use on all devices.

10

Developers / Re: New boot splash graphics

« on: June 03, 2009, 09:08:49 pm »

This is another version, and I think most will like better, especially if you didn't like the shit brown gradient

http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Image:Linuxmce-splashy-ss2.png

This could even be the new wallpaper in KDE.