Automatic Toilet Flusher

[Techbuilder]

Hi everyone maybe you can help me out

My room mates never flush the toilet and no matter how much I yell at them
they still do not flush the toilet.

I want to build an automatic toilet flusher so all they have todo is pass there hand by it or just have a timer when it detected someone.

Here's what I have an idea of what I need

1 servo

1 Pic micro controller 16F627A

1 Ir receiver

1 Ir led

and I already know the resistors and caps I need.

Should I go with a different approach for programing or do you think that this sounds like a pretty solid toilet flusher?

[Acetronics2]

Hi,

2nd Idea :

" My room mates never flush the toilet and no matter how much I yell at them
they still do not flush the toilet."

Is it really their duty to do that ...


Now, talking electronics ...

the "industrial" toilets flushers work like that ... and some I know ( mainly highway and hospital toilets ) use the 16F628 chip !!!

the only difference is commercial ones use an electro-valve.


Interesting point ...

Think to what happens if mains failure lasts a bit ...

Alain

[Pic_User]

Hi everyone maybe you can help me out

My room mates never flush the toilet and no matter how much I yell at them
they still do not flush the toilet.

I want to build an automatic toilet flusher so all they have todo is pass there hand by it or just have a timer when it detected someone.

Here's what I have an idea of what I need

1 servo

1 Pic micro controller 16F627A

1 Ir receiver

1 Ir led

and I already know the resistors and caps I need.

Should I go with a different approach for programing or do you think that this sounds like a pretty solid toilet flusher?

Hi Techbuilder,

No sense “re-inventing the wheel”.
To get an idea of various ways, already in use.

Paste this:
automatic flush infrared

Into here:
http://www.google.com/patents

It is perfectly legal and acceptable to adopt patent ideas for your own use, but not for resale or distribution.
(Edit: For the record. The above statement is incorrect. It is NOT “legal and acceptable to adopt patent ideas for your own use”. The law allows some very special exceptions but I was in error stating this so broadly. Thanks to tenaja for correcting my mistake. –Adam-)

You can get an idea of what is needed to “do the job”. The whole mechanical side may be a problem.

-Adam-

[sayzer]

Here is another idea.

Install all your IR equipment there.

But, connect the circuit to the door lock.

If the toilet is NOT flushed, the door remains locked.


This way, your roomies will learn to listen to you and also will learn to flush it.

When they eventually flash, play an MP3 saying "AHAA !"


--------------------

[Luciano]

Hi,

On Monday, Lego celebrated the 50th anniversary of the day
it filed its first patent for the iconic plastic brick....

Lego Mindstorms NXT automatic toilet flusher:
http://www.battlebricks.com/roboflush/index.html

Link to the video:


Best regards,

Luciano

[Techbuilder]

lol that would be funny to lock them in


Although the patents didn't have the simplicity I was looking for

I know the mechanical way I want to set it up I just don't know what would be easier to program.

Any ideas?

I was thinking about purchasing the Sharp GP2D12
but instead I already have an IR receiver and IR Led.

What do you think the best approach is?

[tenaja]

It is perfectly legal and acceptable to adopt patent ideas for your own use, but not for resale or distribution....

Actually, this is not a true statement. Sure, it is highly unlikely you will get caught or sued, but if you do get caught, you may find yourself in court (or settling).

[Acetronics2]

I was thinking about purchasing the Sharp GP2D12
but instead I already have an IR receiver and IR Led.

What do you think the best approach is?

Best or simpliest ???

for "private" use the sharp module will HIGHLY simplify the thing ( and the programming ! ) ...

looking to the cost ... an IR Led, plus a phototrans. will make it.

Alain

[Techbuilder]

Well I do want the simplest
but I don't have very much money either.

I have a book that kind of describes what I want to do but it is in assembly or c,
I can't tell but it's not in basic.

What would you describe the level of difficulty of the programming going with the cheap option?

[skimask]

Well I do want the simplest
but I don't have very much money either.
I have a book that kind of describes what I want to do but it is in assembly or c,
I can't tell but it's not in basic.
What would you describe the level of difficulty of the programming going with the cheap option?

A momentary switch bolted to the door frame connected to a solenoid that throws the flush handle and/or lifts the trap at the bottom of the tank.
Door opens one way, it brushes the lever, but it's the wrong way to close the contacts. Maybe the lever is on a one-way hinge so it can flip the one way without a problem.
Door closes the other way, it brushes the lever, and it's the right way to close the contacts.
The solenoid is bolted to the wall behind the toilet. The arm of the solenoid is connected to a cable that pulls the trap at the bottom of the toilet tank.
Use a solenoid like one from a trunk release of a car, or door lock or something...anything.

I think that's about as simple as you can get...1 12v battery pack + small charger, 1 level switch and attaching hardware, 1 junk solenoid from a salvage yard, some wires and a piece of cable.

No programming, no PIC, no nothing, just a bit of hardware...done...
That and kicking your roommates square in the ding-ding.
I mean, that's just plain nasty...

[Pic_User]

What if, Techbuilder’s next step was to get them to close the door…

[skimask]

What if, Techbuilder’s next step was to get them to close the door…

Oh....now that's just nastier...

How about the foot switch? Gotta step in to step out....

[Techbuilder]

lol you guys are nuts

I just want to flush the toilet by moving my hand across the IR beam
and the servo push the handle down.

If I used a car solenoid it would break the handle of the toilet
lol

and I don't want a whole bunch of messy wires just something plan and simple.

If I put wires up connecting from the door to the toilet there just going to take it down when we have guests.

lol

No one has a solution

electronically? lol

I am surprised you guys haven't said to attach a cap to the door knob and if they don't flush the toilet then IR receiver sends the signal to power the transistor to charge the cap, and shock them when they touch the handle.
lol

Good Idea though

I just want something clean

[Archangel]

lol you guys are nuts

I just want to flush the toilet by moving my hand across the IR beam
and the servo push the handle down.

If I used a car solenoid it would break the handle of the toilet
lol

and I don't want a whole bunch of messy wires just something plan and simple.

If I put wires up connecting from the door to the toilet there just going to take it down when we have guests.

lol

No one has a solution

electronically? lol

I am surprised you guys haven't said to attach a cap to the door knob and if they don't flush the toilet then IR receiver sends the signal to power the transistor to charge the cap, and shock them when they touch the handle.
lol

Good Idea though

I just want something clean

Hi Techbuilder,
Your problem is not technical, it is more a matter of hygiene training, essentially political. . .
some people train dogs by rubbing their nose in it, you might try that either directly, by giving them a whirl or indirectly by putting up a board with their names and stars and sad faces, and make sure everyone sees it!
JS

[Jerson]

Hi everyone maybe you can help me out
Here's what I have an idea of what I need

1 servo

1 Pic micro controller 16F627A

1 Ir receiver

1 Ir led

and I already know the resistors and caps I need.

Should I go with a different approach for programing or do you think that this sounds like a pretty solid toilet flusher?

Well, you seem to be on the right track except that you need a solenoid valve to make this viable. Instead of the servo, you fit a solenoid valve in series with the flush outlet; of course you have to remove the manual flush valve. This will work on a direct inlet pipe only. No cisterns here.

The other 'political' approach is to do what my little kids do. "If you don't flush, next time, I will not flush"

JF

[Techbuilder]

I wouldn't need a solenoid if I have the servo

Here's how the servo is

(it's a rough sketch)

[Pic_User]

Hi Techbuilder,
A regular hobby servo actuating the flush handle, may not have enough torque. I guess the force needed depends upon the toilet model.
-Adam-

[Techbuilder]

Handle only requires 1 to 2 pounds to press down
And a hobby servo can do that easily.

That's why I decided to go with that

[Jerson]

If you think a servo will work, why not try it out? I have a hunch though ....

JF

[Techbuilder]

I tried it yesterday and it flushed
but I had it connected to an RC Receiver instead of a PIC.

I just need help with electrical not mechanical (got that working yesterday)

I just wanted to know since I am a beginner at PICs

if it would be easier to do it with the Sharp GP2D12
or IR receiver and IR Led.

Now I know the Sharp is easier but how difficult would it be to make a program
with the IR receiver and IR Led?

[Archangel]

I think I would move. Anyone who fails to flush may well fail to wash, and then handle your dishes, food etc . . . Opinions are like . . .roommates, some of them just do not wash . . . If you are really determined to do this, a car lock servo would be concealable in tank or behind it pulling up on the flapper, or use the servo to turn a shaft which has a string or cable . . .

[Techbuilder]

Yeah it's a annoying

They wouldn't mess with it if it was just attached to the knob
but I really don't think I have to mess with anything besides that.

[b1arrk5]

Take a look at the Parallax website, they have some tutorials that you can download. One of them gives an example of using the Basic Stamp freqout command to drive an infrared emitter, and then collecting the signal if it is reflected back by an object in close proximity. The neat thing about their approach is that they demonstrate that by changing the modulated frequency you can determine a relative distance to the object. So, no one in the room, no reflection, someone approaches the toilet, wait, they leave, then gosub flush. I would suggest that you also monitor the temperature of the water feed line into the toilet. If unused, the water temperature will be close to room temperature. If you sense a drop in temperature while the infrared sensor senses someone close, or shortly thereafter, then that person flushed, (your fresh water should be colder,) and you don't waste any water flushing a second time.

I'm sure that the infra-red information is in the 'Toddler' robot section of the Parallax site, and I think it appears in a few other places. You'll have to experiment to find the maximum range. Radio-Shack now carries some Parallax sensors, they have a passive infra-red motion sensor, I believe that it's only seven or eight dollars. Might be worth a look.

Good luck!

Jerry.

[Techbuilder]

That's kind of want to do

What I want is just an IR sensor that reads when a hand has been passed by it and turns the servo all the way to the left (or right) and flushes the toilet.

I made a drawing

[Pic_User]

Some ideas about this here:
Infrared Proximity Sensor
http://www.g9toengineering.com/AllSa...dproximity.htm

-Adam-

[Techbuilder]

Some ideas about this here:
Infrared Proximity Sensor
http://www.g9toengineering.com/AllSa...dproximity.htm

-Adam-

This is exactly what I am talking about

but how hard would it be to interface with a PIC?

[BobK]

Hi Techbuilder,

I really like your determination to build something. BUT, if they won't flush the toilet, what makes you think they'll wave their hand in front of a motion sensor that'll cause the toilet to flush? Here's an idea---get an under the carpet pressure pad and hook it up to an 12Fpic. Get a pretty pink toilet mat to pu over the pad. The system will sit in a WHILE/WEND loop until the USER is off the pad then it activates your solenoid to flush the toilet. Oh my gosh. I can feel the idea juices starting to flow. Is it exciting. Keep going and let us know your progress. I love this idea stuff.

HTH,

BobK

[Techbuilder]

I asked them would you at least wave your hand
and they said they would.

We don't have a carpet

Plus I think the way I drew it would be the best solution
to get them in the habbit

Yelling does nothing

[Techbuilder]

Hey Pic_User or anyone

Is it difficult to interface the that link that you gave me to a pic?

All I want it to do is when it comes in contact, to rotate the servo all the way to the right or all the way to the left.

[Pic_User]

Hey Pic_User or anyone

Is it difficult to interface the that link that you gave me to a pic?

All I want it to do is when it comes in contact, to rotate the servo all the way to the right or all the way to the left.

Hi Techbuilder,

search Google:
IS471FE
Find this (second hit):
http://document.sharpsma.com/files/L...ce-opic_AN.pdf
On this Sharp application note:
Light Detecting Device-opic
Search for:
IS471FE
Page 5 tells us:
the parameters of the IS471FE
Page 24 shows us the internal / external hook-ups of the IS471FE
<IMG SRC="http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2326&stc=1&d=120200443 9">
Mostly it looks like it will operate with 5V DC input.
It has “open collector” output.
It has a built in 10k “pull-up” resistor.

so it LOOKs like you could use a circuit like this:
<IMG SRC="http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2325&stc=1&d=120200428 1">
Thanks to:
Garrett Hamilton–Smith, Raihan Khondker, and Will Norris,
School of Information Technology and Engineering, University of Ottawa
http://www.g9toengineering.com/AllSa...dproximity.htm

-Adam-

[Techbuilder]

Hi Techbuilder,

search Google:
IS471FE
Find this (second hit):
http://document.sharpsma.com/files/L...ce-opic_AN.pdf
On this Sharp application note:
Light Detecting Device-opic
Search for:
IS471FE
Page 5 tells us:
the parameters of the IS471FE
Page 24 shows us the internal / external hook-ups of the IS471FE
<IMG SRC="http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2326&stc=1&d=120200443 9">
Mostly it looks like it will operate with 5V DC input.
It has “open collector” output.
It has a built in 10k “pull-up” resistor.

so it LOOKs like you could use a circuit like this:
<IMG SRC="http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2325&stc=1&d=120200428 1">
Thanks to:
Garrett Hamilton–Smith, Raihan Khondker, and Will Norris,
School of Information Technology and Engineering, University of Ottawa
http://www.g9toengineering.com/AllSa...dproximity.htm

-Adam-

Thanks, would it be hard to compile a code to detect using this method?

[Pic_User]

Hi Techbuilder,

You could consider the module like a push button. Your program would need to watch for a low or 0 (zero) to know someone / some thing had come close to the sensor module.

-Adam-

[Techbuilder]

Ohh ok

I get it

So if I want to change the range to about 6 inches would that be done by changing the resistance to the IR leds?

[Pic_User]

That web page said "approximately 15cm". I had to use an on-line calculator because I am an old phart, and it said almost 6 inches (5.9").

[Techbuilder]

Cool

thanks I appreciate it

and I appreciate everyone else helping me

Well I am going to order that Sharp IS471FE and then write a program
well try and then post my progress.

Thanks everyone

[Pic_User]

Techbuilder,

How about:
You order the Sharp IS471FE and start the program right away, while you are waiting.

You can substitute a switch.

When the IS471FE gets there you can just add it.

This is actually a good way to build and test as you go.

-Adam-

[Techbuilder]

That's a good idea


thanks Pic_User

[Techbuilder]

Something is wrong with my proximity sensor

When I was done setting up the circuit on this website my led was on constanly

http://www.g9toengineering.com/AllSa...dproximity.htm

Here's some pictures of my bread board

[Techbuilder]

Here's the data sheet, I think the people that design the circuit got the pins wrong

http://www.alldatasheet.com/datashee...RP/IS471F.html

I don't know maybe you can help me out

[mackrackit]

Can not see very well from your pictures, but it looks like the cap is connected to the IR and can not tell where the LED is connected.

Make sure every thing is like it is on the last page of the data sheet.