Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

Hi everyone,

I really don't know where to start with this little project of mine, building an automated programmable exhaust fan. I do not know what I would need that is why I'm seeking guidance...

I would like to have an exhaust system where I can...

-program the fan to turn itself on at specific times
-turn on for a duration when motion is detected
-program from an android phone or laptop, wireless is a plus.

I have little to no experience in doing those things, but I do think I'm a fast learner, all I need is guidance on what to learn first or the things I would need...

Is this too advanced for me? :screwloose:

You can use a timer switch and a motion detector switch for the first two requirements. No idea about the interconnectivity requirements though.

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Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

Thanks! Yes, the timer switch would cater to the running time and the motion sensor switch would handle the other part. I can buy the timer from cdrking, however I dont know where to get the motion sensor from...

Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

You can use a timer switch and a motion detector switch for the first two requirements. No idea about the interconnectivity requirements though.

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Saw some motion sensor switch from ace before... maybe they still have...

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Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

This is an interesting problem for me, too.

My toilet does not have a window so I installed a ceiling exhaust fan wired with the ceiling light. So the fan turns on while the light is on. When you're finished doing your business in the toilet and turn off the light, the fan turns off, too.

I'd have preferred if the fan stays on a minute longer to continue exorcising the toilet of my lingering bad spirits. 😀

Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

HEHEHE, I suppose you have to keep your lights on for about 5 minutes and let the exhaust fan do its work and let the bad spirits be completely sucked out of the toilet. :agree:

Then just spray it with Glade lemon fresh sent or strawberry fresh sent. :thumbup: :cheerleader3:

Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

Having a box of matches in the bathroom does the trick too for far less money... LOL!

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Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

Having a box of matches in the bathroom does the trick too for far less money... LOL!

Isn't this dangerous with the kind of Air circulating in the room after making a No. 2?:poop1::boom1::hysterical:

Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

the two requirements could be solved by delay timer with motion sensor., its definitely doable.. but the phone program, no idea at all...

Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

I understand among the gasses involved are ... methane? hydrogen? hydrogen sulfide? Sounds like a fire hazard.

We once had a bathroom where no amount of running the powerful exhaust fan would eliminate the smell. Imagine that. Unknown cause, maybe the P-trap ... bad installation, failed, or none. At least the fan together with closing the door (important) kept the smell from spreading too much to the rest of the building. :outcold:

Back to original question. As already mentioned, requirement #1 can be done with off-the-shelf timer. #2 is an off-the-shelf motion-activated switch or light (substitute fan for light bulb). I don't know if there is anything off-the-shelf that can do both 1 and 2, let alone 3.

To do both 1 and 2, a real kludge ... but depending on how the switches are constructed, may be possible to put a timer and a motion switch ... in parallel (parallel=OR, series=AND). Warning: Needs prior testing/investigation into internal design of the switches.

For DIY electronics, you could cobble something up with motion sensor component, IC timer, and relay. Or go microcontroller like Arduino. Or general-purpose Unix computer like Raspberry Pi.

Wireless between say Arduino and laptop or Android device would be via WiFi and/or Bluetooth.

Motion sensor component ... anyone know what is available locally? e.g., Virtuabotix or SainSmart (HC-SR501)?

Just occurred to me that you could use a range detector (e.g., HC-SR04) instead. Looks like they are as cheap as motion sensor now. ("If distance to object is less than xxx, set countdown timer to yyy and turn on fan.")

Lots to learn if you want get into this exciting area...

If not, or if you prefer a pre-packaged easy-to-setup but programmable system, check out Ubiquiti mFi. Might be overkill for one bathroom fan application, but expandable to other home or building automation tasks.

Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

My brother has one of these, http://www.belkin.com/au/p/P-F7C027/ works a treat, that will cover the programmable and timed plus you can even control it anywhere. Imagine may nasa loob tapos bukas sara ung fan, baka biglang mapatakbong di pa tapos. As for the sensor you will have to run a parallel line to the fan with a PIR sensor switch between. Forewarning I'm not too confident with the parallel line not causing any damage to Wemo.

Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

based on the requirement 1,2 & 3, 1 & 2 as previously posted by sir guad "As already mentioned, requirement #1 can be done with off-the-shelf timer. #2 is an off-the-shelf motion-activated switch or light (substitute fan for light bulb)." it can be done using an Arduino microcontroller or any arduino clone available,your first step is learn the basic of arduino programming or just google it since it's an opensource hardware many programs are available you can just copy & paste it or modify the program(not so hard if you're familiar with C language).

Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

Thank you everyone for such helpful inputs.

I like the wemo switch but a bit expensive for this little project, although, if I was willing to spend some money, I would definitely spend it on such a cool gadget 🙂 .

The adruino controller is promising, but I will have to learn some coding to get it running, however, as someone pointed out, I can just copy and paste appropriate codes... will have to look into that a bit more.

I appreciate the help everyone... now time for me to do some brain exercises... 😀

Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

Hello everyone here's an update...

I have been looking at arduino uno and got really interested in it, I found a local clone called gizduino v3 and will be probably be using this one instead. I still have to learn some things, but I am hoping that the learning curve will be tolerable, I haven't ordered one yet since I would like to read some more about it... but someone said to me that I should get one since it was designed to let you learn buy tinkering with it... made sense to me haha.

I'm also going to buy a breadboard (makes me hungry) from cdrking...

Re: Automated Programmable Exhaust Fan

for the phone connectivity/programming/scheduling part, you can try interfacing it with arduino or raspberry pi. arduino can be programmed in C, while raspberry pi natively support python. In raspberry pi, you can easily connect it in your existing home network and can monitor/schedule your fan from the internet.