Same Motion Detector - different notification

#21

The battery requirement for a steady (always on) beam would get a bit crazy.
I will only use a hard wire to bring power to a device of that type.

#22

Oh, no, I’d likely have the microcontroller go into a deep sleep for 10-30 seconds, then power on the infrared and do a quick “ping”. That, or something like this:

  • Check for mailbox open
  • Wait for close
  • (wait a small amount of time)
  • Fire up the infrared emitter and sensor + do a quick ping
  • Report to the controller
  • Sleep until mailbox is opened again

I’m not good enough with electronics to build something like this, but if I get there, I’d like to give it a try. The ESP01 devices are only a few bucks, and would likely work (although, those are wifi).

Edit: I might have to pick up one of these: https://www.adafruit.com/product/2167?gclid=CjwKCAiAu9vwBRAEEiwAzvjq-1u8yR4CrMvar8QlCLzrllwN1OyepIYnN9nMqgiuH36FAySJooZWKBoCK7UQAvD_BwE

#23

Haha you people are awesome!

So my mailbox motion sensor DOES work in freezing cold - BUT… I have it in the back of my mailbox, and when it’s freezing cold, apparently it does not work unless the “motion” (read - warm moving body part) is within an inch or so in front of it.

So I kind of like the idea of using a contact sensor, but if I put it on the edge inside, I can see the mailperson hating it because they’re kinda blocky. And if I put it in the lid with the magnet inside, slightly better, except with the lid open (while they’re loading the mailbox) in a heavy rain…