daily timer - 1 second intervals?

[StBarnabas]

Guy
as stated the PIC itself is under £1.00 bizarrely connectors etc seem to cost a lot more than electronics. The main cost would be  the box so it would depend on how much work you were prepared to do in connecting components etc.
Sean

[ericw]

Guy,
Should be no problems sharing Alan's power supply. Solid state relay would be good also and can be directly driven by the PIC. If you use one of the ones with screw terminals (~£5.50 on Ebay), although it much bigger than you need, it conveniently keeps the mains wiring well away from the low voltage stuff.

Eric
 

[tony.]

so what pic programmer ar you guys using?

there is a lot out there and are some easier than others.

basic would be my first choice as i used that in the late 80s

cheers

tony

[StBarnabas]

Hi Tony

Software

I use assembler with MPLAB mainly and also a C compiler type package called source boost.

Hardware use a MatrixMultimedia programming voard

PICs well a number but would use a 12F683 for Guy's application

Sean

[ericw]

Hi Tony,

If you want to program PIC's in Basic. I would suggest you have a look at these free compilers Great Cow Basic (and Great Cow Graphical if you would like to program with flowcharts) and SourceBoost  .

If you are prepared to spend a little money then OshonSoft do a very good one which has the great advantage of having a built in simulator.
All of these compilers have additional built in functions to access things like the PIC's ADC and talk to 1 wire buses.

I use a Chinese USB programmer from Ebay. I have used Olimex ones in the past until I upgraded to a machine devoid of an RS232 serial port.

In addition there is the Picaxe range which has a built in programming environment and a support forum.

Eric

[tony.]

eric/sean,

thanks for the advise. still none the wiser.

may have to buy

http://bookofsailing.mhprofessional.com/product.php?isbn=0071703268

might just stick to relays

tony

[tony.]

silly question can picaxe be programmed with 'ladder' software used in plcs. I am familiar with programming plcs


tony

[Baz]

I think you should be ashamed of yourself adding newfangled electriwizardry to a good old waterwheel.

Went to an exhibition today so here's a question for you.
Where was the largest waterwheel on mainland Britain? (worked until 1910 thene sadly scrapped for the WW1 effort).

[mespilus]

I think you should be ashamed of yourself adding newfangled electriwizardry to a good old waterwheel.

Went to an exhibition today so here's a question for you.
Where was the largest waterwheel on mainland Britain? (worked until 1910 thene sadly scrapped for the WW1 effort).

Didn't a BBC tv show recently reference
a v. large water wheel built near Douglas
on the Isle of Man:

used for mineral processing?

[Stuart]

that wheel was featured on BBC's Coast.

was starting to think about getting in to PLC programming for my heating controller or maybe dig out my uni notes on programing motorolla 8000 chips. Seen a few cheap siemens logo devices on ebay.
Although far more interested in plastering atm!
Stuart

[guydewdney]

I think you should be ashamed of yourself adding newfangled electriwizardry to a good old waterwheel.

Went to an exhibition today so here's a question for you.
Where was the largest waterwheel on mainland Britain? (worked until 1910 thene sadly scrapped for the WW1 effort).

nope - where? biggest now is in wales - 15+ metres.

At least its still doing something - rather than rotting. Theres no machinery here, and hasnt been for over 100 years. I see no guilt in making it work.

[Baz]

Hey, I was only kidding. But maybe a bit of 'Victorian engineering' would last longer.

The biggest wheel was in Belstone Cleave, aka Skeigh valley in Devon for pumping Greenhill Mine (copper). Painted bright red it must have been quite a sight halfway up and perpendicular to the side of the valley since the leat had been taken off way up river.

[billi]

actually what has to be greased ?  daily   , and not on both sides of the wheel ?

[guydewdney]

There are two bearings - one has been replaced with a modern roller bearing, in a modern housing, and is easily accesable from outside. The other is brass / bronze, is very awkward to get to, and ideally needs daily greasing. Im lazy. I cant replace the brass bearing - unless I spend thousands on a split roller bearing.

[Baz]

Have you considered the modern solution to everything? Connect it up to the internet and employ an Indian outsource company to arrange the daily button press. After a few months they will get the hang of it and get fairly close to what you want.