Where to buy sensors? « Jee Labs Talk

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Where to buy sensors?

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skobalczyk

Hi,
While I'm waiting for the first ordered JeeNode, I'm trying to find other parts to complete the home setup like the one shown in this post: http://news.jeelabs.org/2009/08/19/new-home-sensor-setup/

In particular I have trouble to find the PIR sensor from ELV that is used there. I think I finally found it I'm not sure which one is right:
http://www.elv.de/output/controller.aspx?cid=74&detail=10&detail2=403&flv=1&bereich=&marke=
or
http://www.elv.de/output/controller.aspx?cid=74&detail=10&detail2=9265&flv=1&bereich=&marke=

I hope that at some point Jee Labs will start selling complete kits, but in the mean time maybe we could create a list other places where to get additional sensors and parts?

Thanks,
-Szymon

Posted 11/09/2009 06:17:21
jcw

The first ELV link you mention is the one I used - the second is only an add-on for an extra relay, don't get that one.

Other sources of PIR modules:
http://www.futurlec.com/PIRSensors.shtml
http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/ProductID/83/Default.aspx

The pinouts may not be exactly the same, but it's only 3 pins. I picked the ELV sensor because it has a power drain of only 40 µA - might be low enough to drive this off a battery some day.

I'm still undecided on how far to take the Jee Labs shop. Complete kits would be convenient so you don't have to go chasing parts all over the place, but I may not be able to do this for lots and lots of sensors. The room sensor setup is probably the most important one - but since the SHT11 is expensive, I suspect that some would prefer a configuration with a 1-wire temperature-only sensor. I'm not sure I can effectively manage multiple bundles, or lots of little add-on options.

All suggestions welcome.

Posted 11/09/2009 07:40:01
skobalczyk

Thanks for the clarification. I will try to order few of these today.

Btw. I already ordered the SHT15, light to frequency IC (SEN-08940), and smoke sensor from http://watterott.com/

I agree that the room sensor will be the most common configuration. So once you have the boards done it could be made into a kit (like the Arduino shields that are sold by Adafruit industries). I don't mind soldering as long as I got all the right parts.

Lighty is another design that I would like to try out. Maybe it could be connected directly to a weather meaters like one sold here http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/productinfo.php?productsid=8942
it would be nice alternative to something like this http://www.gira.com/en/produkte/instabus-kombisensor-dcf77.html

I don't know how far you would like to go with this but once all things are figured out to make it easy to setup (in terms of hardware and software) it could be also produced as ready-to-go devices :-)

Posted 11/09/2009 07:55:09
mak6

Hi,

I want to add the following PIR Sensor because it have als an analog output where YOU can set the trigger in your Microcontroller (moste of the other PIR just have an digital output with a fixed threshold).
http://shop.hygrosens.com/en/acma-acma/acma-acma-2/Miniature-movement-alarm-unit-acma-1.html

And this one here:
Radar movement alarm unit (is very sensitive)
http://shop.hygrosens.com/en/acma-acma/acma/Radar-movement-alarm-unit.html

Markus

Posted 03/10/2009 17:40:34
jcw

Interesting units - thanks for the links!

Posted 04/10/2009 10:29:46
mountaindude

Any suggestions on where to get reasonably priced DCF77 receivers?

Göran

Posted 19/01/2010 14:32:51
jcw

I've used Conrad and ELV in the past. There are some differences, the Conrad unit I used (#641138) seems to work best for me.

Posted 19/01/2010 22:25:47
rubi

Hi

I use cheap Chinese Pir sensors from Ebay and solder of the 3,3V voltage converter.
Of course you have to short power in / power out at the regulator footprint.

Without this mod they have a voltage range from 5 to 12V.

I will test an Elv sensor if I can get my hands on one and report if there are differences.

Cheers

Posted 22/01/2010 10:09:56
jcw

There are large differences in current consumption for PIR sensors - the ELV one is the lowest I've found @ 40 µA.

Posted 22/01/2010 11:14:06
rubi

Hi Jean

I will check mine, they are available from seeed or sure-electronics.

Since they all use the same pir ic i would not expect a big difference.

Afaik only the ones which use a microcontroller like the epir have a high current consimption.Altough the pir demo board from ti using the msp430 should also be fairly low current, unfortunatly I could not find any data about the current consumption.

Cheers
Michael

Posted 22/01/2010 11:52:40
zooer

So far all the suppliers well known, but what/where is this 'seeed'?

Posted 22/01/2010 12:58:08
rubi

seeedstudio.com ;)

Cheers
Michael

Posted 22/01/2010 13:34:39