Advice on remote wired switch.

[n3tm4n]

I am thinking about installing a switch on my garage door connected back to a raspberry Pi, so I can send a text alert when the door has been open for a number of minutes.

I am OK on the programming side, no expert but can cobble enough code together. I already have the Pi set up and able to send Sms texts. The electronics side though is a different matter.

My question is around the distance between the switch and the pi, it will need to be approximately 8 metres. Would this distance work of the gpio pins?

Is there anything I should be taking into consideration?

Any pointers appreciated..

Jon.

[boyoh]

I am thinking about installing a switch on my garage door connected back to a raspberry Pi, so I can send a text alert when the door has been open for a number of minutes.

I am OK on the programming side, no expert but can cobble enough code together. I already have the Pi set up and able to send Sms texts. The electronics side though is a different matter.

My question is around the distance between the switch and the pi, it will need to be approximately 8 metres. Would this distance work of the gpio pins?

Is there anything I should be taking into consideration?

Any pointers appreciated..

Jon.

One possibility for your garage door project
Is to use a magnetic reed switch mounted
on your door, This would switch a Opto Isolator
to give the Pi a In/put. Use 5v or greater on
transmitter side of Opto Isolator select a resistor
to give about 15/20ma. Up the cable size to the
reed switch to cover volt drop
The receiver side of Opto Isolator keep to 3.3v,
for the GPIO in/put

[n3tm4n]

Having never heard of an Opto Isolator, I've spent some time reading up on them.

I think it sounds a much safer way than my basic electronics approach to a simple switch on a long cable. I can see some more studying is required, but thanks for pointing me in the direction of isolating the RPi and the switch from each other with the Opto Isolator.

On to phase beta 0.2 of my project..

Thanks boyoh

[jj4rossouw]

Awesome idea!