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The initial proof-of-concept is officially working.
The above video demonstrates the POC working as expected end-to-end.
Client <-> Router <-> Powerline Ethernet <-> Microcomputer <-> Relay <-> Appliance (i.e. lamp)
Without any wireless technology, we were able to control a lamp that’s ultimately only plugged into the wall.
The full list of materials is:
Material | Cost |
---|---|
High-voltage Electrical Relay | $27 |
Beaglebone Black | $55 |
TP-Link AV600 Powerline Ethernet Adapter (pair) | $38 |
Total | $120 |
Here is the update on the improvments we’re trying to make with this approach.
Improving the ease of setup will be a concern closer to the productization step. For now, we’ll worry principally about the cost. The greatest cost in the list above is the Beaglebone Black. A Beaglebone is actually a fully-fledged microcomputer, running an OS. For such a simple task (listening for network connections and switching a single GPIO pin), it’s way overkill.
The simplest next step is to simplify this component to a more appropriate equivalent. An Arduino with an Ethernet module seems the most intuitive next step. That’s what we’ll increment to next.
Next: Sherman Hill Internet