|
|
11-19-2016, 10:47 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Trailer: 2015 E'21 - 'Velocity'. Tow: Toyota Tacoma V6, 4X4, manual.
Posts: 1,692
|
A Mod for, not to, my Escape.
ne·ces·si·ty, nəˈsesədē/, noun.
1. the fact of being required or indispensable.
Ok, not a necessity... But I really needed this for our Escape.
What is it? Its an alarm clock I built to my (unusual) sense of needs and desires.
I required an alarm clock that would:
a. Run on 12 volts.
b. Be easy to use. (No buttons)
c. Have an external antenna connection for camping in the boondocks.
d. Fit on the narrow shelf at the front of our '21.
e. Play my MP3 music, and when available, connect to WiFi for streaming my NPR station.
Since I could find nothing that fit the above, I decided to try to roll my own. Being a recently retired software engineer I figured a cheap computer could be the heart of the project. A quick google search and an application of credit card magic brought a Raspberry Pi and touch screen to my door.
A Raspberry Pi is a palm size wonder. 4 cores, wifi, usb, sdhc slot, gpio pins, 1 Gb ram, bluetooth, I2C - all for under $40. The 7" touch screen unfortunately was double that, but was the only solution to a no-button design. And I hate the tiny buttons on our bedroom alarm clock that lock the controls to "play" if you hit the wrong one at 5 am in the dark.
The "problem" quickly became bells-and-whistle-itis. To the requirement list I added goodies like:
battery backup, light sensor for automatic dimming, temperature sensor to see if I should stay under the covers, 7 day alarm for each day of the week, SDR radio so I could listen to ham radio if I got tired of NPR, adjustable volume ramping so as to not shock my delicate ears at 5 am, backlight ramping to match the volume ramping, quick timezone set for those east/west trips. And the list could be endless since its all software! Fortunately Susannah put her foot down and vetoed the built in GPS, barometer, video playback, maps, etc. Maybe in version II?
The first batch of photos show the innards. More to follow...
|
|
|
11-19-2016, 11:00 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Trailer: 2015 E'21 - 'Velocity'. Tow: Toyota Tacoma V6, 4X4, manual.
Posts: 1,692
|
Escape Alarm - continued.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alanmalk
The first batch of photos show the innards. More to follow...
|
Here are photos of the important part. The main screen plus the screens that are used for settings - accessable by a finger swipe right or left. I can set the wake up parameters - volume and ramp-up. Push button time zones. Alarm times - day by day or a week at a time. Plus a "today only" alarm that does not disturbe the daily settings (to remind me of happy hour or other don't-miss events.) And the dim light display, which the camera ruined by trying to compensate for the dark room. Actually, the digits are dark grey on a black background. At the dimmest setting they can not be seen in normal light. The light sensor decides when the room is dark and switches to dim with oversize digits and all other information blacked-out. (We like a dark sleeping area.)
More to follow...
|
|
|
11-19-2016, 11:05 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Trailer: 2015 E'21 - 'Velocity'. Tow: Toyota Tacoma V6, 4X4, manual.
Posts: 1,692
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by alanmalk
More to follow...
|
And since it is really is a computer masquerading as a clock, some computer housekeeping functions plus the Raspberry Pi desktop (linux OS) seen when the clock is not running.
The clock software for anyone interested consists of about 2200 lines of Python. It was my first Python project and probably would make an experienced Python programmer cringe. But if you want a copy - at your own risk - feel free to ask.
Sleep tight,
Alan
|
|
|
11-19-2016, 11:17 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bremerton, Washington
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 1,141
|
Super cool in a delightful nerdy way!
__________________
- Arnie & Paula & Kizzy the rat terrier
https://www.arniesea.com
- 2019 5.0 TA, 2017 Tundra Platinum.
- Bremerton, WA
|
|
|
11-19-2016, 11:19 PM
|
#5
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
|
Very nice Alan. You could also easily expand the functionality to automate lights or other things.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
|
|
|
11-19-2016, 11:23 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
I like it Mostly because you built what you wanted, Alan.
The version II possibilities all sound feasible, although each major functionality will cost about as much as buying a dedicated device (such as a GPS navigator).
Have you considered synching it to whatever you use for a calendar - if you use one - such as Google Calendar, iCalendar, or whatever?
|
|
|
11-19-2016, 11:27 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Bellingham and Glacier, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15A
Posts: 2,055
|
Well done. But how come you get to sleep in so late on Tuesdays?
__________________
Karen Hulford
2013 Escape 15A, "Egbert"
'93 Ford 150 XLT or
'22 GMC Acadia Denali
|
|
|
11-19-2016, 11:29 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Anaheim CA, California
Trailer: SOLD 2016 Classic 21ft - SOLD 2016 Ram 1500 tug - ORDERED Van Replacement
Posts: 516
|
Alan, I love your clock. Don't know Python nor have the time now but it looks like a marvelous project that many would enjoy having. That it feeds on 12vdc is icing on the cake. Excellent project Alan.
__________________
Santiago
|
|
|
11-19-2016, 11:31 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Anaheim CA, California
Trailer: SOLD 2016 Classic 21ft - SOLD 2016 Ram 1500 tug - ORDERED Van Replacement
Posts: 516
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4
Very nice Alan. You could also easily expand the functionality to automate lights or other things.
|
Yes this has great potential managing so many trailer systems.
__________________
Santiago
|
|
|
11-20-2016, 05:57 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Trailer: 2006 17b Goucho
Posts: 302
|
Very impressive, well done!
|
|
|
11-20-2016, 06:38 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Middle, Tennessee
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19' #2
Posts: 1,441
|
Very cool. I like that you wanted it so you built it!
__________________
Tom
|
|
|
11-20-2016, 07:11 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Houston, Texas
Trailer: '87 Bigfoot 20DLX 5er (sold) - 2017 Escape 5.0 TA: Sep-17
Posts: 523
|
Alan, No voice command mode? Really?
|
|
|
11-20-2016, 07:20 AM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Marana, Arizona
Trailer: 2018 Airstream Flying Cloud (Escape 19 & 5.0 previously)
Posts: 1,078
|
This is self-sufficiency of the highest order; very impressive. However, I'm very sorry for anyone who wants to be artificially awoken from a good night's sleep .
__________________
Rich & Mary
"Everything in moderation, including moderation."
- Oscar Wilde
|
|
|
11-20-2016, 08:19 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
|
Hi: alanmalk... Nice getup!!! I sure hope you enjoy the 5 minutes extra sleep on Tue morn's. For me the days of driving bus and being timed are over... gone are the mornings of being "Alarmed" too!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
|
|
|
11-20-2016, 08:27 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
|
Alan,
You could make a little extra on the side by producing some duplicates, very nice, something I would like to have. Right now my alarm clock is 2 labrador retrievers, Franklin and Hershey...but once they cross the rainbow bridge they will be missed.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
|
|
|
11-20-2016, 08:53 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
|
Damn, Alan, that is one kick-ass creation!
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
|
|
|
11-20-2016, 10:03 AM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Comox, British Columbia
Trailer: 5.0 TA #9
Posts: 226
|
Nice job, on a device that you wanted and built.
|
|
|
11-20-2016, 10:05 AM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Ponoka, Alberta
Trailer: 2016 19 classic "outta sight", jeep rubicon unlimited
Posts: 1,645
|
Did you time the time it took the build?
Just kidding! Very impressive!!! Will make some people jealous, that's for sure.
Not me. I keep on dreaming about my vintage bell alarm that only worked after winding it up.
__________________
"never lose hope, never lose faith"
|
|
|
11-20-2016, 10:25 AM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Trailer: 2015 E'21 - 'Velocity'. Tow: Toyota Tacoma V6, 4X4, manual.
Posts: 1,692
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ReagentGrade
Alan, No voice command mode? Really?
|
Voice control, wireless dimming of lights, calendar sync, etc. - oh-me, oh-my. There is no end in sight, except for the fact that the Boss said "NO". I've been relageted back to washing and waxing...
Five extra minutes on Tuesdays for good behavior!
Adding in my hours would be crushing...
Thanks everyone!
--
Alan
|
|
|
11-20-2016, 11:32 AM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,817
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marry
I keep on dreaming about my vintage bell alarm that only worked after winding it up.
|
I thought Myron's response would be a photo of one of those.
Great project for the techno minded.
Ron
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|