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Challenge: Clothes washer/dryer that emails you when it is done

Former Member

Make an addon for a washer and dryer that will send a text message or email when it is finished. Even better, have it send the message 10 minutes before it will finish. The user shoud be able to enter the address or phone number or swipe an id card when they start the cycle and the info should be transfered to the dryer when the clothes are moved. The system should work on multiple machines and not require the clothes to move to a predefined dryer when the wash cycle finished.

  • I live in a building where I have to do downstairs to do laundry so I agree this would be a killer idea!

     

    One obvious solution would to leave a phone ON the machine, then sense the vibration and cycles. Problem is, you wouldn't want to leave your phone out, and how do you receive emails if you don't have your phone?

     

    A better solution might be a "scanner" on the washer, or a credit card reader. (Lord know it's hard to have spare change in our debit card world)


    You swipe your card to pay, the machine knows your email address, and emails you when near completion.

     

    I think it's a great idea, we would just need to come up with the best implementation.

  • in reply to benheck

    Doesnt a washer / dryer use an electronic switch when the cycle finishes?

     

    Perhaps some kind of mini itx unit housed in the unit somewhere pulling power from the mains, and a small screen in a custom housing on top, allowing bluetooth operation of one of those little mini keyboard/trackpads so update, setup etc.

     

    Then it would be a case of utilising the 'finished' signal / switch to send a pulse to a little solenoid that actuates onto a tact switch hardwired to some sort of macro on email client that is always open on said mini itx unit....

     

    Any good?

  • in reply to Former Member

    If you own the w/d, sure - in a building where they're shared and maintained by someone else you need

    1.  Not too expensive, since someone may remove it

    2.  Non-invasive since you don't own the machine - in fact,

    3.  Not so threatening looking that the owner won't allow you to attach it, or someone calls in a bomb scare

     

    Somethng easily removable that could be connected during your use of the machines would be optimal.  maybe an Arduino with an xbee?

  • in reply to rmd6502

    I agree with Robert.

    If you don't own the equipment, you are looking at a REAL challenge.

    I own my own washer and dryer and my design went like this:

    I would connect a relay to the end of cycle alert (AKA buzzer/beeper) that would tell an Arduino with ethernet shield that it is done.  The Arduino would then send a Tweet via ethernet that it was done that would be pushed to my iPhone.

    I tried one Arduino for both the washer and dryer, but I am not a programmer nor have the time to sift through the code and make it work.

    This is a link to the code that were recomended I try.

    So I was going to program 2 chips (like what Ben did in Game Timer (4/1/12)), and have them independant.

    To make a long story short, I got the chips and I could not flash them and that is where I left this project.

     

    Alan