U.S. Mailbox Inbox Notifier

I suggest a mechanism that fits inside of a standard roadside mailbox, that notifies you that you have incoming mail, either by email, text, or even just by turning on a light inside my house some where. Perhaps it would only notify you if the flag is down. That way you it wouldn't run while you have out going mail in the box.

Former Member over 13 years ago

Now that's something even I want!

Contact switches for the lid/hinge so you could even use it on a smaller residental
city type box like I have. Arduino powered by batteries, but how about a small solar
panel so it's totally self-standing? Not a huge, expensive one as only a few volts
are needed. They sell those that recharge 12v car systems all the time. Mount to
the back of the mailbox or up on where the in-city box is mounted like the pole.

Records the open/close of the lid, maybe even the flag's movement (mine doesn't
have a flag), and then wirelessly transmits back inside the house somehow. Tons
of low-powered transmit/recieve setups out there and since the data's so small it
shouldn't need heavy power either. Receiver in house, that could be standard
battery pack or something.

But to be able to know if the box's been touched instead of wondering and going
out, back in, back out later because carriers change their times would be fantastic.
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benheck over 13 years ago

This idea has been floating around for a while now. Some people don't understand the purpose, but I grew up in the country and know first hand mailboxes are often a fair distance from a house!

Probably an IR interrupt beam, solar powered, and then whatever's the cheapest way to get a signal to the house.

Perhaps we could build this later in the winter! Thanks for the reminder!

-Ben
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