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Choosing a sensor for detecting swimming pool entry

pettitda

I'm looking for ideas on how to sense when a person or animal has entered a swimming pool.  There are several devices on the market that claim to do this, but the reviews are all pretty horrible.  False positives seem to be a big problem with existing products.  I'm thinking that something like an infrared camera would work but it would take considerable effort to set up the detection area (i.e. where the pool is) in the camera's view.  Does anyone have an idea that's not prone to false positives (i.e. leaves falling in the pool, wind blown water, etc)? 

Parents

  • Fill the pool with green slime and add a "EWW" detector.

    >>"person or animal"

    What size animal?  Squirrel, dog, moose, chipmonk, tweety-bird, gecko, salamander.

    A big splash might be detected with a water level sensor.

    You could set up IR transmitters and receivers (break the beam type) around the perimeter.

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  • Fill the pool with green slime and add a "EWW" detector.

    >>"person or animal"

    What size animal?  Squirrel, dog, moose, chipmonk, tweety-bird, gecko, salamander.

    A big splash might be detected with a water level sensor.

    You could set up IR transmitters and receivers (break the beam type) around the perimeter.

Children
  • in reply to rsc

    Fill the pool with green slime and add a "EWW" detector.

    Filling the pool with something other than water would not please the wife.  But, thanks for the laugh. 

     

    What size animal?

    The animals are approximately 5 lb dogs.  For some reason they think they are cats and want to climb onto the ledge of the pool (above ground) and walk around the perimeter.

     

    A big splash might be detected with a water level sensor.

    I have a feeling a water level sensor will not detect a 5 lb object falling into a 18000 gallon pool.  The displacement is fairly small.  I believe this is what the currently available devices use and false positives are a problem.

     

    You could set up IR transmitters and receivers (break the beam type) around the perimeter.

    The IR transmitter/receiver sounds interesting but I'm concerned about the number of them required to produce a grid fine enough to detect the dogs.

  • in reply to pettitda

    I think you're looking at it from the wrong way.   image

     

    Either an electric collar and they'll start barking like mad as the shocks get them.

    It might take a few 'supervised plunges' to discourage them, but eventually they'll decide it's not a good idea.  image

     

    You could also use a collar that when wet, makes a lot of noise ... the dogs could be the detector rather than the pool.image

     

     

    Failing that you need an escape ladder that dumb doggy can use to drag itself out and into humilation.

     

    Mark

  • in reply to mcb1

    My wife has already ruled out shock collars or other similar means of discouragement.  I also want to be able to detect children, especially neighborhood children who's parents might object to them being "collared".  lol

     

    However, we do have an escape ladder than can be used provided the person/animal is capable/intelligent enough to swim to it.