Timer Switch

Hi,

I have a camera hooked up to a 9v battery and want to be able to use a
'timer switch' to turn it on at a specific time ( like the ones you
plug into a wall socket and then plug in your light socket and get it
to switch your light on automatically at a certain time when your away
)

Is there such a thing that can do this with a battery as the power
source?

Any help on this would be gratefully appreciated

 

[John Fields]

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:11:40 GMT, srlock@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:

Hi,

I have a camera hooked up to a 9v battery and want to be able to use a
'timer switch' to turn it on at a specific time ( like the ones you
plug into a wall socket and then plug in your light socket and get it
to switch your light on automatically at a certain time when your away
)

Is there such a thing that can do this with a battery as the power
source?

Any help on this would be gratefully appreciated

---
It's possible, but you'll need to specify how you want to start the
timer, how long the delay will be until it turns on the camera, how
long you want the camera to be turned on (as well as what you mean by
"turned on". That is, is it a simple shutter release, is it a
camcorder of some sort that you want to run for a while, or is it
something entirely different) and anything else you can think of.

Probably the best thing for you to do would be to describe your
application, and that way we can fill in some of the blanks.

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer

 

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply. I'll better describe my situation. I have a 9v
PP3 type battery which is connected to a pinhole camera. I want to
physically connect the battery to the camera but I do not want the
camera to consume the battery power until a set time during the day.

So for example I connect everything together, set a timer to give
power to the camera at a set time, maybe 4 hours later, so in 4 hours
the timer gives power to the camera.

That's basically what I wish to achieve. I have been to the RS site
which has hundreds of 'timers' but as I have limited knowledge, I'm
not sure what these things are, or if they are suitable, so any help
and advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Sean

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:11:40 GMT, srlock@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:

Hi,

I have a camera hooked up to a 9v battery and want to be able to use a
'timer switch' to turn it on at a specific time ( like the ones you
plug into a wall socket and then plug in your light socket and get it
to switch your light on automatically at a certain time when your away
)

Is there such a thing that can do this with a battery as the power
source?

Any help on this would be gratefully appreciated

---
It's possible, but you'll need to specify how you want to start the
timer, how long the delay will be until it turns on the camera, how
long you want the camera to be turned on (as well as what you mean by
"turned on". That is, is it a simple shutter release, is it a
camcorder of some sort that you want to run for a while, or is it
something entirely different) and anything else you can think of.

Probably the best thing for you to do would be to describe your
application, and that way we can fill in some of the blanks.

 

[John Fields]

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 19:53:55 GMT, srlock@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply. I'll better describe my situation. I have a 9v
PP3 type battery which is connected to a pinhole camera. I want to
physically connect the battery to the camera but I do not want the
camera to consume the battery power until a set time during the day.

So for example I connect everything together, set a timer to give
power to the camera at a set time, maybe 4 hours later, so in 4 hours
the timer gives power to the camera.

That's basically what I wish to achieve. I have been to the RS site
which has hundreds of 'timers' but as I have limited knowledge, I'm
not sure what these things are, or if they are suitable, so any help
and advice would be appreciated.

---
I'm still confused.

If you connect the battery to the camera will the camera start
consuming power immediately, or do you have to press a button on the
camera (or do something else) to make it start consuming power? Also,
once the camera starts consuming power from the battery do you want it
to continue until the battery is depleted, or what?

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer

 

[Pat Ziegler]

Sean:

A couple of questions,

Does this have to happen at a particular time of day? Or, four hours
after you start the count down? And, Do you need an off time?



Pat Ziegler
Wholesale Electronics Inc.
www.weisd.com






<srlock@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:d6a3c1tuhv3nkhmm9sg3mj6okr3e3sbub9@4ax.com...

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply. I'll better describe my situation. I have a 9v
PP3 type battery which is connected to a pinhole camera. I want to
physically connect the battery to the camera but I do not want the
camera to consume the battery power until a set time during the day.

So for example I connect everything together, set a timer to give
power to the camera at a set time, maybe 4 hours later, so in 4 hours
the timer gives power to the camera.

That's basically what I wish to achieve. I have been to the RS site
which has hundreds of 'timers' but as I have limited knowledge, I'm
not sure what these things are, or if they are suitable, so any help
and advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Sean

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:11:40 GMT, srlock@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:

Hi,

I have a camera hooked up to a 9v battery and want to be able to use a
'timer switch' to turn it on at a specific time ( like the ones you
plug into a wall socket and then plug in your light socket and get it
to switch your light on automatically at a certain time when your away
)

Is there such a thing that can do this with a battery as the power
source?

Any help on this would be gratefully appreciated

---
It's possible, but you'll need to specify how you want to start the
timer, how long the delay will be until it turns on the camera, how
long you want the camera to be turned on (as well as what you mean by
"turned on". That is, is it a simple shutter release, is it a
camcorder of some sort that you want to run for a while, or is it
something entirely different) and anything else you can think of.

Probably the best thing for you to do would be to describe your
application, and that way we can fill in some of the blanks.

 

I'm still confused.

If you connect the battery to the camera will the camera start
consuming power immediately,

yes, the camera has no on/off, the battery is on a battery clip with a
lead that fits into the camera's power socket, so the camera consume
power once its all connected up. So, I need a timer switch in between
the battery and camera to make the connection active at a specific
time.

camera (or do something else) to make it start consuming power? Also,
once the camera starts consuming power from the battery

do you want it to continue until the battery is depleted, or what?

yes, i'm not bothered about the battery running down as it is
rechargeable

 

Sean:

A couple of questions,

Does this have to happen at a particular time of day? Or, four hours
after you start the count down? And, Do you need an off time?



Pat Ziegler
Wholesale Electronics Inc.
www.weisd.com




Hi Pat,

I would like it at a set time during the day but I'm not bothered
about an off time.

Cheers,
Sean

 

[John Fields]

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 21:20:07 GMT, srlock@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:

I'm still confused.

If you connect the battery to the camera will the camera start
consuming power immediately,

yes, the camera has no on/off, the battery is on a battery clip with a
lead that fits into the camera's power socket, so the camera consume
power once its all connected up. So, I need a timer switch in between
the battery and camera to make the connection active at a specific
time.


camera (or do something else) to make it start consuming power? Also,
once the camera starts consuming power from the battery


do you want it to continue until the battery is depleted, or what?

yes, i'm not bothered about the battery running down as it is
rechargeable

---
I suggest you use a mechanical timer like:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/productdetail.jsp?xi=xi&ItemId=1611686922&ccitem=

or:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/productdetail.jsp?xi=xi&ItemId=1611671503


--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer

 

[Pat Ziegler]

Sean:

I am sure John will come up with a great circuit to do this. I might take the cheap way out and get an inexpensive digital alarm clock. disconnect the leads that go to the clock's noise maker. Use those leads to fire a latching relay. The output voltage from the clock would have to be known before choosing a relay.

Assuming 12volts you could use an NTE RLYF1A012 this relay will only draw 12mA so should not overload the clock's output circuitry. You will want to add a resistor and capacitor across the relay's coil to keep it from cycling on and off as the clock pulses. 5,000 Ohms and 100mf in series across the relay coil will hold it closed ( assuming the clock pulses once per second). Once you turn of the alarm the relay will open in roughly 1/2 second.

the relays switch contacts will supply the 9 volts from your battery to the camera.


Pat Ziegler
Wholesale Electronics Inc.

www.weisd.com














<srlock@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message news:nof3c1ps1gdjpo6bcfvtk5mf42ctho4rsv@4ax.com...

Sean:

A couple of questions,

Does this have to happen at a particular time of day? Or, four hours
after you start the count down? And, Do you need an off time?



Pat Ziegler
Wholesale Electronics Inc.
www.weisd.com




Hi Pat,

I would like it at a set time during the day but I'm not bothered
about an off time.

Cheers,
Sean

 

---
I suggest you use a mechanical timer like:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/productdetail.jsp?xi=xi&ItemId=1611686922&ccitem=

or:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/productdetail.jsp?xi=xi&ItemId=1611671503

Thank John for your help. I think this will do the job.

Cheers,
Sean

 

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 17:09:14 -0500, "Pat Ziegler" <pzig@weisd.com>
wrote:

Sean:

I am sure John will come up with a great circuit to do this. I might take the cheap way out and get an inexpensive digital alarm clock. disconnect the leads that go to the clock's noise maker. Use those leads to fire a latching relay. The output voltage from the clock would have to be known before choosing a relay.

Assuming 12volts you could use an NTE RLYF1A012 this relay will only draw 12mA so should not overload the clock's output circuitry. You will want to add a resistor and capacitor across the relay's coil to keep it from cycling on and off as the clock pulses. 5,000 Ohms and 100mf in series across the relay coil will hold it closed ( assuming the clock pulses once per second). Once you turn of the alarm the relay will open in roughly 1/2 second.

the relays switch contacts will supply the 9 volts from your battery to the camera.


Pat Ziegler
Wholesale Electronics Inc.

www.weisd.com


Thanks Pat for you help.

Cheers,
Sean