What is the best sensor that can tell when the washer or dryer have completed their cycle

[G+_Rud Dog]

What is the best sensor that can tell when the washer or dryer have completed their cycle. Looking from something for a small iot board.

[G+_James Scouten]

One option would be a current shunt to read the power draw another option would be a accelleromoter(SP) that would signal you after x amount of time with no vibrations.

[G+_Rud Dog]

LIke the idea of monitoring the current now to find a safe plug device to which I can connect some kind of iot board

[G+_Mark Quinn]

There was that episode where they covered fiber and that it was used to detect motion under carpet. By placing a small piece fiber optics cable inside the chassis of both washer and dryer should work.

[G+_Ben Reese]

Here's some instructions for a power flow meter. I haven't tried it, but looks real interesting!

https://openenergymonitor.org/emon/node/58

[G+_Jason Eckelstafer]

I want to do this same thing. I was leaning towards the no vibration after X seconds but I may try Ben's recommendation.

[G+_Eddie Foy]

Your kids/wife is the best home automation system :P

 

Current sensing is a normal method.  just be careful, dealing with mains.  Isolation is a major key to safety.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Mark Quinn Great idea but the interface to report back to me would be something out of my expertise but thank you for the suggestion.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Ben Reese This looks promising just so happen to have an Arduino uno laying around.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Eddie Foy my wife wants to know if you are married and does your wife approve your responses:) Yes isolation between low voltage and high voltage is high priority.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Wayne Hobbins The appliances are mighty sitting upon their drawer option with the latest electronics less the notify via phone. So even looking at the appliance with tools in hand would land me in the seat with my wife and lawyer sitting across the table.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Wayne Hobbins Da wife has been showered with every creature comfort know to man. So sir I take me white glove and challenging slap you once from left to right and once in the opposite direction.

Having the dog duty sounds promising but think she lacks the attention span. Don't think I could her to count "woofs" <-is that a thing?

Anyhow you are trying if that is your best I can expect great things from you my friend.

[G+_Carlos Silva]

I like what James Scouten? mentioned, but I just used a ball switch. It only closes the circuit as it shakes /ball is in the middle. I use it to reset a timer.

 

https://www.adafruit.com/products/173

[G+_Eddie Foy]

A photo diode against the finished or on LED/light?

[G+_Rud Dog]

Eddie Foy Outstanding idea for us geeks but my wife marches to the beat of the non-geek . Even the appearance of a wire running anywhere on her new dryer and washer would launch retaliatory strike.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Carlos Silva The one problem with vibration is the newer appliance don't have much if any so guess it would depend on the sensitivity of the sensor. Secondly would have to devise a methond to avoid false triggers.

[G+_Eddie Foy]

tap off the the led/light internally.  Now you have a solid signal

[G+_Eddie Foy]

Both of mine beep when done.  Could use that.  a little bandpass filter so its in tune just with the beep rejecting other sounds.

[G+_Jason Eckelstafer]

I am planning the vibration method right now but the soak cycle is stumping me. I was just planning to have it send a text if no vibration was detected for 30 seconds but that damn soak cycle.

[G+_Rud Dog]

Eddie Foy Now all that needs doing now, have it connect to iot board and use wifi to send ITTT so my cell or my wife's cell phone can indicate drying or washing complete.

[G+_Eddie Foy]

The agitation and spin cycles will have different vibrations, let the spin cycle vibes trigger the 'look for it to stop' stage.

 

Another option could be a tach solution

[G+_Rud Dog]

I did not know this about clip on CT senors looks like I will need the diode included unit and hope it never fails and I have an open circuit on the secondary.

In general, a CT must never be open-circuited once it's attached to a current-carrying conductor.

A CT is potentially dangerous if open-circuited.

 

If open-circuited with current flowing in the primary, the transformer secondary will attempt to continue driving current into what is effectively an infinite impedance. This will produce a high and potentially dangerous voltage across the secondary [1]

 

Some CT's have built-in protection. Some have protective Zener diodes as is the case with the SCT-013-000 recommended for use in this project. If the CT is of the 'voltage output' type, it has a built in burden resistor. Thus, it cannot be open-circuited.

[G+_Carlos Silva]

Rud Dog the way I did it was any switch resets a five minute timer.sloppy coding but it works. You can buy those switches in very or mildly sensitive. My washer is old so you could race that thing if it weren't in a closet

[G+_Rud Dog]

Carlos Silva rounding turn 4 in the Agitator.

Sloppy works.

[G+_Rud Dog]

So have to wonder how do you conduct testing with the induction type CT sensors? Is a current meter considered enough to avoid causing fire and smoke.