K
Ken Moiarty
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
[Firstly, my apologies to alt.engineering.electrical if this post is out of
place there.]
Any ideas (and/or recommended references) as to where/how to get started?
What I'm aiming to create is a floor pad, the size of a prototype to be
about four square feet, equipped with densely spaced, evenly distributed
moisture-detection points. Obviously the use here of many moisture
sensitive microchips would get too expensive. So I'm thinking more along
the lines of a grid pattern of wires: wire anodes criss-crossing wire
cathodes, each kept vertically separated by some non-compressible material
possessing excellent water absorbtion characteristics; such that a low
voltage current will flow between anode and cathode (to trigger an
ultrasonic-alarm device) whenever "Kitten decides to do her thing" and the
material thereby becomes wet...
Now, I don't happen to know of any specific materials that would fit this
bill. Nor do I have the specific technical experience or knowledge to
guesstimate whether this idea is even plausible or not.
What I do know I have this problem with 'people and their pets' inside the
house. I have poured over the internet searching for possible technical
solutions to apply to this problem. Some I've purchased and tried (e.g. cat
facial pheromone or Feliway®), but none have worked. I have researched
electronic pet repellants and found a couple of such products that do have a
proven track record. But these simply deter animals from entering or
remaining in a certain area by emitting an ultrasonic noise (silent to
humans) upon the detection of motion --any motion, by any pet, person, or
thing, for any reason. Such a device would definitely scare the cat out of
the house, but wouldn't meet with the cat's owner's approval since it is not
selective for specific problem behavior, and she wants the cat living
indoors. Thus I need to develop a customized (yet affordable) technical
solution, such as would briefly emit an ultrasonic "noise" to startle the
cat, but *only in response to wetting behavior* by the cat.
Therefore, helpful feedback/references/possible plans/schematics/suggestions
appreciated?
TIA,
Ken
place there.]
Any ideas (and/or recommended references) as to where/how to get started?
What I'm aiming to create is a floor pad, the size of a prototype to be
about four square feet, equipped with densely spaced, evenly distributed
moisture-detection points. Obviously the use here of many moisture
sensitive microchips would get too expensive. So I'm thinking more along
the lines of a grid pattern of wires: wire anodes criss-crossing wire
cathodes, each kept vertically separated by some non-compressible material
possessing excellent water absorbtion characteristics; such that a low
voltage current will flow between anode and cathode (to trigger an
ultrasonic-alarm device) whenever "Kitten decides to do her thing" and the
material thereby becomes wet...
Now, I don't happen to know of any specific materials that would fit this
bill. Nor do I have the specific technical experience or knowledge to
guesstimate whether this idea is even plausible or not.
What I do know I have this problem with 'people and their pets' inside the
house. I have poured over the internet searching for possible technical
solutions to apply to this problem. Some I've purchased and tried (e.g. cat
facial pheromone or Feliway®), but none have worked. I have researched
electronic pet repellants and found a couple of such products that do have a
proven track record. But these simply deter animals from entering or
remaining in a certain area by emitting an ultrasonic noise (silent to
humans) upon the detection of motion --any motion, by any pet, person, or
thing, for any reason. Such a device would definitely scare the cat out of
the house, but wouldn't meet with the cat's owner's approval since it is not
selective for specific problem behavior, and she wants the cat living
indoors. Thus I need to develop a customized (yet affordable) technical
solution, such as would briefly emit an ultrasonic "noise" to startle the
cat, but *only in response to wetting behavior* by the cat.
Therefore, helpful feedback/references/possible plans/schematics/suggestions
appreciated?
TIA,
Ken