PCA Forums

I can't believe I'm really gonna have to do this, ok here we go.

My MD was at another company and saw a system which appeared to do this and now he wants me to make one for our company.

When a same day or overnight order is placed on the system and the paperwork is produced the paperwork comes out in the warehouse (can do) then a siren goes off (?) and a flashing light (?) and then some guys come running out to sort the order out (can do). While I have spoken to the OPs manager and we don't have a problem with overnights or next day's when showing people round the PR value is very great, it has a high "cuddle factor" with the customer.

Now our ERP system is a PC based network so I need a PC that is running a program that checks when one of these orders is created (no problem i can write such a program) and then sounds a siren (could just add some speakers and playback a sound sufficently loudly, no biggie), but how the hell do you hook up a big flashing light on a pole and (think like those ones they use on roadside equipment) turn on and flash, while the siren sounds.

Any ideas? I need to build this thing (or at least have a prototype) by Thursday.

I reckon one of you crazy PC modding gurus might have the answer...

Darkheart

Get one of those Lights that is meant as an Intruder Detector....come on when a noise is heard.

Set it real low sensitivity....and put it next to the speaker........

and off you go!

Or even better.........my brain is in full motion now........

Big flashy light has an ON/OFF switch....put switch in front of CD Draw....get the Rom draw to open when the siren goes off.........

and then it closes when someone actions "the order"...light goes back off............

or...........

plug sound speaker out puts to a light............

or........

plug speaker out puts from BIG amp to a "worker".....so he gets electric shock and jumps up, hitting his head on a light switch.........*thinks hard*......He'll need a hard hat....and an increase in Health Care Insurance.........and make sure he isn't wearing rubber boots or the effect will be lessened and he may not make the jump to the lighty switch!

hmm......I'll try to come up with some more later!.

There are cards that allow you to interface a PC to electrical replays that can drive anything: motors, lights, etc:

http://electronickits.com/kit/complete/elec/ck1601.htm

If you don't actually want to put something inside the PC, use a Basic Stamp controller. It's a dedicated controller processor that can drive relays and can be remote controlled via a serial port. They even make one now that can be remote controlled over a network:

http://www.rentron.com/pc-relay.htm

More info on Basic Stamps here: http://www.wd5gnr.com/faqs/faq.php?faq=1


More info here:

http://www.parallaxinc.com/

Thanks FP, all looks kinda complicated but no pain/no gain etc. wish I felt this was a more worthwhile thing to spend time on, but hey you gotta take whatever they throw.

Darkheart