Published June 27, 2017 © CC BY-NC-SA

Wireless Light Switch Manipulator

Have you ever gotten out of bed just to turn off or on the light switch? Well worry no more!

IntermediateFull instructions provided4 hours7,653

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO

Servos (Tower Pro MG996R)

433 MHz Tranzmit and Recieve Module

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Hand tools and fabrication machines

3D Printer (generic)

Story

Ideation

So I'm not a fan of getting up once I've decided to fall asleep. Sometimes I just want to do some reading prior to falling asleep and need the light to be on. So I decided to make this light switch manipulator.

I realized this has a couple of other implications:

Children who are too short to reach the switch

People who are limited in mobility

The Project

This project is largely based on the 433 MHz RF boards talking to each other. Sometimes this can be quite a feat. If the code doesn't work well for you, try modifying these values in Slave_servo.ino:

const unsigned int upperThreshold = 70;  //upper threshold value 
const unsigned int lowerThreshold = 50;  //lower threshold value

Master_Remote.ino goes on the Arduino with the transmitter

Slave_Servo.ino goes on the same Arduino as the receiver

Wiring

The wiring for this is quite simple, just use the images at this link, and the images under "Schematics".

Photo credit to http://arduinobasics.blogspot.com/2014/06/433-mhz-rf-module-with-arduino-tutorial.html

Note

The button goes on the same Arduino as the transmitter, and the servo goes on the same Arduino as the receiver.

Wall Mount

As for the mount for the servo onto the wall, you are going to need access to a 3D printer. The servo mount has been modeling in OpenSCAD, you may have to change where the hole is located. I have included the OpenSCAD file, so that the hole parameters can be modified. You will want to print mhacks_lightswitchv4.stl for starters.

Once printed, secure the servo in and adhere the mount on the switch (this can be done with something as simple as command strips, or if you are really sure you like it, super glue (I don't recommend this).

Final Project

Here is the final project (I submitted this for an online hackathon called Mhacks).

The working project!!

To make the setup more permanent, you may want to print off an Arduino case. This case works really well. You can mount it as well as the breadboard to the wall using command strips.

Future Developments

Use an ESP8266 based board to control the servo, rather than 2 Arduinos

Make a light switch cover that embeds a servo more eloquently

Develop Alexa code such that it is capable of being voice controlled

Schematics

Code

#define rfReceivePin A0  //RF Receiver pin = Analog pin 0
 #define ledPin 13        //Onboard LED = digital pin 13
 #include <Servo.h>

 Servo  servo;

 unsigned int data = 0;   // variable used tostore received data
 const unsigned int upperThreshold = 70;  //upper threshold value
 const unsigned int lowerThreshold = 50;  //lower threshold value

 void setup(){
   pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
   Serial.begin(9600);
   servo.attach(9);
 }

 void loop(){
   data=analogRead(rfReceivePin);    //listen for data on Analog pin 0
   
    if(data<upperThreshold){
     digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);   //If a LOW signal is received, turn LED OFF
     Serial.println(data);
     servo.write(0);
   }
   
   if(data>lowerThreshold){
     digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);   //If a HIGH signal is received, turn LED ON
     Serial.println(data);
     servo.write(90);
   }
 }

 #define rfTransmitPin 4  //RF Transmitter pin = digital pin 4
 #define buttonPin 2    
 #define led 13    
 
void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
pinMode(rfTransmitPin, OUTPUT);     
   pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT);   
   pinMode(led, OUTPUT); 
   Serial.begin(9600);
}

int buttonState = 0; 

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
buttonState = digitalRead(buttonPin);
   if (buttonState == HIGH) {
    // turn LED on:
    digitalWrite(rfTransmitPin, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(led, HIGH);
    Serial.println("transmit");
    delay(10);
  } else {
    // turn LED off:
    digitalWrite(rfTransmitPin, LOW);
    digitalWrite(led, LOW);
    Serial.println("no");
  }

}

Credits

Becky Button

3 projects • 28 followers

maker - hardware is my friend

Wireless Light Switch Manipulator

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Ideation

The Project

Wiring

Wall Mount

Final Project

Future Developments

Custom parts and enclosures

Servo Enclosure

OpenSCAD Script for Servo Enclosure

Arduino Case

Schematics

Transmitter Circut

Receiver Circut

Code

Slave_Servo.ino

Master_Remote.ino

Credits

Becky Button

Comments

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Wireless Light Switch Manipulator

Wireless Light Switch Manipulator

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Ideation

The Project

Wiring

Wall Mount

Final Project

Future Developments

Custom parts and enclosures

Servo Enclosure

OpenSCAD Script for Servo Enclosure

Arduino Case

Schematics

Transmitter Circut

Receiver Circut

Code

Slave_Servo.ino

Master_Remote.ino

Credits

Becky Button

Comments

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