Team IOT Project 40:

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Published April 12, 2017

Car Security System

Putting 21st century technology into a 1989 Ford Mustang. A security system that gives the user control of their vehicle's ignition.

IntermediateFull instructions provided6 hours1,353

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Particle Photon

SPDT 10A 3V Relay

Solar Motion Sensor Light

Resistor 10k ohm

Breadboard (generic)

Jumper wires (generic)

Software apps and online services

IFTTT Maker service

ThingSpeak API

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Soldering iron (generic)

Story

Ever wonder how to incorporate 21st century technology into the electrical system of a 1980's car? Thanks to Particle this is a possibility! Let's get going! A video below shows the final product, a security system that can be controlled from my phone!

A basic problem with classic cars is their security. Now you do not have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a security system for your car. You just need a few basic components:

The Hardware:

(X 2) Solar Panel Lights (=$20 dollars on Amazon.com)

- thank you to the sleep mode on the particle photon we are able to power each particle using 3.7V which can be outputted from the Solar Lights

Magnetic Switch (P/N 8601) (=$7 dollars on Amazon.com)

-depending on a person's specific code you might need a NA or NC (normally open or normally closed) reed switch

- for this specific application I purchased a magnetic switch with both and used the normally closed terminal for the door sensing

Cellular Device (Phone):

-IOS or Android device this IFTT app demonstration could vary

-I used a Android device

Relay: (=$10 dollars using Digikey)

-depending on your operating voltage/current your relay could vary

-I needed a 12V relay with a coil voltage of around 3V

Solar Battery Modifications

First we take apart the solar lights and rewire the battery for a voltage output as pictured below in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Solar Light Modification

I cut the wires from the PCB board to the LED light and also removed the light. I then rewired two wires, one from the ground from the battery and the other from the positive on the battery. These two leads will now become my Vin and GND on my photon. In Figure 2 you can see the finished solar panel reassembled.

Figure 2: Final Solar Panel With 2 Wire Leads

The solar light lists specs for the battery of 1200mAh Lithium on the box. According to Professor MacAlpine, who uses these exact solar lights in his "You've Got Mail" project, the battery output should be sufficient to run each photon.

Car Relay/Car Modifications

Next, I ordered my correct relay. I figured out that to shut my car off or to not let it start, I had to pull power from the ignition coil. I then figured out the current running through the wire, as well as the voltage. I decided a relay with a 10Amp capacity as well as 12Volt allowable passing voltage would work for this application. I then decided that if I could have a 3V coil voltage this would allow the photon to turn the relay open. I discussed my needed specifications with DigiKey and they were kind enough to lead me in the right direction. The top of the relay is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Relay ordered

I then cut the ignition coil wire in the vehicle and checked to make sure this would do the required task. I started the car, cut the wire, and the car stopped. I then rewired the connection and the car would start. This showed that the relay would work as anticipated that the idea will work. After receiving my relay I soldered the proper lead wires onto the terminals. I used the normally closed relay portion (terminal 1 and 4) so that with no power to the relay the car will run but once I tell the photon to output a high to pin D3 and D4 it will open the relay, causing the car to stop or not start. A picture of the wire I cut and added extra length to run to my breadboard is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Car Modification

Then I wired up the relay. Unfortunately, I was not able to put this directly into a breadboard but I soldered the terminals to jumper wires that could go directly into the breadboard. A diagram of the wires is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Relay wire diagram

Magnetic Switch

I then wired up my magnetic switch. I attached two lead wires to the D0 pin and GND pin of the photon and then attached the switch to the door like shown below in Figure 6. I used the sleep function on the photon. The photon wakes up once the door is opened (the circuit becomes disconnected, on a falling edge). The photon then reports RSSI, voltage, door trigger count, as well as, sends me a message, "Car Door Is Opened". As far as wiring, I then attached the one lead from the magnetic switch from NC (normally closed) to DO pin on the photon and the other COM to GND on the photon. I attached a picture of the two sensors as the door is closed in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Door Magnetic Switch

Schematic/Wiring

Below are the schematics/pin outs for the two photons. Also attached are the Fritzing files if needed.

Figure 7: Car Door Sensor Schematic

Figure 8: Car Relay Schematic

Thingspeak/Graphing

After finally getting all the hardware sorted I moved onto Thingspeak to track the RSSI, door trigger count, and voltage of the system.

I created two Webhooks, one for the photon that was working with the door opening switch named cardoor_open_ and the other working with the relay under the hood of the car named carrelay_open_, shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9. I then placed the form data from my code into the form on the integration so it knows what to graph since I have more than one variable being graphed.

Figure 8: Car Door Photon Integration

Figure 9: Car Relay Integration

I then logged into Thingspeak, and created a channel for each photon. I named the channel accordingly and then went to channel setting. I made sure to copy the "Write API Key" for each specific channel and pasted that key into the code for the specific photon that I want to write to that channel. Below, in Figure 10, is a random key I generated and in Figure 11 is the section of code I pasted it in.

Figure 10: API Key

Figure 11: Code where the API Key is entered

After that I then tested the photon and had some slight issues. Make sure that the code is similar to the code below where the name "cardoor_open_" matches the "Event" on the Webhook. The "All" part comes from that, you want to publish all this information. Shown in Figure 12 is the code I am discussing.

Figure 12: Webhook Integration Code

After a few changes I was able to get both graphs to operate and monitor the RSSI, door trigger counts, as well as, the voltage for the battery. The two graphs are shown below in Figure 13 and Figure 14.

Figure 13: Car Door Sensor Graphs

Figure 14: Car Relay: Graphs

Car Door Channel- https://thingspeak.com/channels/255813

Car Relay Channel- https://thingspeak.com/channels/255813

IFTTT Notification/Relay Button

Then onto the IFTTT notification and button. I created one applet so that if "kindicane" (name of door sensor photon) comes online it sends me a notification on my phone through IFTTT. Since the particle is asleep and offline all the time, except when it senses a falling edge when the door is opened, this will work out well.

To set this up I chose 'new applet' from the IFTTT menu. For the "if" I chose "particle" then I chose, "Monitor your device status". After that, I added the name of the photon as well as the "comes online" portion. Then I chose "Notifications" and typed in what I wanted the IFTTT to tell me when the door was opened. The applet, once finished, looks like Figure 15.

Figure 15: Car Sensor IFTTT

After this I created another applet that allowed me to control the car relay photon. I first created a new applet, chose the button widget so the button is visible on my phone, and then chose particle for the "that" part. I clicked on "publish an event" and then created an event name that matched my code. What this does is every time I hit the button it publishes an event that will output D2 and D3 on my photon with a "HIGH". This will then switch the relay to off and shut the car off or not let it start. In my code I put a delay of 15 minutes that the high values will remain on, and then the photon will return D2 and D3 to low and go to sleep. This gives me enough time to call the police or get someone to where the car is at if someone is trying to steal it. The IFTTT for the relay is shown in Figure 16.

Figure 16: Car Relay IFTTT

Now let's say when I open the door, during my normal everyday process, IFTTT will send me a notification saying "Car Door Opened" but I will not respond to the IFTTT notification therefore the car will not remaining running.

The notification I receive from IFTTT is shown in Figure 17. As you can see it displays the approximate time the door was opened as well.

Figure 17: IFTTT Notification

Code

{
    "event": "cardoor_open_",
    "url": "https://api.thingspeak.com/update",
    "requestType": "POST",
    "form": {
        "api_key": "{{k}}",
        "field1": "{{1}}",
        "field2": "{{2}}",
        "field3": "{{3}}",
        "field4": "{{4}}",
        "field5": "{{5}}",
        "field6": "{{6}}",
        "field7": "{{7}}",
        "field8": "{{8}}",
        "lat": "{{a}}",
        "long": "{{o}}",
        "elevation": "{{e}}",
        "status": "{{s}}"
    },
    "mydevices": true,
    "noDefaults": true
}

{
    "event": "carrelay_open_",
    "url": "https://api.thingspeak.com/update",
    "requestType": "POST",
    "form": {
        "api_key": "{{k}}",
        "field1": "{{1}}",
        "field2": "{{2}}",
        "field3": "{{3}}",
        "field4": "{{4}}",
        "field5": "{{5}}",
        "field6": "{{6}}",
        "field7": "{{7}}",
        "field8": "{{8}}",
        "lat": "{{a}}",
        "long": "{{o}}",
        "elevation": "{{e}}",
        "status": "{{s}}"
    },
    "mydevices": true,
    "noDefaults": true
}

/*  begin particle webhook code snippit to add to particle webhook interface on console
{
    "event": "cardoor_open_",
    "url": "https://api.thingspeak.com/update",
    "requestType": "POST",
    "form": {
        "api_key": "{{k}}",
        "field1": "{{1}}",
        "field2": "{{2}}",
        "field3": "{{3}}",
        "field4": "{{4}}",
        "field5": "{{5}}",
        "field6": "{{6}}",
        "field7": "{{7}}",
        "field8": "{{8}}",
        "lat": "{{a}}",
        "long": "{{o}}",
        "elevation": "{{e}}",
        "status": "{{s}}"
    },
    "mydevices": true,
    "noDefaults": true
}
*/

char publishString[40];
int doorpin = D0;
int volttestpin = A5;
int voltpowerpin = A4;

const String key = "0W9OG8025VEKLUCM";



int rssival = 0;
volatile bool doorsend = FALSE;
volatile bool rssisend = FALSE;
int doortriggers = 0;
long waketime = 0;
SYSTEM_THREAD(ENABLED); //enable multitasking.  allows the ability to catch the doorpin trigger and send the message
SYSTEM_MODE(AUTOMATIC);  //run code. then connect     
     
void rssi_update()
{
    //delay (2000);
    static int count = 0;
    Serial.println(count++);
    rssival = WiFi.RSSI();
    sprintf(publishString,"%d",rssival);
    bool success = Particle.publish("RSSI",publishString);
    
    sprintf(publishString, "%1.4f", checkbattery());



       Particle.publish("cardoor_open_All", "{ \"1\": \"" + String(rssival) + "\"," +
       "\"2\": \"" + String(checkbattery()) + "\"," +
       "\"3\": \"" + String(doortriggers) + "\"," +
     //"\"4\": \"" + String(var3) + "\"," +
     //"\"5\": \"" + String(var4) + "\"," +
       "\"k\": \"" + key + "\" }", 60, PRIVATE);
    if (success == TRUE) {
        //delay(10000);
        rssisend = FALSE; //if sent, then turn of the send flag, otherwise let it try again.
    }
}


void enabledoorsend(void){
    doorsend=TRUE;
    digitalWrite(D7,1);
}


      



void setup() {
    //setADCSampleTime(ADC_SampleTime_239Cycles5);  //sets adc to longest time for low noise
    Time.zone(-4);  //set eastern time zone
    pinMode(doorpin,INPUT);
    pinMode(voltpowerpin, INPUT);
    pinMode(D7, OUTPUT);
    attachInterrupt(doorpin, enabledoorsend, FALLING);
    Particle.variable("doortrig", doortriggers);
    rssisend = TRUE;
}



void loop()


{
    if ((Particle.connected())&&(doorsend == TRUE)&&WiFi.ready()) 
    {
        doornotification();
    }
    
    if ((Particle.connected())&&(rssisend == TRUE)&&WiFi.ready()) 
    {
        rssi_update();
    }
    

    if ((millis()-waketime > 200000) && (doorsend == FALSE) && (rssisend == FALSE)) 
    {
        Particle.disconnect();
        
        //System.sleep(doorpin,RISING,30); 
        System.sleep(doorpin,FALLING);
        pinMode(doorpin,INPUT); // this may need resetting after sleep.
        waketime = millis();  //millis haults when sleeping.  find out the time on boot and compare from there.
        rssisend = TRUE;  //on wakeup report rssi but do not report door trigger
        doorsend = FALSE;
        
    }

    if (digitalRead(doorpin) == LOW) {
        enabledoorsend();
    }
    
    if (Particle.connected() == false) 
    {
        Particle.connect();
    }
    /*if (waitFor(Particle.connected, 20000))
    {
    }
    */
   
}

float checkbattery(){
    float battvolts;
    pinMode(volttestpin, INPUT);  
    pinMode(voltpowerpin, OUTPUT); //sent power pin as output
    digitalWrite(voltpowerpin, 0); //send a 0, or LOW to turn on voltage test
    delay(1); //wait for volts to settle good measure
    battvolts = analogRead(volttestpin); //sample voltage
    battvolts = float(battvolts)*3.3/4096.0*2.0*3.85/3.827;  //calibrate voltage reading
    pinMode(voltpowerpin, INPUT); //disable powerpin and set as high Z input
    return(battvolts); //return calibrated battery voltage
}

void doornotification(void){
    digitalWrite(D7,1);
    rssi_update();
    sprintf(publishString, "%1.4f", checkbattery());
    Particle.publish("mail/volts", publishString,60,PRIVATE);
    
    sprintf(publishString, "%d", doortriggers);
    bool success = Particle.publish("Someone is in your caarrrrrr!!!!", Time.format(Time.now(), "240027000f51353338363333"), 60, PRIVATE);
    delay(1000);
    if (success == TRUE) {
        doortriggers++;
        doorsend = FALSE; //if sent, then turn off the send flag, otherwise let it try again.
        digitalWrite(D7,0);
        }
}

/*  begin particle webhook code snippit to add to particle webhook interface on console
{
    "event": "carrelay_open_",
    "url": "https://api.thingspeak.com/update",
    "requestType": "POST",
    "form": {
        "api_key": "{{k}}",
        "field1": "{{1}}",
        "field2": "{{2}}",
        "field3": "{{3}}",
        "field4": "{{4}}",
        "field5": "{{5}}",
        "field6": "{{6}}",
        "field7": "{{7}}",
        "field8": "{{8}}",
        "lat": "{{a}}",
        "long": "{{o}}",
        "elevation": "{{e}}",
        "status": "{{s}}"
    },
    "mydevices": true,
    "noDefaults": true
}
*/

char publishString[40];
int doorpin = D0;
int volttestpin = A5;
int voltpowerpin = A4;
int carpin1 = D2;
int carpin2 = D3;


const String key = "8AX5KQ0S06M3E3EZ";



int rssival = 0;
volatile bool doorsend = FALSE;
volatile bool rssisend = FALSE;
int doortriggers = 0;
long waketime = 0;
SYSTEM_THREAD(ENABLED); //enable multitasking.  allows the ability to catch the doorpin trigger and send the message
SYSTEM_MODE(AUTOMATIC);  //run code. then connect     
     
void rssi_update()
{
    //delay (2000);
    static int count = 0;
    Serial.println(count++);
    rssival = WiFi.RSSI();
    sprintf(publishString,"%d",rssival);
    bool success = Particle.publish("RSSI",publishString);
    
    sprintf(publishString, "%1.4f", checkbattery());


       Particle.publish("carrelay_open_All", "{ \"1\": \"" + String(rssival) + "\"," +
       "\"2\": \"" + String(checkbattery()) + "\"," +
       "\"3\": \"" + String(doortriggers) + "\"," +
     //"\"4\": \"" + String(var3) + "\"," +
     //"\"5\": \"" + String(var4) + "\"," +
       "\"k\": \"" + key + "\" }", 60, PRIVATE);
    if (success == TRUE) {
        //delay(10000);
        rssisend = FALSE; //if sent, then turn of the send flag, otherwise let it try again.
    }
}


void enabledoorsend(void){
    doorsend=TRUE;
    digitalWrite(D7,1);
}


      



void setup() {
    //setADCSampleTime(ADC_SampleTime_239Cycles5);  //sets adc to longest time for low noise
    Time.zone(-4);  //set eastern time zone
    pinMode(doorpin,INPUT);
    pinMode(voltpowerpin, INPUT);
    pinMode(D7, OUTPUT);
    attachInterrupt(doorpin, enabledoorsend, FALLING);
    Particle.variable("doortrig", doortriggers);
    rssisend = TRUE;
        //We set the pin mode to output
    pinMode(carpin1, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(carpin2, OUTPUT);
    //We "Subscribe" to our IFTTT event called button so that we get events for it 
    Particle.subscribe("button", myHandler);
}

//The function that handles the event from IFTTT
void myHandler(const char *event, const char *data){
    // We'll turn off the car
    digitalWrite(carpin1, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(carpin2, HIGH);
    
    delay(900000);
    
    
     digitalWrite(carpin1, LOW);
    digitalWrite(carpin2, LOW);
}
void loop()


{
    if ((Particle.connected())&&(doorsend == TRUE)&&WiFi.ready()) 
    {
        doornotification();
    }
    
    if ((Particle.connected())&&(rssisend == TRUE)&&WiFi.ready()) 
    {
        rssi_update();
    }
    

    if ((millis()-waketime > 200000) && (doorsend == FALSE) && (rssisend == FALSE)) 
    {
        Particle.disconnect();
        
        //System.sleep(doorpin,RISING,30); 
        System.sleep(doorpin,FALLING);
        pinMode(doorpin,INPUT); // this may need resetting after sleep.
        waketime = millis();  //millis haults when sleeping.  find out the time on boot and compare from there.
        rssisend = TRUE;  //on wakeup report rssi but do not report door trigger
        doorsend = FALSE;
        
    }

    if (digitalRead(doorpin) == LOW) {
        enabledoorsend();
    }
    
    if (Particle.connected() == false) 
    {
        Particle.connect();
    }
    /*if (waitFor(Particle.connected, 20000))
    {
    }
    */
   
}

float checkbattery(){
    float battvolts;
    pinMode(volttestpin, INPUT);  
    pinMode(voltpowerpin, OUTPUT); //sent power pin as output
    digitalWrite(voltpowerpin, 0); //send a 0, or LOW to turn on voltage test
    delay(1); //wait for volts to settle good measure
    battvolts = analogRead(volttestpin); //sample voltage
    battvolts = float(battvolts)*3.3/4096.0*2.0*3.85/3.827;  //calibrate voltage reading
    pinMode(voltpowerpin, INPUT); //disable powerpin and set as high Z input
    return(battvolts); //return calibrated battery voltage
}

void doornotification(void){
    digitalWrite(D7,1);
    rssi_update();
    sprintf(publishString, "%1.4f", checkbattery());
    Particle.publish("mail/volts", publishString,60,PRIVATE);
    
    sprintf(publishString, "%d", doortriggers);
    bool success = Particle.publish("Someone is in your caarrrrrr!!!!", Time.format(Time.now(), "240027000f51353338363333"), 60, PRIVATE);
    delay(1000);
    if (success == TRUE) {
        doortriggers++;
        doorsend = FALSE; //if sent, then turn off the send flag, otherwise let it try again.
        digitalWrite(D7,0);
        }
}

Credits

Nicolas Hammann

1 project • 0 followers

Contact

kindicane

1 project • 0 followers

Contact

Thanks to John R McAlpine V Mac.

Comments

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Car Security System

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Solar Battery Modifications

Car Relay/Car Modifications

Magnetic Switch

Schematic/Wiring

Thingspeak/Graphing

IFTTT Notification/Relay Button

Schematics

Car Relay Photon Schematic

Car Door Sensor Photon Schematic

Code

Webhook Form

Webhook Form Car Relay

Car Door Sensor Photon

Car Relay Photon

Credits

Nicolas Hammann

kindicane

Comments

Embed the widget on your own site

Car Security System

Car Security System

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Solar Battery Modifications

Car Relay/Car Modifications

Magnetic Switch

Schematic/Wiring

Thingspeak/Graphing

IFTTT Notification/Relay Button

Schematics

Car Relay Photon Schematic

Car Door Sensor Photon Schematic

Code

Webhook Form

Webhook Form Car Relay

Car Door Sensor Photon

Car Relay Photon

Credits

Nicolas Hammann

kindicane

Comments

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