Photodetector Bonanza: Buy & Learn for 4-Week EE Project

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of a project involving the integration of photodetectors into a model of a theoretical city, specifically for controlling street lamps. Participants explore the practicality of this project for beginners within a four-week timeframe, discussing potential resources and tools such as Arduino and solar garden lights.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a lack of knowledge in electrical engineering but seeks to design a model city with dynamic lighting using photodetectors.
  • Another suggests purchasing a solar garden light as a simple solution, noting that it contains a photodetector for automatic operation.
  • Participants discuss the potential use of Arduino and Raspberry Pi for the project, with one expressing concern about their limited programming experience.
  • There is a mention of the time it took one participant to complete a basic Arduino project, indicating that prior experience may be beneficial.
  • One participant reassures that creating a simple light-activated switch is achievable for beginners, comparing it to a flashlight setup.
  • A later reply points out that photodetectors are already used in city street lights, suggesting a practical application of the technology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that using solar garden lights is a feasible starting point for the project. However, there is uncertainty regarding the ability to successfully implement more complex systems like Arduino or Raspberry Pi within the given timeframe, especially without prior experience.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express limitations in their understanding of electrical engineering concepts, such as Ohm's law, which may affect their confidence in executing the project. The discussion reflects varying levels of experience and knowledge among participants.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for beginners in electrical engineering or those interested in simple projects involving photodetectors and basic programming with Arduino or Raspberry Pi.

PriviligeradVitMan
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Here's the thing: I'm a god-fearing humble man like yourselves, but I know jack about electrical engineering, yet I've found myself in a rather peculiar situation. In particular, I'm supposed to perform electrical engineering.

So, we're supposed to design a model of a theoretical city, using our perpetual middle school knowledge of how to do said thing. My team would like to blow dang out of the water and integrate some sort of "dynamic" (pardon my misuse of EE terminology) support for lights in, e.g street lamps. In particular, we'd like so called "photodetectors" to determine which street lamps should be turned on and how much they should be turned on. Where can we buy "photodetectors"? Is this a reasonable project for newbies within a timeframe of ~4 weeks? What are the names of some good brands, so that we can search for reasonable products within the domestic market?

Gracias
 
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if you did have knowledge about photo detectors, would you have the knowledge to incorporate them into the design of a lighting system?

Go down to the local hardware store and buy a solar garden light for about $2. They have photo detectors to turn the light on and off.
 
PriviligeradVitMan said:
using our perpetual middle school knowledge

Any of the kids good with Arduino yet? They're getting down to around ten bucks...
 
Thanks for the replies, much appreciated!

anorlunda said:
if you did have knowledge about photo detectors, would you have the knowledge to incorporate them into the design of a lighting system?

Go down to the local hardware store and buy a solar garden light for about $2. They have photo detectors to turn the light on and off.

Did not think of that, what a cheap and simple solution! Thank you!

jim hardy said:
Any of the kids good with Arduino yet? They're getting down to around ten bucks...

Ah, I shouldn't refer to us as "middle schoolers". I guess you could consider the American 9th grade the equivalent of the grade we're currently in. I have limited experience in programming, in particular, I have limited experience with imperative, object-oriented, and generic paradigms within the domain of C-like languages. I have zero experience with Arduino or any other "integrated hardware environment", or whatever you'd call them. Do you think we'll be able to pull something off with Arduino/Raspberry in 4 weeks?
 
PriviligeradVitMan said:
Do you think we'll be able to pull something off with Arduino/Raspberry in 4 weeks?

Only if you've got a kid who's already using them.

Took me that long to get a $15 Arduino keeping time of day in Roman Numerals... and it needs a $100 display...
 
jim hardy said:
Only if you've got a kid who's already using them.

Took me that long to get a $15 Arduino keeping time of day in Roman Numerals... and it needs a $100 display...

Very demotivating. Do you believe that we could at least pull of that solar garden light thing with ZERO knowledge about whatever Ohm's law is and everything in between? I'm fine with doing very disgraceful things with what I assume is a very pedantic art form. I mean, surely it shouldn't be harder than setting up one of those light-sensitive lamp layouts you see on some gardens. Thank you for helping us out!
 
PriviligeradVitMan said:
Do you believe that we could at least pull of that solar garden light thing with ZERO knowledge about whatever Ohm's law is and everything in between?

Sure. The humble flashlight has much to teach a beginner. What you asked i envision as not much beyond a flashlight with light activated switch instead of a pushbutton. The yard light suggestion earlier was great advice.
 
PriviligeradVitMan said:
Here's the thing: I'm a god-fearing humble man like yourselves, but I know jack about electrical engineering, yet I've found myself in a rather peculiar situation. In particular, I'm supposed to perform electrical engineering.

So, we're supposed to design a model of a theoretical city, using our perpetual middle school knowledge of how to do said thing. My team would like to blow **** out of the water and integrate some sort of "dynamic" (pardon my misuse of EE terminology) support for lights in, e.g street lamps. In particular, we'd like so called "photodetectors" to determine which street lamps should be turned on and how much they should be turned on. Where can we buy "photodetectors"? Is this a reasonable project for newbies within a timeframe of ~4 weeks? What are the names of some good brands, so that we can search for reasonable products within the domestic market?

Gracias
You might not be aware, but photodetectors of one type or another are already used to automatically turn city street lights on and off according to light levelsDave
 

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