Status Indicator System

Simplest is running 2 wires for each family member from the family room to the shelf location(s).

Purchase a 12 folt DC wall wart and n LEDs plus n 1K resistors where n = the number of family members.

Wire up your LEDs and resistors like this:

|> | ---- | | +V ---+---| 1K |---LED---o o---------+ Shelf 1 | ---- | | |> | | | ---- | | | +---| 1K |---LED---o o-------+ | Shelf 2 | ---- | | | |> | | | | ---- | | | | +---| 1K |---LED---o o-----+ | | Shelf 3 | ---- | | | }}} |> | }}}}} | ---- | | | | | +---| 1K |---LED---o o---+ | | | Shelf n ---- | | | | | | | | Gnd -----------------------------+-+-+-+

Use normally open switches, one for each shelf. Rig it so when the laundry is placed on the shelf, the switch closes, and when removed, the switch opens. You could adapt something like catalog # SMS-196 from All Electronics.

The LED and resistor will be in the family room near the wall wart power supply, the switches will be at the shelf location(s).

LEDs have a polarity - the longer lead goes to the (+) side (the resistor in this case).+

I do not think you will enjoy a sounder - but if you want to add it, use a Kobitone PB511, or you could select something from Sonalert. The Kobitone is part # 254-PB511 from Mouser for $2.18

You'll need 1N4001 or 1N914 or 1N4148 diodes - one for each family member. The banded end of each diode connects to the side of each LED that is connected to a switch. The other ends of the diodes are connected together, and to the negative side of the sounder. The other side of the sounder connects to +12.

The work is almost all in running the wiring from the shelf location(s) to the family room. If the shelves are all in the same location, you could use CAT5 or some other multiconductor cable. You should start with the basic setup - later on, you can add the "airplane seat belt" kind of light if you want, by adding some transistors, a more robust power supply and maybe car tail lights for illumination behind the person's name. To do that, you would wire the emitters of the NPN power transistors to ground, and connect the wires that are going to ground now instead to the bases of the transistors - 1 wire to 1 transistor. The collectors would be wired to the tail lights -

1 collector to 1 tail light, and the other side of each taillight would be wired to + 12. The diodes that now connect to the LEDs would be moved to the respective collectors.

Ed

Just use paper for the lens. If you want to make it more durable have it laminated, (or lacquer it). If you want to be tricky print a mirror image and mount it with the back facing the viewer.

that would be easiest...

have it sound at activation for a short period (like with the airplane), or continuously while the lamp is lit?

Tis the season for low voltage lamps to be had for cheap, or free.

Bye. Jasen