At home - Twine community

Using Twine to indicate trapped animal

Jim Carpenter — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 21:49:16 +0000

Using a hav-a-heart trap to round up some annoying criiters. When the trap is tripped, the vibration sensor alerts my phone. This way the scared critter can be on his way to relocation in a short amount of time.

Reliability of monitoring vibrations?

Andreas Åkre Solberg — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:56:43 +0000

Hi,

what is your impressions on the reliability of the vibration sensor? The twine on our washing machine is not reporting much vibrations...

I'm now adding three twines to the washing machine and will be tracking and plotting the results. Stay tuned for updates!

Live temperature display on iPad (webapp)

Andreas Åkre Solberg — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:56:54 +0000

I received my twines few days ago, and I must say it is awsome! Well worth the wait for over a year.

A bit cumbersome, but I finally managed to do one of my planned projects. I have an iPad wall-mounted in our kitched keeping my family updated with useful information. I want to display temperatures from around the house here.

*Update 1: There is no API to get the temperatures, so I had to webscrape the twine dashboard to get access to the data. I hope that I'll be able to get things from an API in the future.*

Next up would be to store the values in a database and plot graphs from the latest 24 hours. I'll keep you updated.

Here is a screenshot:

Built-in sensors and battery life

Todd Andrews — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:39:51 +0000

If I made a feature request to ask for the ability to disable individual internal sensors that I won't be using (e.g., temperature), would I see a benefit in prolonging battery life? Or does the Twine already have optimizations that disabling a sensor would not provide a benefit?

Building A Better Mouse Trap...

Shannon Pruitt — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 13:15:01 +0000

We sometimes get mice in our attic above the garage. I used to keep a mousetrap in there, but would always forget to check it.

I used velcro and fastened the mouse trap to the top of the Twine. I checked the level of vibration when the mouse trap is tripped and then created a rule to notify me when that happens.

Now, no more remembering to check the trap... Twine does that for me!

Using Twines for monitoring room temperatures

Andy Horne — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:32:16 +0000

I showed my Twine to a colleague and he is keen to buy 4-5 and use them to monitor the temperatures in several rooms in his house, and asked about setting up a web page to show them all. I only have one Twine so don't know what the web page looks like with multiples.

He said ideally he'd like to set up a page with his house plan as the background and overlay the Twine results to show the real-time temps in the rooms. He'd also like to have a history (I told him some people have enabled reporting to a spreadsheet).

Does anyone have any examples of multiple Twines reporting to a custom web page? What's the best approach for this?

TIA.

Python script available

Jos Hendriks — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:13:57 +0000

Hi all, I published a Python script that lets you access your Twine's data. See http://www.circuitdb.com/?p=1094

HTTP request tutorial

Ryan Figueiredo — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:45:20 +0000

I'm trying to create a script using Perl, that will notify when mag switch is open and then if my phone (using google latitude) is .5 km away from my house, notify me that door has been open. I already have a GEO module for perl that will take care of the location but I am not sure on how to setup a http request from twine to my script.

Use HTTP GET to log your TWINE triggers

YoYo Pete — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:30:33 +0000

TL/DR: Log your twine triggers with my server: http://twinelog.yoyo-pete.com

I see people trying to get their device working and there are issue about 'Did Rules Trigger?' or 'Did it not trigger or did I just not get the SMS'.

I created a way for anyone (with a twine and internet access) to configure their twine with an HTTP POST rule and have it log their trigger actions.

Example:

Rule is "When TEMP is GREATER THAN 72 degrees"

Action is "Send me an SMS"

For some reason, I'm not getting SMS alerts. Is my twine really triggering? Well to find out I can add a HTTP POST call to my rule. When the rule triggers, that HTTP POST will create a record on my server and then when you view my server, it will show all the requests that have come from your IP.

Note that you must supply a URL variable with the GET REQUEST.

My LOGGING Site: http://twinelog.yoyo-pete.com

Here's how to set it up:

1. Log into your twine's web console. https://twine.supermechanical.com/ ;

2. Click on the 'Rules >' button to view your rules.

3. On an existing rule, click 'Add an Action' and select 'HTTP Request'.

4. Enter the following into the field for URL to log the temperature.

http://twinelog.yoyo.pete.com?t=[temperature] ;

5. Click the 'Test URL' button.

6. Visit the page in your browser to see the log from your twine: http://twinelog.yoyo.pete.com

Note:

YOU MUST HAVE A URL VARIABLE FOR THIS TO WORK.

It can be anything: http://twinelog.yoyo.pete.com?test=anything ;

TWINE WILL ONLY SEND THE FIRST VARIABLE

http://twinelog.yoyo.pete.com?t=[temperature] will log 't=72'

http://twinelog.yoyo.pete.com?t=[temperature]&o=[orientation] will only 'log t=72'

http://twinelog.yoyo.pete.com?twine=[temperature],[orientation] will log 'twine=72,top'

http://twinelog.yoyo.pete.com?test=anything will log 'test=anything'

This is an issue with Twine's servers as only the first variable is sent in the request string.

Post questions and comments below and I'll do my best to help and address things.

Vibration rule for open garage door!

Mark Henderson — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:55:45 +0000

With the new vibration option, my "garage door activated" rule is working really well. After downloading the new firmware, I created a rule for vibration and set the Twine on top of the garage door motor. I used the lowest sensitivity setting, which seems to work well. Another advantage is I have an AC power source close enough to leave the twine powered up all the time, so no more worries about battery life.

Very cool!

How accurate is the thermometor

James Stone — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:41:48 +0000

Our fridge feels pretty cold but it seems the thermometer said it's 51 F when a fridge should be about 40 F, we actually turned it down (not so cold as it was freezing up)... Just wondering if anyone has had inaccurate results?

Help me to let TWINE talk to my DOMOTICA

Kurt Peeters — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 04:50:10 +0000

I bought Twine mainly to get my home domotica system able to send me mail (or sms) messages when certain events occur. As I understand it now I wont be be able to use the breakout board to read my 1-10V modules (they give 1-10 V for a specified time) as long as there isn't an update to let the breakout board read analogue values? I was thinking about setting up a rule when the breakout board circuit is closed and the opened and then closed for a certain amount of time to send a certain email. I need at least 10 (and I would like a 100) different rules (like burglary detected or window is opened......) and I need the twine to understand different values or anything through the breakout board . I can send all kind of electrical signals from the domotica system. Anyone any ideas how I can achieve this?

I was thinking about the rule when the breakout is closed for 10 seconds to send a certain mail. Ant then another rule for when it is closed 12 seconds..... But when I close it for 10 seconds it will send both emails? Unless i can find a way to state when the breakout board is close for more than 10,5 sec and less than 11.5 ??

Kurt

Sensing low voltages (Thermocouples)

Kellen Westman — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:15:53 +0000

I'm considering using my Twine to measure the exhaust gas temperatures in my wood stove, so I can hopefully be notified via text message when it needs to be stoked (or when my roommate has stoked it for me)! In an effort to keep things simple, I am hoping to use a simple thermocouple circuit that will produce only very low voltages to be measured by my Twine via the breakout box. The voltages produced by the thermocouple are only about 40 µV per °C, within a range of 0-800°C. I only need a resolution of about 10°C, so hopefully I'd be able to have Twine accurately distinguish a difference of about 0.0004V at a time, between 0 and 0.03V. Is this possible? Or will I need to increase the complexity of this to have my voltages range between 0 and 3V? I guess I could pull out my old EE texts and figure out how to do it, probably using resistors or something (I'm a little rusty).

Also note that the thermocouple will produce voltage, so I don't plan on using the 3V supply in the breakout box as a part of this circuit.

Thanks in advance for your help!

How many rules can I create for one Twine?

Øyvind Neuman — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:12:59 +0000

Since the Twine doesn't support change in temperature, but only rises above and below.

So to measure temperature I need to setup each temperature from -20C to 30C which amounts to 50 rises above/fall below rules. So I need 100 rules. My finger got a bit tired after setting up 6 rules - so I wonder if there are a maximum amount of rules I can set up.

It would be annoying if the twine wouldn't accept the rules after I spent some hours setting they up.

Sensing low voltages (Thermocouples)

Kellen Westman — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 11:46:36 +0000

Thanks in advance for your help!

Twine and thingspeak.com

Thomas Murray — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 10:51:41 +0000

I just came across this post by jpreardon about using Thingspeak.com and Twine to log data. http://jpreardon.com/2012/12/22/temperature-logging-with-twine-and-thingspeak/

I followed post and and I implemented exactly what the author did. It's a very easy way for a novice like me to log data. I highly recommend reading the article.

My implementation here. It updates in real time. http://www.studioclues.com/twine/

Inactivity monitor?

Rod Laird — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 01:49:23 +0000

is it possible to trigger an outcome if there has NOT been an input change for a prescribed time?

Connecting to the internet via iPhone Hotspot

m sweaton — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:41:43 +0000

Has anyone connected thru the internet with the twine using the iPhone hotspot feature? if so, can you give specifics?

Has anyone been able to get two Twines on the same wi-fi network

Graham Cruickshank — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:38:21 +0000

Hi all,

Has anyone had success getting two Twines set up on the same network? My second Twine goes through the setup process well enough, but when I flip it back to connect, it does the slow flashing and:

1) Gives me the 3 quick "fail" flashes about 2/3 of the time.
2) Does no extra flashes the other 1/3 of the time.
3) My first Twine occasionally goes "offline" at this point and needs to be reset.
4) The second Twine does not give me the steady light when I put it back on its back, and I have to pull a battery and replace to reset.

Any thoughts? I'd hate to send it back for something obvious. I could try a friend's network, if I have to.

Thanks,

Graham

My Basement Water Alert Using Twine

Rick Felty — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:44:14 +0000

Here is a link to my blog post detailing the "installation" of a Twine with moisture sensor in my basement. I'm using Twine for remote (text / e-mail) flood alerts. Pretty cool and working perfectly (in demo tests... thankfully no actual flooding yet.)
http://dreamschooner.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/installing-a-twine-as-a-basement-flood-alert/

Using Twine + MagSwitch to Notify of Cleaning Lady @ Work

Butch Mayhew — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:05:15 +0000

So at work I had around 12 guys pitch in to purchase the Twine with Magswitch in order to monitor the availability of the bathroom. Once sometimes Twice a day we have the Cleaning Lady clean our restrooms and she props the door open. So after 30 seconds of the door being open we will send out a text or email to all the donors from Twine. Twine arrived late last week and we will be installing early next week! Will let everyone know how it goes.

Twine on my door bell?

Michael Schiano — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:47:16 +0000

Is it possible to hook up twine to shoot me a text or email when my doorbell is pressed?

Twine in the fridge ?

paul Savage — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:38:30 +0000

One of my first tests was to measure the temperature in my fridge. The fridge is approximately 6 feet (less than 2m) from my router.

But it doesn't seem strong enough to get the signal out. Have other people had similar issues ?

Just checking in, reporting my Twine plans

Bryan Hance — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:09:39 +0000

Just dropping a line here to a) say hi and b) report my plans for my newly-obtained Twine.

After a fire/smoke scare at my apartment last year (thanks, idiot neighbor) I got to wondering why there aren't any smoke detectors on the market capable of email/SMS/tweeting when they go off. Some googling on this basically turned up nothing. Some folks I spoke to swear these exist in China, but I've been unable to locate any so far.

So: the plan is to

a) Cannibalize an existing smoke detector
b) Measure the voltage inbound to its piezo alarm when it goes off
c) Hit radio shack for whatever I need to interface that with the Twine breakout
d) Add another 2 x AAA's in parallel

... and a rule that Tweets me: THE ROOF, THE ROOF, THE ROOF IS ON FIRE if the smoke alarm ever goes off.

standard disclaimer: yeah I know, not using this for safety/critical uses, etc. Just an easy first experiment for my twine.

twine cannot maintain connection

Ryan Lister — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 02:41:55 +0000

I get all the way through the setup, it connects to home wifi fine, setup tells me to turn it over then reconnect computer to home wifi, which I do, and lo-and-behold the twine dashboard cannot identify any connected twine.

the twine then seems to have entered an inactive phase where it won't try to connect to the network, won't reenter setup mode, etc. I just have to remove batteries and start again.....which is pointless, I have gone through this process many times now....very flaky device.....and not enough online support info. annoying.....

Will there be a Twine with 2 or more sensor connections?

Arnar Sigurdsson — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:32:32 +0000

I have two adjacent rooms where I could use two separate moisture sensors and even a magnet sensor as well.

Monitoring electrical power ?

Bernard Tourancheau — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 09:35:30 +0000

Power / current monitoring in order to deduce energy consumption is of big interest.
Does anybody already designed such a prototype for twine motes ?
Thanks

Cannot SAVE rules on Internet Explorer

Neil Cameron — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 05:15:40 +0000

Why not? I have to use my iPhone to generate rules - it took me 24 hrs to work thsis out....!

Push notifications on iOS using Prowl

Peter Seid — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:54:30 +0000

I figured out a super easy way to get Twine to send push notifications to iOS devices.

1. Buy 'Prowl' from the iOS App Store ($2.99, link)

2. Create a Prowl account on http://www.prowlapp.com/

3. Log into your Prowl account in the Prowl iOS app

4. Get your custom API key from https://www.prowlapp.com/api_settings.php

5. Take your custom API key and add "@api.prowlapp.com" to the end of it. (Here's more info about Prowlmail)

6. Create your desired rule in Twine's rule building interface, add an email action and take your Prowlmail address from step 5 and put that into the To: field, put whatever subject and title you want.

7. Save to Twine and try it out!

Magnet Sensor Setup Details?

Derek Erb — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 09:50:52 +0000

My first Twine arrived this morning.

I got the orientation triggers working relatively quickly...

Are there any pictures or videos of successful Twine magnet sensor setups? I want to try the most obvious use of testing for the opening/closing of a door.

I have my Twine setup and connected.
I have my magswitch in it's box.
I have my tiny magnet it the box as well.

The magnet has double-sided sticky tape behind it. I assume I would stick this magnet on to the back of the door near the frame.

My understanding is that I would need to stick the magswitch sensor on to my door frame right next to the magnet, requiring more double-sided sticky tape or screwing it in to the door. I then run the included sensor cable from the magswitch to the Twine. I assume I would also stick the Twine to the wall near the door frame... with more double-sided sticky tape or such.

I assume I can then set up my twine to react when the magnet moves away from, or towards, the mag switch due to the opening and closing of the door.

Before I start sticking elements to my door and wall I would prefer to see an actual working setup... somewhere...

Thanks!