So, I recently bought a used AMX PCS2 power current sensor to detect the on/off status of my television and video source selector (or video switch, if you like). It worked fine for the TV, but I couldn't (and still can't) get it to work with the video switch.
so, i took out my trusty kill-a-watt and plugged the video switch into it. it turns out both the on and off (actually standbye) states use the same amount of power. i don't know which should be different, but amps, volts, and watts were all the same in both states, which explains why the power current sensor doesn't know the difference between on and off.
i then remembered i had seen a "how to" article to monitor the status of something using a status light and a photoresistor, but that only works with digital inputs, and all i have available to me is contact closures.
can anybody think of a way for me to monitor the status of this appliance that results in a contact closure, and doesn't rely on how much power it draws? is there a way to rig a photoresistor-type solution to result in a contact closure?
thanks in advance
Adam
so, i took out my trusty kill-a-watt and plugged the video switch into it. it turns out both the on and off (actually standbye) states use the same amount of power. i don't know which should be different, but amps, volts, and watts were all the same in both states, which explains why the power current sensor doesn't know the difference between on and off.
i then remembered i had seen a "how to" article to monitor the status of something using a status light and a photoresistor, but that only works with digital inputs, and all i have available to me is contact closures.
can anybody think of a way for me to monitor the status of this appliance that results in a contact closure, and doesn't rely on how much power it draws? is there a way to rig a photoresistor-type solution to result in a contact closure?
thanks in advance
Adam