Micra G Mailbox Sensor

[DubG]

Hey guys, I did a quick search and couldn't find any posts on using a Micra G with an Elk for this purpose so I thought I would do a quick write up. RF2G is in the garage, 40' from metal mailbox in brick/mortar. It didn't get reception inside the mailbox so I drilled down between the bricks using a masonry bit and broke through the metal mailbox and simply ran the antenna up the hole. It is just barely visible and I'll need to paint it some color other than blue and use silicone or caulk to seal the hole and the end of the antenna but I really like it. I used black duct tape (mail box is black) to secure the sensor and the magnet. Not the cleanest install but you can only see it when the door is open. Now I'll not only know when the mail lady comes but also if anyone decides to go through my mail! Not bad for 30 minutes and $25

My mind is racing with the "rules" possibilities now...

 

[michelkenny]

Hey guys, I did a quick search and couldn't find any posts on using a Micra G with an Elk for this purpose so I thought I would do a quick write up. RF2G is in the garage, 40' from metal mailbox in brick/mortar. It didn't get reception inside the mailbox so I drilled down between the bricks using a masonry bit and broke through the metal mailbox and simply ran the antenna up the hole. It is just barely visible and I'll need to paint it some color other than blue and use silicone or caulk to seal the hole and the end of the antenna but I really like it. I used black duct tape (mail box is black) to secure the sensor and the magnet. Not the cleanest install but you can only see it when the door is open. Now I'll not only know when the mail lady comes but also if anyone decides to go through my mail! Not bad for 30 minutes and $25

My mind is racing with the "rules" possibilities now...

I would love to do something like this with my community mailbox to alert me when I have mail, but I haven't figured out a way to do it. The problems I am faced with:

1) I can't go drilling, etc. into the mailbox
2) Putting a magnet on the door would trip every day when the postal worker opens the front panel to put everyone's mail in, even if I don't have mail

 

[electron]

I just switched my DS10A out with a GE NX-454, and it seems to work pretty well. Distance is probably around 80 feet. There is no external antenna tho, so not sure how it would do in metal boxes.

As for the community mailbox, I would put in a fake 'floor' which closes a contact if mail gets dropped on top. Could also use a motion sensor, which should trigger when it sees light and/or movement.

 

[pete_c]

I use an old piezoelectric vibration sensor tweaked a bit but loud thunder still causes it trip.

The mailbox is hard wired to the house. (electric, low voltage, cat5e, rg6 siamese).

Here's a picture. Originally I got a bunch of quotes to install one. My neigbor suggested that I do it myself with the help of his father-in-law. It was kind of a major endeavor as I have never done anything like this before. The cost was much less than the proposals. It took about 4 days or so and many bags of cement.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

...Putting a magnet on the door would trip every day when the postal worker opens the front panel to put everyone's mail in, even if I don't have mail

Just a thought...Mount a very small hinge on the side of the box, say 1/4 way into the full length. Have the hinge mounted so it will not go past 90 degrees and will move flat against the side towards the front. Then place a small magnet on the hinge that sticks out over the box open space (maybe add a small stiff wire/extension to the hinge so the extension covers most of the box width. Mount a DS10a on the side of the box and have it's sensor lined up with the magnet so it will trip when the magnet is moved against the side of the box when the letters are pushed into the box (moving the hinge/extension from the center to the side).

Make sure the magnet is near the hinge rotation pin so any movement of the hinge (i.e. say letter not moving the hinge 'totally' flat against the side) will trip the DS10a.

Now, after checking the mail simply move the hinge back to it's original position.

This way you will not only know if you got mail, but will also know if it's been retrieved from the box!

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Actually, rethinking the above method, you may want to just mount the hinge on the bottom of the box if your letters are always "flat" when you retreive them. I guess it's all about the width of the box. I know for instance, in our postal box, the letters are always on edge at a slight angle due to the smaller width.

 

[signal15]

Actually, rethinking the above method, you may want to just mount the hinge on the bottom of the box if your letters are always "flat" when you retreive them. I guess it's all about the width of the box. I know for instance, in our postal box, the letters are always on edge at a slight angle due to the smaller width.

I'd like to do this also, but my mailbox is about 500 feet from my house. I got the Micra G's to work at 400 feet, but no farther. And now my receiver seems to not be working as well as it used to and can only get about 60 feet at the most.

 

[Swancoat]

I'd like to do this too, but similarly, my Mailbox is a few houses away. My other great concern is that my mailbox is wide, but not very tall -- difficult to work in.

Also, I'm really worried about the postal workers thinking it's a bomb. People are crazy like that.

 

[tmbrown97]

Also, I'm really worried about the postal workers thinking it's a bomb. People are crazy like that.

Reading these ideas that was my thought... I can just see bomb squads getting called over this!

So transmission aside, how thin could you make something like a mini photoelectric switch - say with a shiny spot on the bottom of the mailbox and an IR transmitter and receiver up top - so basically if the mailbox is empty the light bounces off the reflective sticker back to the receiver and the mailbox is assumed empty; but if it doesn't, it's assumed that there's mail in the mailbox. Could be a fun project! But if it's visible, be sure to put a really clear sticker on it saying "Mail Detection Sensor" or something to hopefully not scare your mail-handler!

 

[signal15]

I'd like to do this too, but similarly, my Mailbox is a few houses away. My other great concern is that my mailbox is wide, but not very tall -- difficult to work in.

Also, I'm really worried about the postal workers thinking it's a bomb. People are crazy like that.

Who cares? It's clearly not. And if they are that dumb, I can hardly see how you would get in any trouble.