I happened upon this forum while searching for options for a notification system for my front gates. You sound like just the group to ask for some help. I need a magnetic contact (normally closed) sensor system that relays an alarm to a wireless receiver in the house. The sensor needs to be battery-powered, weatherproof, and able to connect to 1) a steel gate and 2) a chainlink gate. (I created a photo to show you but I don't believe I'm allowed to upload to the Gallery yet and I am definitely not allowed to post a link to it, and embedding it in this post didn't work either.) I am a 61-year-old female with very limited understanding of electronics (but pretty technical otherwise), so I would appreciate detailed information, brand names, and links to products. I'll figure out how to get someone to install the system once I know what I need.
Motion-sensing devices aren't a good option because I have lots of cats that jump through that gate (raccoons, too). I've seen lots of options for standard magnetic contacts but they all have noise-making alarms at the sensor. I just want to know when someone opens the gate; I don't need to scare anyone. I also have wi-fi set up in my home so the device would not necessarily need to have its own receiver if I knew how to connect it to my wireless router. I also have always-on computers and tablets.
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
Motion-sensing devices aren't a good option because I have lots of cats that jump through that gate (raccoons, too). I've seen lots of options for standard magnetic contacts but they all have noise-making alarms at the sensor. I just want to know when someone opens the gate; I don't need to scare anyone. I also have wi-fi set up in my home so the device would not necessarily need to have its own receiver if I knew how to connect it to my wireless router. I also have always-on computers and tablets.
Thanks in advance for any ideas.