would I be safe using one of the current sensors?

[bbsux]

what about analog output 3 axis ( I'd only need 1 axis and this one has them seperate) accelerometers?

http://shop.modernde...s-accelerometer

(if I put in a manual start digital input button, or have it test for extended periods before sending email. I bet that water filling up would still show up on the accelerometer)

here's someone who designed his own system which is closer to a arduino but uses a accelerometer and a xbee to notify another unit of his to display a light.

http://blog.lucaseck...aundry-monitor/
http://blog.lucaseck...-with-wireless/

I don't have a link to it, but I read of a guy that probed the pins of the round selector (older machine just just like mine, no leds) when it was running and found the live ones. Then he soldered a extension cord to it. He hooked a 5vdc wall wart to it, and powered an led (with a resistor inline) with it. He placed it in a rj11 wall mount box and then used a photocell to tell if it was on.

but why go thru that, just use a 120vac coiled relay and hook the digital input to the contacts so when then relay is powered the input is high...?

 

[bbsux]

well I checked my dryer, and found a place I could hook a 120vac line that stays on thru whole cycle.

Washer is another story. I don't know... accellerometer may be the way to go for the washer? Unless you guys can see something???

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

I did the dial method as someone else suggested in this thread.

Also, do you have a light that comes on when the washer is finished?

http://cocoontech.com/portal/articles/tutorials/home-automation/412-how-to-remotely-monitor-an-appliances-status-light

http://cocoontech.com/portal/articles/tutorials/home-automation/6-how-to-monitor-a-washers-cycle

http://cocoontech.com/portal/articles/tutorials/home-automation/49-how-to-monitor-the-status-of-your-appliances-using-current-sensors

http://cocoontech.com/portal/articles/tutorials/home-automation/29-how-to-monitor-the-status-of-a-device-using-its-status-light

 

[bbsux]

no as i previously said, my washer and dryer do NOT have LEDS

thanks that magnetic one looks helpful

 

[bbsux]

BTW thanks for all your help guys.

here's what I think I'm gonna do:

washer: magnet contact sensor like in the post above

dryer: the actual timer itself always stays powered - so I'm going to run a relay off that and have the relay complete the digital input.