‘Story’ time…
I initially wanted to join one of the arduino forums and get some direction or assistance there. But an online acquaintance told me (his opinion, and experience) that that particular “crowd” or community was not very welcoming or helpful to those who just come in with little or no experience of their own. Which I understand, to a degree. But he seemed to be suggesting that this particular community was more like this than ‘other online communities’. So, I decided I wouldn’t bother until I had done some research, bought some stuff (arduino kits, etc.), tried some things myself, etc. Well, it’s been over 2 years, and I’m still “afraid” to join one of those forums and ask for any help.
About a year or so ago, (at which point I’d already decided I needed to use some kind of intelligent sensor; an infrared beam) I finally found a small, obscure(?) channel on youtube called “Rat Trap Chronicles”, where a man had used an Arduino NANO based setup with a wooden, victor rat trap (modified), in an enclosed box, to dispatch rats. I watched every single video. He’d started as most do, with just a standard snap trap, and quickly realized (with the aid of ip cams he’d setup to monitor) that the traps are just too dumb, unreliable, under powered, etc., and that the rats are too cautious, skilled, and “clever”.
He gradually improved the trap over time. His arduino trap had gone something like 26-0 versus any rat that tried their “luck”. 100% success rate.
I contacted him. He was kind enough to share his code, and a little bit of information. I downloaded a video or two of his (for images, etc.) and saved the text of the code he shared via yt comments. It’s was not something from the arduino IDE - different language, and the format didn’t carry over via youtube comment. I still have that, but it’s more confusing to me than the stuff I’d been trying to learn.
Not too long ago, maybe 6-8 months, I watched a mousetrap monday video (LINK) and it’s follow up video, and noticed there was a contact email for the trap creator. I contacted him and explained my predicament and ideas. We chatted for a bit, and he was extremely friendly and generously offered to not only help, but offered to write the code, and put together something for me, with a NANO, if I recall correctly, and that he had all the other compononets laying around, etc. I was so relieved and excited. He even offered to help mod and retrofit a repeating trap I have that is really stupid in it’s trigger mechanism. I was mind blown that someone would be so helpful and generous.
Last I talked to him, he said that he’d been a bit busy, and now feeling sick with cold or flu, and he’d write me back later. And that’s the last I’ve heard from him in 5 or 6 weeks. (I genuinely hope he’s alright).
Now, I just recently decided to check what was up with Rat Trap Chronicles channel lately, and I see that he’d gotten two or three more recent successes and videos uploaded, so I watch them. Then, just a day or two ago, when I search for the channel, I can’t find it. Not surprisingly at all, when I go to my bookmark of his channel, it brings me to the now dead/deleted (by youtube) channel. People who’re “offended” by pest control, allegedly, like to go around looking to be offended by things and making complaints.
So now this man’s channel and all the valuable footage and stuff is gone (except I have maybe one or two saved somewhere).
Anyway, the IR break beam mod or method is proven. Since I thought about it, I’ve come across two if not more great, successful implementations of it. One of which was featured on mousetrap mondays, and I purchased to try.
I currently have a circuit on a breadboard and arduino sketch for a “12v solenoid” control (the one I linked above) that…‘works’. But it’s essentially a break beam in place of a button; it needs refinement and a bit more…‘intelligence’ than it has. The only thing I changed is maybe which pin is controlling what, and changing how long the solenoid is on for.
I haven’t played with it for at least a couple months now. And the last place I left of on one of the many arduino code books and videos was “IF, ELSE” statement - which I thought sounded like the “logic” I might need to do what I need to do, but didn’t grasp yet.