Thread: using ipod touch to control relays

thanks for the link. i think this is getting a bit away from my original concept though. If there was a way that the ipod could interface with the arduino then i think it would be more attractive. The nice thing about the ipod touch is the compact touchscreen. a used ipod touch is about $150 and the components for the rest of the hardware (relay switch board, ir hardware, etc...) will probably cost me under $50. The primary function will be to play music with the ability to control the ballast system. With the arduino board; if i factor in the board, the lcd touchscreen (which is smaller then the ipod touch) and then the relay components... i think i'm looking at more then $400 ($200 for the board and $200 for the screen) plus having to have another device for music and not having it be as friendly as the ipod's music browser. At that point it may be worth while to go with the fusionbrain, fanless via board and a touchscreen.

edit... i dont know what i was looking at but i guess the arduino board is 30 bucks?


now if the link i posted above:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di8uIf22ufc
didn't require a pc to have the ipod talk to the arduino board... then we'd be in business

Not as far from your concept as you think.

The only thing the Arduino is getting from the PC in that picture would be 5 volt power, but the great thing is that there is also a power socket on board so you can feed 12 volt power (well actually 9-20 volts) into it so you are in business. If you use external power, you only need to use the USB if you want to send data to and from a PC while the Arduino is running and to download programs (called sketches) after you compile them.

As for the LCD screen, I think you are on the wrong track, they are only $13.95 see here: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...roducts_id=255

You should be able to source the SS relays for under USD $10 each. (I paid AUD $12 which is about USD $8 each)

And the Arduino itself is only $29.95. This is the one I purchased:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...roducts_id=666

Here is an example of Ipod control over USB

http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/...1233793991/5#5

So you only got to find some code that guy with in your link used to do it th eother way via wireless.

Should not cost you more than $100 to do this.

sorry for my ignorance... but, the ipod is controlling the arduino directly? I was under the assumption that the ipod was connecting to the laptop and the laptop was controlling the arduino.


oh.. and about the lcd screen... i was under the impression that you were tellilng me to scrap the ipod and use the arduino board exclusively... that's where i got the ~$200 for the arduino stealth touchscreen:
http://www.liquidware.com/shop/show/...chShield+Slide

You may be right when I look at the video again as I don't see any sensing components on the breadboard. I don't know anything about the Ipod Touch, but it might be worth searching for the Ipod Accessory Protocol
http://www.ipodlinux.org/wiki/Apple_Accessory_Protocol

This must be wat the Alpines and my Sony stero with the Ipod cradle use to talk to the Ipod.

This may allow you to use some momentary touch buttons and maybe a rotary encoder to control the Ipod from the Arduino which would not be too bad really, particularly if you could get back the track name that is playing and display it on the LCD. You would have the added advantage of powering the Ipod so you don't run out of music....

heh.. i'll be mounting the ipod in an accessable location and using it as my interface/display. what i need is the opposite of what you're describing. i need the ipod to control a relay... not a relay/button to control the ipod

Well you could mount your IR receiver onto the Arduino
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Code/InfraredReceivers

i could... it wouldn't be that much more then the ic' that i linked too plus it'd have greater functionality.

what i'd like to see is the arduino control a tiny touchscreen like this:
http://www.thaieasyelec.net/index.ph...ntrol/p_5.html

or

http://store.gravitech.us/8tftcolcdtos.html


or this:
4.3" psp sharp lcd
with this:
psp's touchscreen

Well, it just might be possible to use that screen as the Arduino supports SPI protocol, but I'm starting to get out of my depth at this point... The manual (which has to be the slowest download I have seen for years) mentions a serial interface. If that is useable, it will be easy, but there is code for SPI and I2C on the Arduino Playground.

Another interesting read as it uses the same CPU as the Arduino:
http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/cou...l45/index.html

ok we are getting way to far away from the OT.... start to get back on track