Useful gadget

[phl666]

Is there such a gadget which, when connected to a telephone, can be accessed from another location and used to perform a simple power re-set?

The issue is this:

I have a piece of equipment at another location which occasionally needs to be re-set by interrupting its power supply. The trouble is, the device is 50 miles away. It would save me an awful lot of unneccessary travel.

All I want to be able to do is dial the phone number of the remote location, maybe key in some special code or other, and a gadget re-sets the power supply.

[Mortartube]

If it needs to be reset at regular intervals, you could buy a mains digital timeclock and set it to turn off and then on whenever you require.

[phl666]

Not regular intervals - only when it stops working properly. Maybe once a month

[smadge]

You must be able to do something with a mobile phone, a mobile phone 'flashing alert', a transformer (current), and a few wires.

[rojash]

Have a look at this:

http://www.apogeekits.com/remote_control_via_telephone.h tm

[rojash]

This is much better - 9.99 GBP and you just plug it in and use it!

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=37897&T abID=1&source=3&doy=28m2

[phl666]

Rojash: thanks for this - I looked at Maplins but couldn't find this item at all. I have now ordered 3 of these!

[rojash]

phl666 - glad to help, and so nice to get a thankyou!

[incitatus]

another approach would be to use a pc and an automation language such as LabView (national instruments).  wee remote log into many sites using this, and can control the whole lab from down the road.

[ann_h]

I tend to find that a key, inserted into the hand of the next-door neighbour, works very well .

:-)