Adventure In To Building My Own Lockbox

Discussion in 'Off topic discussions' started by chastiff, Aug 13, 2014.

  1. chastiff
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    chastiff Long term member

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    Hi everyone

    I'm fairly inactive user around here (even though I read lot of the posts I don't post much). Partly because I'm too lazy to type and more importantly I don’t have much to contribute considering I'm an un owned sub and I haven’t bothered to buy a device since my last one rusted (saving up for Neosteel arch, I've done my research and I'm convinced it’s the perfect belt for me [thanks Gweny] which I should be able to order around Christmas this year)


    But to the point, like many of un owned subs round here, I'm looking to make remote key holding more fun. I've been looking around and the lock box offerings currently out there are very expensive for what they offer.


    Chronovault by dreamlover – $499 USD (376 EUR, 314 GBP)
    If I'm not mistaken, neosteel offers a lockbox as well for a price premium




    So with my very little programming knowledge in mind, I thought I would embark on an adventure to build my own.

    I will be using this thread to

    Post updates and share progress with those who are interested.

    To take suggestions, guidance from the community

    Ultimately to share my knowledge (if this becomes a success) with anyone who would like to build their own



    I’m going to pin all the ideas I have here. How many of these features are realistic for a home project, I have no idea. But it’s fun to fantasise anyway





    So without further ado

    Potential features

    Lock box

    Secure with no exposed fasteners so any tamper attempts are obvious

    Wi-fi connected, so no cables to plug in

    Mains connected with a battery backup for power

    Constantly pinging the server so if disconnected, the remote key holder is notified


    Server/website

    Ability for the key holder to take control of the account after one time authentication of some sort have been shared

    Simple interface that can the key holder can login and lock or unlock the box


    I will update the list as i go along


    Sounds easy enough :p

    Comments are welcomed and encouraged
     
  2. Wendygirl
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    Wendygirl To offer advice and keep CM safe and welcoming

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    Um leave you boys to that one.

    Got problems with my strawberry fondent going soft on my cupcakes this warm humid weather.
    Xx Wendy
     
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  3. jemima
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    jemima maid for my Mistress

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    @Wendygirl i not any good with puters as well wendy. i does make nice cup cakes tho.
     
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  4. writemestuff
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    writemestuff Member

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    I've been toying with a similar idea for awhile now. I actually got as far as building a prototype, based off an arduino and an ethernet shield. It worked but scrapped the project because paying work got in the way. I'd be happy to contribute if you'd like.
     
  5. SubVerity
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    SubVerity Still the mansion's fairy godmother. ;)

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    Cream fondant going soft? On cupcakes? Here in London?

    Shut up and take my money!!

    ps. Where can I find said cupcakes?
     
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  6. Wendygirl
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    Wendygirl To offer advice and keep CM safe and welcoming

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    We're in my kitchen but now in my tummy and my friends tummy.
    However we had better stop or if we are lucky get smacked bottom for thread hijack

    :spank::spank:

    x x Wendy
     
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  7. mikecb
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    mikecb Long term member

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    Easily done with a Raspberry Pi. Just put a battery pack inside the safe with the Pi, plugged into external power. Put a WiFi dongle on the Pi. use the GPIO pins to fire the relay on the safe. Run a web server on the Pi and manage the lock with a web interface. Ba-da-boom. I've wanted to whack one of these together myself, but lack the time.
    \
    The Pi and bits would probably be about $60, plus a safe of whatever size you want. I think harbor freight has small ones for $60-$100.
     
  8. SubVerity
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    SubVerity Still the mansion's fairy godmother. ;)

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    You know what? I'm not down with the thread hijack nazi's. I understand the desire to keep space on a thread for the original topic, but being able to go off on a tangent and develop something more organically is what builds community on forums like these.

    I like the idea of having a sim card wired into a locking mechanism. Your KH could unlock you from anywhere in the world, by calling your cock!
     
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  9. jemima
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    jemima maid for my Mistress

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    well i not intrupting no more
     
  10. chastiff
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    chastiff Long term member

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    All right guy

    back from work and weekend is here. time to get cracking on the project

    first of all, thanks for all those who replied


    @writemestuff - Any help is welcomed,
    I dislike the idea of having an Ethernet plug in and the wi-fi shield for the arduino is very expensive. maybe I will go for a at-mega in the end in an attempt to miniaturise the whole thing, but its out of the scope for this project at the moment. I would however like your input on the locking mechanism and server side handling. let me fire up a PM with you to discuss

    @mikecb - Like your attitude man,
    Raspberry was my choice of weapon as well. I got the new model B+, should have enough horsepower to handle the server. how are your skills on the server side?. though I have some understanding, I lack the experience. do you mind if I shoot you questions every ones in while? promise I wont be too spamy ;)

    @SubVerity - Calling the cock
    I love the idea, I will research the options available for connecting a SIM module to the Pi. food for thought

    @SubVerity @Wendygirl @jemima - Thanks for the sugar cravings
    seriously guys, I need to lose my belly before I can pull the trigger on buying a neosteel. I'm happy to announce, even though it was very tempting, I didn't give in and break my diet. :)


    @jemima -wow, funny how my brain works, all these years, I thought your user name was Jemina until i started typing it a second ago

    Plan is to spend this weekend to figure out how to operate the relay using the using the Pi, do some research on available safes to buy and modify and lot of fantasising about making the thing uncrackable

    here is an idea, I can put a luminosity sensor in the box, so if a cheater cracks it open in the lock state, pi would alert the keyholder :O
    then again the person can crack it open in the dark I guess. Ideas please

    Regards,
    Chastiff
     
  11. chastiff
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    chastiff Long term member

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    Update 30/08/2014

    Hi All,
    small update on the project so far. I have gathered many of the necessary components and in the process of creating the webpage. I'm still waiting on few components that's necessary to rout the power from USB to the solenoid


    not the cute small box I had in mind. but this will serve the purpose
    DSCF1321 - Copy_opt (1).jpg


    Very simple internal mechanism operated by a 5.5V, 600mA solenoid
    DSCF1322 - Copy_opt.jpg


    This was the original circuit board that was in the safe. simple logic controller to store and match the pin form the keypad
    DSCF1331 - Copy_opt.jpg


    Raspberry pi model B+, should be plenty powerful to run the script for the solenoid and the web interface. so glad they brought the max current out from the USBs up. I don't have to run extra power to the solenoid. I should be able to route the USBs power via a relay controlled by the GPIO pins
    DSCF1326 - Copy_opt.jpg

    I found this leftover from one of my old projects. I'm going to mount this in place of the number pad on the front face. to display countdown timer (or teasing messages from the keyholder; oh the sweet possibilities)
    DSCF1329 - Copy_opt.jpg

    your ideas are welcome, let me know what you think

    Reg,
    Chastiff :D
     

    Attached Files:

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  12. jemima
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    jemima maid for my Mistress

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    It wud be nicer if it was pink.
     
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  13. GT-CB6000
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    GT-CB6000 Long term member

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    Great idea after you get it working you could sell some?
     
  14. chastiff
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    chastiff Long term member

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    would be happy to put one together for the members, if one interested. just for the bill of material cost + maybe a beer
     
  15. GT-CB6000
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    GT-CB6000 Long term member

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    Interesting what is cost of parts?
     
  16. chastiff
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    chastiff Long term member

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    few electronic bits and bobs for about a £10,
    lock box cam from amazon for around 20 quid
    raspberry pi and power suply was about 30 quid
    front display was a leftover from an old project, so i don't know the price and also I haven't figured out how to run it anyway

    I'll post a full BOM for anyone who is interested in building one, once the project is all wrapped up :D
     
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  17. chastiff
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    chastiff Long term member

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    Hello after a long time

    Hardware for the most part done.
    some pictures for your viewing pleasure

    1 - Copy.jpg 2 - Copy.jpg 3 - Copy.jpg

    simple setup
    Raspberry pi runs the relay which runs the solenoid that operates the locking mechanism

    now to the software part. any help would be appreciated on this

    Kind Regards,
    Chastiff
     
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  18. ChasteDilf13
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    ChasteDilf13 Active member

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    How do you currently control the relay from the Raspberry pi? Do you just use a command line tool in Linux to communicate with a USB device?

    What type of software interface are you interested in? Web based?
     
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