Mail(box) delivery alarm


  #1  
Old 01-19-19, 06:52 AM
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Mail(box) delivery alarm

Need ideas!

This may seem silly but I would like to have some kind of warning, or alert system that would tell me when my mail carrier has left mail in my box. It needs to be wireless. Battery powered or solar powered but not so it drains the power source continuously. I would want to see a light or maybe a sound within the house when mail is left.So what I envision is a sensor that lays on the bottom inside of the box, that when covered with an envelope triggers a signal that lights up a light in the house. Maybe a switch on the mail box lid. Most likely a wi-fi type of item.

I thought of a simple light that would light up on the back of the box that I could see from my front window, but I want it to be inconspicuous.I understand electronics but I’m not a wizard with designing or making Arduino type gadgets.Any ideas that would be practical and inexpensive?
 
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Old 01-19-19, 07:28 AM
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I searched for "mail delivery alarm" and many options appeared. Most are wireless.
 
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Old 01-19-19, 09:20 AM
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I put a small US flag that pops up when door to box is opened. I just have to remember to ;ook at box sometimes instead of going out to box.
 
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Old 01-19-19, 09:51 AM
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Gee, I never thought to Google it. Thanks.
 
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Old 01-19-19, 10:18 AM
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I had no idea that this was a common thing. I found this

https://www.amazon.com/Fosmon-WaveLi...QDJQYXD4WM317S

For the price I can't make one any cheaper.
 
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Old 01-19-19, 11:30 AM
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If you sign up for "informed delivery" they'll send an email in the morning showing a picture of your mail coming that day.
 
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Old 01-19-19, 11:46 AM
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That's news to me also! I have no need for this service, but it's free and I'm curious to see what it's like.

My reason for the alert system, is because our mail delivery is not consistent with a regular time of day. It could be early or very late.
 
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Old 01-19-19, 01:16 PM
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our mail delivery is not consistent with a regular time of day. It could be early or very late.
And I thought we were the only ones. Our mail can be delivered as early as 9AM and sometimes as late as 3PM. I can't see our mailbox from the house and I doubt a wireless unit would carry that far so it's almost a crap shoot going to the mailbox. Murphy's law does apply, if you have a bill to mail they will run extra early, if you are waiting on something it will be extra late.
 
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Old 01-20-19, 04:03 AM
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It could be early or very late.
Okay, this wouldn't help then.
 
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Old 01-20-19, 04:19 AM
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Ditto on early or late mail. That is reason I put a pop up flag. My alert system cost about 3$
 
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Old 01-20-19, 08:42 AM
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Pugsi, actually your method is the best in terms of cost and time of day regardless when the mail is delivered. The problem I have is that it's very difficult to see the mail box (or the pop up flag) even though it is directly in front of the house.
 
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Old 01-20-19, 09:20 AM
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Only problem I have with mine is I have to get my lazy a** up to see it.
 
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Old 01-20-19, 10:09 AM
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I'd have to cut down a bunch of trees and move a bunch of slate rock for one of those flags to even have a chance to work for me, and even then the view would be at a severe angle.
 
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Old 01-21-19, 07:42 AM
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I'd have to cut down a bunch of trees and move a bunch of slate rock...

Mark, you're not saying you don't have a drone with a nice camera yet ?
 
 

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