Lost Motion Detector

[Jgdavis14]

OKAY, really dumb issue......

 

I have an Insteon motion detector in my mail box to let me know when the mail arrives.  It sends a text and turns a light on in my office.  The snow plow hit the mail box the other day and must have sent the motion detector  flying.  I can't find it.   I've walked the street hoping that I would set it off, assuming it was within range.  No luck.  But it seems to go through periods of sending me messages every few minutes for about 30 minutes or so.   Then it is quiet for hours at a time.   Any ideas on how to find the thing.    White on white is not easy.   

[Teken]

I would break out the rake and start from one end and work your way back.

 

If it's still sending you messages it can't be too far or buried too deep.

 

 

Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions

[Jgdavis14]

That's my thought at this point too.   I'm hoping it warms up a little as the snow right now is basically ice and getting through it would probably destroy the MD if I hit it. 

[Teken]

That's my thought at this point too.   I'm hoping it warms up a little as the snow right now is basically ice and getting through it would probably destroy the MD if I hit it. 

 

How much square foot area do you have look around in?

[stusviews]

It'll certainly be a test of cold and wet capability

[Teken]

It'll certainly be a test of cold and wet capability

No doubt!

 

 

Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions

[Jgdavis14]

Found it!   Had another 2 inches of snow since my original post.   Texts stopped.  So I figured it was buried.  Then it warmed up and the rain came 2 days later.  Yesterday the texts started up again and it was quite windy.   Went down and found it, face up in the snow about 15 feet from the mail box.  I figure that once the  sensor was cleared the wind was causing enough of a temp change to trigger it.    

As to stusviews cold and wet capability comment...I'm impressed!

[Teken]

Found it! Had another 2 inches of snow since my original post. Texts stopped. So I figured it was buried. Then it warmed up and the rain came 2 days later. Yesterday the texts started up again and it was quite windy. Went down and found it, face up in the snow about 15 feet from the mail box. I figure that once the sensor was cleared the wind was causing enough of a temp change to trigger it.

As to stusviews cold and wet capability comment...I'm impressed!

Good for you in finding that little sucker.

 

Next time maybe place some high vis tape on the sides or face for the just in case! ️

[paulbates]

Nice! I was hoping you would find it. I would have gone OCD trying to figure it out

[Jgdavis14]

It did drive me a little nuts trying to find it.   I have put twice the high end Velcro in the mail box and I like the idea of the Hi Viz tape on the sides!  I also raised the mail box as much as I could hoping it may be under the plow wing.....but I don't think that's going to work.

[Teken]

It did drive me a little nuts trying to find it.   I have put twice the high end Velcro in the mail box and I like the idea of the Hi Viz tape on the sides!  I also raised the mail box as much as I could hoping it may be under the plow wing.....but I don't think that's going to work.

 

If you still have the rear mounting plate thingy you could simply screw it into the mail box no? Worst case you could use the same mounting plate and drill a small hole in it and attach a safety wire to one end and screw it into the mail box.

[Jgdavis14]

^{I like that idea.   I do have the mounting plate.  Will give that a shot.}

[Teken]

^{I like that idea.   I do have the mounting plate.  Will give that a shot.}

 

So, I have to ask.

 

Does this sort of thing happen often? If so have you ever considered moving the mail box a few feet back? Or attach a large high vis pole so the morons don't plow it over?

[smokegrub]

Off topic, but how far is your mailbox from your house? Does the door of the mailbox face your house when open? Sounds like something I would love to do.

[Jgdavis14]

The mail box is 250' from the house.   I was not able to get a reliable signal from house even though the opening faced the house and the access point perfectly.   The problem, I believe, was that the mail truck was also blocking the signal when the door was opened.  I do have a post light at the end of the driveway which is about 40' from the mail box.   I put a Dual Band Bulb in there and left the power on to the lamp post.   It works properly about 95% of the time.  The door to the mail box does not open directly to the lamp post...probably about a 45 degree angle.   It seems that I really need a strong battery in the MD to get the signal to work properly.  

 

I hope that helps.

[smokegrub]

Thanks. My mailbox is about 50 feet from the house but it faces away from the house and is enclosed in a brick structure. I have serious doubts that a signal can be transmitted successfully from there. I may give it a try anyway since the sensors are relatively inexpensive.

[builderb]

Guess I'm not too worried about the ones under my eaves! I had some concerns about putting them outdoors initially.

 

 

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[ddaggett1]

Howdy. I've got 70+ Insteon devices and I tried the motion sensor in the mailbox trick, but it is not being seen by the ISY. It is not the particular sensor, and I've tried two of them, and neither registers. The mailbox (old fashioned steel mailbox on post on the curb) is about 40 feet from the house, and about 60 feet from the nearest other Insteon device. I ordered an Insteon range extender that I can plug in so that the motion sensor in the mailbox will then be about 40 feet from the closest Insteon device, but I'm wondering if I'm just wasting my time on it (e.g., because it will never register from inside of a steel mailbox?). Any thoughts? Thanks!

[LeeG]

If inside a metal box it is a waste of time. They make plastic (not actual plastic) boxes, I have been using one for more than 10 years. Much too far from house for any RF Insteon device. The non-metal box might work.

[larryllix]

So, I have to ask.

 

Does this sort of thing happen often? If so have you ever considered moving the mail box a few feet back? Or attach a large high vis pole so the morons don't plow it over?

If you want your mail delivered in the rural you place your mailbox exactly where Canada Post tells you to. You also have to clear the snow away from your mailbox so the delivery person can get to it. I have to blow the snow back to the box level as a drive by ramp up to and past the box so the delivery truck can stop beside it close enough to deliver the mail an arms length from inside the truck.

 

Several times per winter I have to clean out the snow from the asphalt to the mailbox so that the snow on top of it falls away and the box can be found inside the snow bank. In a rough winter like last year the street narrows as the ploughs have no place to push the snow to. My banks were higher than I can reach last year. I had to blow a tunnel to the mailbox about 8 feet long so the mailman could walk from his truck to the mailbox to access it down the cut path.

 

The snowploughs don't usually hit the mailboxes but the heavy snow rubble coming off the plough at 40 kph can tear the box right off the 4x4 post or just break it off. Many techniques have been tried including having your mail delivered to the post office and picking it up every day 10-15 km away. If you need out of your driveway the snowplough has to come. My helicopter is on order while I am in Florida right now.  While I am gone I am saving myself about 12-16 gallons of gas and an hour of labour every day.