How to make a container opens only weekend days ? ?

Super-T · Post by **Super-T** » 12 November 08 4:59 pm

Am looking at placing a cache that I want only done during business hours, and possibly only on weekends. 
Anyone into electronics know if it would be feasible to design a cache box that remains locked except during the relevant hours ? 
Perhaps modify a simple irrigation timer to operate an electronic lock instead of operate a watering system? I know these tap timers are available and not unduly expensive, so I assume that something could be built by a person with the relevant skills - which unfortunately ISN'T me.

Irrespective of the issue of theft of the whole unit, or other issues, at present I'm just working out if such a box could even be built, and what it would cost, and any ideas people may have.

Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions.

Papa Bear_Left · Post by **Papa Bear_Left** » 12 November 08 5:34 pm

Slightly easier is an electronic waypoint that only displays the GZ coords between certain hours. Any little low-power MCU board with a single-line LCD would do the job, and you could even program DST into it!

(I have one of these, based on an MSP430, mostly done. Mind you, it's been "mostly done" for about two years now... Mine's designed to take finders to a spooky spot near midnight, but the principle's the same.)

If you're not keen to learn how to program a microcontroller, an alternative might be to play with an electronic timer (HPM, Clipsal, etc.), that can usually be set to turn on and off at multiple times.
What I don't know is if they'll work without mains voltage applied. I know the clock has a battery in it, but I don't know if they'll switch 12VDC applied to the prongs.

If they will, then you need to think about what you can switch on and off with it!

It might be a 12V car door-lock (go for a motor one rather than a solenoid type; less current spike needed) that either unlocks the container or maybe pushes a bit of metal/wood out of a box so the coords can be read from it.

Put a pushbutton switch in series with the 12V so that it'll only activate when someone's there (and the timer's turned on) and a battery should last quite awhile.

If you mount the timer and door-opener in a locked box and put the whole thing inside an ammo can, it should be reasonably tamper-proof.

Udderchaos · Post by **Udderchaos** » 12 November 08 5:36 pm

i have put a few electronic caches out and i can tell you, they dont last.
a spot of moisture in there and they just corrode out.

the last ditch attempt i potted the electronics in resin and soldered the battery pack up. the wires corroded off the batteries in about 12 months.

Super-T · Post by **Super-T** » 12 November 08 7:25 pm

Papa Bear_Left wrote:....Slightly easier is an electronic waypoint that only displays the GZ coords between certain hours....

Yes, but the reason I want the cache itself only opened during the day, is I am toying with the idea of putting it in a swimming area that is restricted only to people wearing their birthday suit. 
I know that almost everyone will just come and do the cache at night fully clothed and that makes it nothing more than another standard traditional cache like the thousands already out there. An electronic cache would allow them to grab the co-ordinates during the day and return at night for the cache. I want this cache to be one that you have to be really committed to go and find. 
Of course, I could put the electronic thingo in the clothing-less area, and they'd have to be dressed accordingly to go get the co-ordinates, so it may still work that way, and in some ways could make them have to stay there longer as they get the co-ordinates and the cache.

Yes I know I sound like a weirdo, and no, I am not into that kind of clothing at all, and in fact I will - as the cache hider - be putting it out at night fully clothed. I just don't want the finders to have that option - Muuaaahhahahaahahaaaa !!!!!


All this surmissing because a cache I did on the weekend was adjacent to this swimming area, and got me thinking about how funny it would be to make cachers go in there to get a cache. I probably won't ever have the intestinal fortitude to go put it out actually, but it's just something I'm thinking over. It's getting hard to make a cache different to everyone else's now-a-days. This just might be a way to do it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 12 November 08 8:19 pm

Super-T wrote:Yes, but the reason I want the cache itself only opened during the day, is I am toying with the idea of putting it in a swimming area that is restricted only to people wearing their birthday suit.

Maybe Fred Nile and co might have a solution for you *grin*

SecretSquirrel-BJC · Post by **SecretSquirrel-BJC** » 12 November 08 8:30 pm

I have walked through that area fully clothed on the way to get another cache, so how would you verify that we had nuded up for the smiley? - hey isn't that a GCA cache?

Mind you I have been down there when I was 18 (in 1978) with a mixed group of friends when it was a very popular family friendly nudist swimming hole. There must have been more than 150 people of all shapes and sizes - now it seems taken over by single gay males, and is definitely not family friendly down further.

Bundyrumandcoke · Post by **Bundyrumandcoke** » 12 November 08 11:22 pm

Instead of trying to sort out something electronic, why not go this way. Do you know a business, that is only open during business hours, that are willing to issue clues only when they are open. It may not be exactly what you are looking for, but may be an idea.

Super-T · Post by **Super-T** » 13 November 08 12:21 am

Bundyrumandcoke wrote:Instead of trying to sort out something electronic, why not go this way. Do you know a business, that is only open during business hours, that are willing to issue clues only when they are open. It may not be exactly what you are looking for, but may be an idea.

They'd get the clue during business hours, then do the cache in the night or evening when there's no-one around and so they can do it clothed.

But if it's now an area used by gay males as Secret Squirrel says, then it's not the sort of place I would send anyone no matter what, so the whole idea is now off the planning board full stop.

Not knowing anything about the area I thought it might have been a cache that was a bit different, but this is why I came here to ask for suggestions, in the hopes that people might know the area better than I do. The info has now led me to think the idea would be a bad one.

team unicycle · Post by **team unicycle** » 13 November 08 8:34 am

Super-T wrote:But if it's now an area used by gay males as Secret Squirrel says, then it's not the sort of place I would send anyone no matter what

Unless they're gay.
Maybe there should be another attribute icon for "Recommended for gays" or "Not recommended for heteros", although I'm having trouble working out what you'd actually use for the image.

Post by **caughtatwork** » 13 November 08 9:30 am

team unicycle wrote:
Super-T wrote:But if it's now an area used by gay males as Secret Squirrel says, then it's not the sort of place I would send anyone no matter what
Unless they're gay.
Maybe there should be another attribute icon for "Recommended for gays" or "Not recommended for heteros", although I'm having trouble working out what you'd actually use for the image.

GeoScrubers · Post by **GeoScrubers** » 13 November 08 11:17 am

team unicycle wrote:
Super-T wrote:But if it's now an area used by gay males as Secret Squirrel says, then it's not the sort of place I would send anyone no matter what
Unless they're gay.
Maybe there should be another attribute icon for "Recommended for gays" or "Not recommended for heteros", although I'm having trouble working out what you'd actually use for the image.

zactyl · Post by **zactyl** » 13 November 08 1:48 pm

Brings to mind the signs on the rides at "White Water World", do not ride if you are pregnant, have recently had surgery etc, all with related icons, except that there was no icon for "have recently had diarrhoea"

SecretSquirrel-BJC · Post by **SecretSquirrel-BJC** » 13 November 08 3:04 pm

please understand, I was not offended by gay males or nudity - I am very broad minded.

I was offended by some offensive behaviour engaged by some of those gay males - especially as you walk a little further down the river

Bewilderbeest · Post by **Bewilderbeest** » 13 November 08 3:55 pm

It really doesn't sound like a great place for a cache. And definitely NOT one to take underage cachers to, especially if the regulars are likely to be engaging in unsavoury behaviour