Problem
Racoons are a recurring theme now, on this blog. However, this time it’s more more sinister. They’re not knocking over garbage, they’re defecating in a pool. It was really gross.
The last time Racoons gave me trouble, my solution was to rig a sprinkler to a motion sensor. That wasn’t a safe setup, however.
Solution
This time, I thought I’d go with something smaller and safer but still cool! I went with this water gun. and this PIR motion sensor and then just a low volt. relay and an NPN transistor.
And just to make it seem a little more stock and easier to use. I built the motion sensor into a Nerf rail attachment so that it was easily removable as well.
I think this quick schematic is how I pulled it off (It was a year ago or so when I made it.)
And finally, here’s a build gallery with probably enough detail to recreate this, if you like! :)
Build Gallery
- This is the motion sensor, and it does all the work for me! It’s even got ‘Pots’ for changing sensitivity to motion and timing (how long the gun will fire when it senses motion)
- Here I’m figuring out what the polarity is on these external contact points
- Neat, the gun uses a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peristaltic_pump to spray water
- Dremeled out a spot for the aux firing control pieces and ready to glue them in.
- Aux firing control soldered and glued into place.
- Pins that allow you to control firing of the gun and a switch to turn Aux control on/off
- Plenty of space to messily stuff wires!
- All mechanisms are recombobulated and it’s time to close the casing.
- Tried to make it appear stock-ish.
- Clamp zip-tied to the back for a tri-pod configuration.
π