Karl Townsend wrote:
...

But if you were paying me to get it working I wouldn't do that. Instead
I'd either walk or I'd get all complex (and expensive) on you. Why?
Because when you engineer a system that shows promise but doesn't make
the customer money, they don't remember the joy of your low-ball bill --
they just remember that you built them a system that didn't @#$% work!

Your last paragraph explains why a gear motor on a thermostat is going for
$700 a copy. its going to take some fool willing to have a few failures to
come up with a $100 solution.

OK, I'm sold on trying this basic stamp approach. Sure could use some help
on what items to purchase. I don't mind spending a few (several) weeks
learning a new subject.

Karl


There are a bunch of tiny little control processors on the market today.

For what you want to do, the BASIC stamp would probably be the best choice.

Start with Wiki for a good overviwew:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASIC_Stamp

More involved:
http://www.parallax.com/tabid/295/Default.aspx

Best place to get started with the Stamp would be the Activity Kit.
(that's probably gonna wrap)
http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microc...me,ProductName

Example Projects:
http://www.rentron.com/BasicStamp.htm
Relay control example:
http://www.rentron.com/pc-relay.htm

http://www.emesystems.com/BS2index.htm

Development and info downloads:
(including Stamp and application manuals)
http://webspace.webring.com/people/a...downloads.html