Video of me explaining the project and what I am trying to do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDXg9e9IdSI
I am looking for anyone with some free time who likes tackling electronics/programing projects to potentially lend me some guidance.
The project is basically turning a USB keyboard into a single button that can be triggered by a cat walking on it. and this button press would trigger a transmitter to send a signal to a plug-in door bell system. A cat door bell.
I made a video explaining my project I am working on because that is a little easier for me to show what I am trying to do.
But here are the main points:
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I need to know if the boards I have will work or if I need something else. Or what other components I may need. (y splitter?).
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I need help with wiring and programing for this project. I am a novice and this is my first program board project. (I realize this is asking a lot so looking for someone with free time who is bored. I am also willing to barter my skills for yours).
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I have considered alternative sensors like motion, microchip scanning, and Bluetooth tags to create a doorbell alert but these are not the best choice for my situation. I am looking to potentially having this doorbell sensor on the porch all year round so durability is also a concern.
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I want to find the best sensor type for this job. I believe a silicone keyboard would be perfect as the price is right, it’s waterproof-ish, cats like it, size is perfect and it works in all weather temperatures. I am open to other suggestions but see the video for my review of alternatives and why I don’t think they are the right choice.
Found one like this one on amazon. but on aliexpress its about $10. https://www.amazon.com/Sungwoo-Foldable-Silicone-Keyboard-Waterproof/dp/B06XHBQ4MB
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I have some skills with making things. A small amount of experience with programing and a little bit more with electronics though mostly that’s been powering small motors or LEDs directly without boards. -Also I can 3d model and have a 3d printer. I forgot to mention that in the video but I can make any housing for the components.
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I am asking quite a lot from a stranger and realize that most people wont have the time or energy to help me with a project that I have only been able to do the bare amount of work on. But I certainly appreciate anyone who can.
Perhaps we can make a trade arrangement of skills. I am decent at 3d design. Perhaps I could help you with something that needs housing or a case. I could design something to be 3d printed. I am a crafty person and know how to do a lot of things including leather repair, zipper repairs. I am also a hobby artist and have been since i was a kid so I know a decent amount about different mediums and am decent at making designs for things. I am also in academia and teach at college level so I can help with writing or any homework around psych topics. Idk, what do you need help with?
I realize im asking a lot for this project so I am offering something in return.
*in the video I kept forgetting what the meter thing was called. I was referring to a voltage meter.
I misspoke about the very last sensor type I mention. Amazon does sell a pressure pad door bell. Its over priced, apparently doesn’t work well and is not very responsive to pets. and lacks durability/longevity. It is not marketed as a pet doorbell per se but does have product images implying it can be used for dogs. but reviews say it is not reliable.
Other companies do sell Indoor pressure mats with alarms or notification systems for elderly care and such but these are $$$$ and also have poor reviews. I figured I would make my own. how hard could it be?
I think there is a demand for such devices. For dogs and cats. Assuming its not too hard to make and cost is low.
If this project is successful, I plan to post this on instructibles.com so other people can make one. I would be happy to mention your names as co-creators of the project.
I’m not sure if you explain the specifics in the video, but I worry that you’re overcomplicating things?
Unless there’s a reason for doing it like this to learn about something, if it’s actually working like a doorbell, then start by looking at a doorbell.
You need the chimes (bit that makes noise or light when electricity is added), wired through the power source (i.e. batteries) in a continual circuit that plays constantly - then you interrupt that circuit with a leaf switch (a push-button).
When the leaf switch is off, there is no circuit and no noise is made.
When the leaf switch is pressed, there is a circuit and the noise is played.
At the most basic level, a leaf switch is a thin bit of metal hovering a few millimetres above another bit of metal - the wire goes into the top bit of metal, and out of the bottom bit of metal (or reverse). A tiny bit of pressure joins the two bits of metal and completes the circuit, making the electric flow. When released, the two pieces of metal separate and the circuit is broken. You may need springs to move them apart.
From that point, you’re inventing a pressure plate for a cat. Something which will press together with a cat’s weight, then spring back up when the cat is no longer on it.
You then refine or calibrate that mechanism so it always goes off with a cat, but not with a gust of wind or spider etc.
Idea today. Photoelectric infrared switch.
I ran it by my friend who is helping me with this and he said that’s way easier to do. I think this would fit the bill for needing to be weather/waterproof, durable, and the right size.I could build a wooden frame or 3d print parts to create a bracket to hold each part flanking the door. U shaped.
Its 12v. easy to power. I already have power supply female inputs I can wire up and pretty sure I have a few 12v power supply cords laying around.
I’d still want to program a board so it doesn’t trigger constantly in a short amount of time( from the cat moving in and out of the projection.)
But this sensor is probably even better than the keyboard idea since I don’t have to worry about a human stepping on it and damaging it. Or cat just being wary of stepping on it.
It’s only a little bit more of an expense than the keyboard idea. And that’s helped by the fact I have some of the other components already.
I have bought a remote door bell system that I want to use to make the cat door bell. It has a transmitter that uses kinetic energy (click) to send a signal to a bell receiver that plugs in to an outlet.
I don’t want a bell outside the house as 1. It might scare the cat. 2. Annoy neighbors, and 3. I may not hear it if it’s not loud enough.
Although it sounds simple to make a floor switch, it’s actually not. It would be difficult and expensive to make one large enough and durable enough for this application.
I mention in the video the problem with a diy pressure sensor. I have looked into making my own. But the top metal would need to be flexible and strong. To withstand many flexes and still bounce back. I don’t think that’s realistic at the scale I need. Thin wires will not hold up.
I’ve only seen diy ones for small ones. I think it won’t work for larger ones because it will break down too fast.
But you are right that it would be much simpler. My friend who was helping me said he didn’t know how to convert a keyboard signal nor play mat. But using a diy sensor wouldn’t be hard to set up. The issue is making a sensor that fits my needs and isnt too expensive in material cost.
I still need a program board though to not overload the transmitter I have. And restrict signal timing.
As I work on this project I’m going to post comments with updates so that if someone else wants to do something similar they can see what I tried or what did or didn’t work and hopefully save themselves some time.
So update Sept 10th 2026.
I managed to get a low profile USB keyboard from the goodwill today for half off. So $3. Nice.
Haven’t taken it apart yet.
While at the goodwill I saw used digital weight scales for sale. The small kitchen ones and the human ones.
Made me wonder if I could basically jack in the doorbell transmitter to the connections for the screen. So when someone steps on it and triggers it to come on, it would trigger the transmitter. These scales usually take those button batteries. I think they are 1.3v.
Unsure if a cat would trigger it to turn on. The smaller kitchen ones seem to require manually turning on.
But thought maybe I could scrap it and use the sensors. Idk.
Also a new idea. I say in the video why motion detection isn’t a good idea. But what about laser motion detection.
You basically have a laser and a target receiver. When the laser is interrupted, it creates a signal.
So if I put these flanking the door, and the cat walked into the laser path, it would trigger.
I found two on AliExpress that might do the job. One set already has small power regulator boards inside making it easy to wire up. I’ll post pictures below.
The egg shaped one also says it functions in the cold. I could easily made 3d printed or wood bracket I can slide up next to the door. It would go off every time I exited or entered the house because the front screen door opens outward. But still … Maybe that would work.
there are kits you can buy that will let you do something like this – i would look for one that lets me put something on my cat’s collar and would open the door each time the collar came close enough to it.
The cat is an outdoor cat. I think an airtag is pretty bulky and likely would be pulled off by the cat. Or get caught in something. Those kits are for cat doors. Related but not what I’m wanting. Appreciate the suggestion though.
i was actually recommending the old light sensing robot kits, but i googled it and found that there’s something that you can buy that already fits the bill: https://www.surepetcare.com/en-us/pet-doors/microchip-cat-flap
I can’t cut a hole in my doors. This isn’t my house. And the doors are original from the 1920s.
But it’s definitely a cool idea. I did hear a review though from someone who said they had issues using them because of cat behavior.
Basically if the cat (inside) heard a raccoon outside they would go to the cat door to look out. Triggering it to unlock. And the person said a raccoon got in their house that way but then couldn’t get out.