Reuse Old Mobile Phones for Home Automation

Hi...... Friends
we all have used old feature phones like phones with small display and keypad models. Nowadays our trend is Smart phone with huge display,4G,slim,etc. So what about those old phones.... is it a electronic waste ? well my tutorial is how to convert a old phones (screen broken,mic and speaker damaged,keypad damaged ) to control appliances in home....

Step 1: Gathering Materials

The very first step is to gather materials required for our project......

materials required
1) Old phone
2) sim card

3) DTMF module
i bought DTMF module from Flipkart

http://www.flipkart.com/exploldore-embedded-dtmf-deco...

4) 3.5mm audio jack

http://www.flipkart.com/storite-3-5mm-male-stereo-audio-cable-100cm-1m-aux/p/itme57t47pndxmsh?pid=ACCE57T4KRZXBZNJ&ref=L%3A-4743854521440383714&srno=p_10&query=3.5mm+male+to+male&otracker=from-search

5) Relay board
http://www.flipkart.com/explore-embedded-four-chan...
5) 7805 voltage regulator and a 9 volts battery

6) lamp and lamp holder
7) wires and wire cutter,snipper

Step 2: Connections

1) make a 5 volt supply using 7805 and 9 volt battery
2) next step is to power the DTMF module with 5v from 7805 output.
3) now connect 3.5mm jack to DTMF module and mobile phone

to check whether the module is working or not, press 1 button in you mobile so that D1 digital output will go HIGH i.e D1 Led should glow.

4) connect D1 output to the relay input and connect lamp holder with relay as shown in diagram

Step 3: Working

Insert sim card in the your old phone and goto settings --> call settings --> advanced settings--> answer mode and select auto answer when headset is connected .
Ring up from another phone to the old phone to which DTMF module is connected, your call will be automatically connected and now press 1 the lamp glows and press 0 to turnoff the lamp.

Step 4: Final Step

you can use any appliances like fan,air conditioner instead of lamp thus you can use your old phones to control any devices from any where in the world :D

Comments

[LeonardP]

So the phone you are calling has to have service?

[BigbobM]

i suppose you could get around this with an old Wifi enabled phone, then register a free Google Voice phone number. Then the only problem is making sure the area has wifi...

[BigbobM]

i suppose you could get around this with an old Wifi enabled phone, then register a free Google Voice phone number. Then the only problem is making sure the area has wifi...

[BharathRam]

yup

[chrisjlionel]

Nice work. Next time Instead of using phone. Build a RF tx&rx to control(relay) home appliances. If possible make it.

[BharathRam]

yup.....made it using Rf 232Mhz module but I don't have images
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd0syOxawzc

[chrisjlionel]

Nice efforts. I'll give you 1 year free pro membership. check your inbox

[BharathRam]

thank you.....now upgraded to PRO thanks a lot...!!!

[chrisjlionel]

Nowadays flipkart started to sell these kind of items which is only available at eBay and hobby stores.

[eamaruna]

what happens if I disconnect the call after press No 1

[amckevitt]

Let me see if I have this right, i need an active (old) phone so I can make it turn on my light? Y would I activate an old phone (cost) just for that?

[rbutler]

I agree amckevitt. Unless I totally missed something, this is not a cost effective idea at all. Now, if I can use my current active smart phone to do the same thing without adding any expense, I'd give a thumbs up to that instructable.

[jdesgarennes]

you could use a free google voice account, and us tour internal wifi for the data.

[allijmccoy]

Ok sorry for the same post. But I was trying to post this to you and I didn't realize how to do so. So here goes again: "jdesgarennes Reply
you could use a free google voice account, and us tour internal wifi for the data." @jdesgarennes or anyone that knows the answer to my question about this- so I kinda of get the free google voice account because my friend had one. I understand that it only works with wifi. But the last part of comment, "and us tour internal wifi for the data." What confuses me is this: I believe you meant and use your internal wifi for the data. Confusion #1- if it's an old phone that's not smart (lol-sorry just sounds funny) where is the internal wifi data? Say I have an older Samsung flip phone and an older Lg slider and about 3 lg flip phones from 2006-2009 time frame. Do those Phone's still have the capability to connect to wifi? The first phone I got that could connect to my home wifi was the original galaxy Fascinate by Samsung. Before that I had and still have a Motorola flip phone those real thin ones. I used to have a lg slider. But that got stolen when my car was broken into. Point is throes phones could send sms messages but don't remember getting online except to download verizon ringtones. I've gotta iPhone 5s and a samsung Galaxy 4 currently. But all these old flip fines have more or less became my children's play phones. Any suggestions and advice is much appreciated. And sorry for the long post.

[BharathRam]

I had lot of old feature phones(working) in home...I don't know what to do with them...so got an idea that they can be used for automation...!! :D

[allijmccoy]

"jdesgarennes Reply
you could use a free google voice account, and us tour internal wifi for the data." @jdesgarennes or anyone that knows the answer to my question about this- so I kinda of get the free google voice account because my friend had one. I understand that it only works with wifi. But the last part of comment, "and us tour internal wifi for the data." What confuses me is this: I believe you meant and use your internal wifi for the data. Confusion #1- if it's an old phone that's not smart (lol-sorry just sounds funny) where is the internal wifi data? Say I have an older Samsung flip phone and an older Lg slider and about 3 lg flip phones from 2006-2009 time frame. Do those Phone's still have the capability to connect to wifi? The first phone I got that could connect to my home wifi was the original galaxy Fascinate by Samsung. Before that I had and still have a Motorola flip phone those real thin ones. I used to have a lg slider. But that got stolen when my car was broken into. Point is throes phones could send sms messages but don't remember getting online except to download verizon ringtones. I've gotta iPhone 5s and a samsung Galaxy 4 currently. But all these old flip fines have more or less became my children's play phones. Any suggestions and advice is much appreciated. And sorry for the long post.