HACKER Q&A
📣 ThinkBeat

How to trigger fan when cigarette smoke is detected?


My bedroom window is located such that cigarette smoke from two different neighbors tends ot find its way into my bedroom.

I find this disgusting. At the same time, I understand that they smoke right outside their own doors which to them seems reasonable. (and is)

I have bought an air purifier.

When I am trying to sleep if my room gets stinky I turn it on.

For various reasons I dont want to be running all the time.

What I would like is:

1. Sensor detects cigarette smoke 2. Start air purifier 3: 15 minutes later turn off air purifier (loop)

That would give me the added benefit of getting rid of smoke when I am sleeping.

If it sometimes triggers because it thinks it detected snmoke that is fine. If it sometimes fails to trigger on smoke is sub optimal.

How can I do this?

I am wondering if I can get a fire alarm to be hypersensitive.

However, I am thinking that hte concentration of smoke is low, making it hard to detect. As opposed to a firealarm in the toilet of an aircraft which would get near 100% of it.

Does that make the project quite impossible?



👤 throw03172019
Get an air purifier that kicks up its power when it detects “low quality” air. Worked great for us in a condo. Even cooking went kick it on.

👤 h2odragon
Any sensor that sensitive enough to trigger on what you want is probably sensitive enough to trigger for all sorts of other things, too. Perhaps just live with that? or maybe put the powered filter on a timer.

Perhaps get a carbon air filter and put over your window?