CharltonFamily.net

As part of my CC.PowerManager project I purchased a M200-LCD case from Mini-Box.com and wanted to be able to write to the display from my .NET application. The manufacturer provides a C++ source code example that I was able to walk through and create a .NET alternative using Visual C#. In it’s current release CC.USBHID allows .NET developers to easily connect to and control a picoLCD device and provides a good start to communicate with other USB HID devices. Read more here.

Recently I started a project tenatively named CC.PowerManager. This project will consist of client/server software and is designed to control the AC power distribution to each component in my entertainment center. Allowing me to cut the power to each device to eliminate their current draw while “Off”. The client software will run on an embedded computer and use GPIOs to toggle relays connected to each power outlet. I wanted to start “simple” so I purchased an alix1c from PC Engines which should allow me to run Windows XP and play on familiar ground. Turns out a buddy at work is also working on a similiar project and is more in the know than I as he recently pointed me towards the .NET Micro Framework which looks pretty slick.