The Donor Door:
Building a Better Mousetrap

prepared for Goodwill Niagara

by Dylan T. Mitchell-Funk

Architecture Overview: A robust, RF-transparent DIN-rail enclosure houses the local webserver and network gateway. A remote, wireless Phidgets bridge communicates state changes from a ruggedized industrial pushbutton over the local Wi-Fi network.

Bill of Materials

Component Manufacturer / Model Purpose & Specifications
Main Cabinet Infrastructure (RF-Transparent)
Enclosure Altelix 14x11x5 Polycarbonate NEMA Houses DIN rail and 120VAC outlet. Polycarbonate material allows unimpeded Wi-Fi broadcast to the remote Phidget bridge.
Power Supply Mean Well HDR-30-5 5V DIN-Rail PSU. Direct hardwire to Pi and router for maximum stability.
Network Gateway GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX) OpenWrt-compatible router to act as a downstream gateway and Wi-Fi access point for the wireless bridge.
Compute Engine Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB) Local webserver host.
Compute Housing Phoenix Contact RPI-BC Industrial DIN-rail mounting bracket for the Raspberry Pi.
Storage SanDisk Industrial MicroSD High-endurance storage to prevent corruption from sudden power losses or constant read/writes.
Remote Interface (Wireless)
Wireless Bridge Phidgets HUB5000_0 (VINT Hub) Connects to the GL.iNet router via Wi-Fi to transmit button state changes back to the Pi.
Signal Isolator Phidgets DAQ1300_0 Isolated digital input module. Protects the hub from static or surges originating at the button.
Physical Input Schneider Electric Harmony XB4 22mm metal NEMA-rated momentary pushbutton. Heavy-duty construction for chaotic environments.
Essential Accessories
Cable Management Nylon Cable Glands (Assorted) Strain relief and dust-sealing for incoming AC power and upstream Ethernet entering the Altelix enclosure.
Mounting Hardware DIN Rail End Brackets Metal stops to prevent the Pi, Router, and PSU from sliding off the rail due to vibration.