read of photocell light sensor triggers IR LED to emulate press of the #8 key on a Sony remote - to open Teleclaw at sunrise.

gistfile1.ino

#include "IRremote.h"
IRsend irsend;

int LDR_threshold = 250;  // this number or higher = sunshine, calibrate me!
int LDR_Pin = A0;  // analog pin 0
int claw_state = 0;  // claw is assumed initially closed for now..

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
    int LDRReading = analogRead(LDR_Pin); 
    Serial.println(LDRReading);

    if (claw_state == 0 && LDRReading > LDR_threshold) {
       // the sun is up, open the claw! 
       openClaw();
       claw_state = 1;
    }
    delay(1000*60*5);  // check every 10 minutes
}

void openClaw() {

     Serial.println("opening claw");
     
     // emit the signal to open claw > 1 times, saw some misses
     for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {  // do it 4 times because sometimes it misses
        delay(1000);  
     
        // this loop of 3 with 100 delay is part of the Sony spec afaict
        for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
           irsend.sendSony(0xE13A5, 20); // Sony TV 8 key code
           delay(100);
     }
   }
}