Ok, here's my take on a blog post about building an auto power washer, based on the instructions.

Alright folks, gather 'round! Today I'm gonna walk you through my latest project: an auto power washer. Yep, you heard right. No more standing around with a trigger in your hand for hours. I'm automating this bad boy.

The Idea: I was tired of manually washing my car. Back always aching, hand cramping, the whole shebang. I thought, "There HAS to be a better way!" So, I started brainstorming.

What I Used: Okay, so here's the list of stuff I grabbed. Keep in mind, I'm a bit of a scrounger, so some of this was just lying around.

• A regular power washer (duh!)
• An Arduino Uno (my go-to brain for these projects)
• A relay module (to switch the power washer on and off)
• A servo motor (to control the nozzle)
• Some PVC pipe and fittings (to build a frame and nozzle mount)
• A waterproof enclosure (to protect the electronics)
• Various wires, connectors, and screws (the usual suspects)

The Build: This is where things got interesting. Here's the breakdown:

Step 1: The Frame. I started by building a simple frame out of PVC pipe. Nothing fancy, just something to hold the power washer nozzle and servo motor. I used PVC cement to glue everything together. Make sure you measure everything twice, cut once! I learned that the hard way... twice.

Step 2: The Nozzle Control. I attached the servo motor to the frame and connected it to the power washer nozzle. This was tricky. I had to design a little bracket to hold everything in place. I ended up 3D printing one, but you could probably make something work with metal or even more PVC.

Step 3: The Electricals. This is where the Arduino and relay come in. I wired the relay module to the power washer's power cord. The Arduino controls the relay, which switches the power on and off to the washer. Be SUPER careful when working with electricity! If you're not comfortable with this, get someone who is to help you. Seriously.

Step 4: The Code. I wrote a simple Arduino program to control the servo motor and the relay. The code tells the servo to move the nozzle back and forth, and it turns the power washer on and off at set intervals. I started with a basic sweep program for the servo and then added the relay control. There was a lot of trial and error, let me tell you!

Step 5: The Enclosure. I put all the electronics inside a waterproof enclosure to protect them from the water. This is important! You don't want to fry your Arduino. I used a plastic project box and sealed all the openings with silicone caulk.

Testing and Tweaks: The initial test was… well, let's just say it wasn't pretty. The nozzle was spraying all over the place, and the power washer kept turning off randomly. I spent a few hours tweaking the code and adjusting the servo motor. Eventually, I got it working pretty smoothly.

The Result: After a lot of tinkering, I finally had a working auto power washer! It's not perfect, but it gets the job done. I can now set it up, turn it on, and walk away. It's saved me a ton of time and back pain.

Lessons Learned:

• Waterproofing is KEY. Don't skimp on the enclosure.
• Servo motors can be finicky. Get a good quality one.
• Electricity is dangerous. Be careful.

Final Thoughts: This was a fun project, and I learned a lot. If you're looking for a way to automate your car washing, I highly recommend giving it a try. Just be prepared for some challenges along the way. And don't forget to have fun!