What: a system to sense a pallet when loaded in my pickup, with an alert system in cab(light/buzzer) that can only be deactivated by a manual switch
Why: to help make sure pallet is strapped. A buzzer/light alerts me to walk to back of truck, Visually confirm load is secured, then hitting a deactivating switch on back of truck to silence buzzer/light.
How: This is where you come in. I have limited knowledge on what it takes to make this inexpensively, simply as possible, and reliable as possible. Early research has me thinking a proximity switch, flush mounted in bed of truck, that turns on the alert in the cab when it senses a load. Alert stays on until manual switch is activated manually, thereby silencing the alert. When load is removed and the proximity sensor opens, the circuit needs to reset so it will be ready to activate when it senses the next load.
Should I use a PLC with logic? Obviously driven by 12 volts. Is there a way to use relays instead of logic?
Again, I am going for RELIABLE, SIMPLE, inexpensive (in that order).
Any help would be greatly appreciated.