ISpa - Entertainment for Jacuzzi Geeks

[Check out my NEW & Improved version of the SPApad!]

https://www.instructables.com/id/NEW-IMPROVED-SpaPad-II/


So I just added a 5 Person Hot Tub, and Gazebo in my new house, and I want to have music, movies, and of course Internet access (as well as home automation, nothing gets a geek girl hotter, then being able to control things from a iPad in a Hot tub!)

There are some Great Products available to waterproof a iPad like:

http://www.over-board.co.uk/waterproof-ipad-case.html
($40 U$)

http://www.amazon.com/Overboard-iPad-Waterproof-Protective-Case/dp/B004TG67YY

But the one issue is, I need to remove the iPad from the protective casing to charge it, and sooner or later
that would compromise the protective shell, and destroy the iPad with water.

The solution?

INDUCTIVE CHARGING!

Using parts from a Old Powermat inductive charger
http://www.powermat.com/ (you can get them really cheap on eBay)

I removed all the plastic housing from a 3gs case I had (I have the 4s now)
and attached it to my ipad. and housed it in the Overboard case,
Added a bit of hot glue for insulation and WALA!

A rechargeable, waterproof Floating iPad!

(Adding in a few waterproof speakers, a Airport express and a 12v Amplifier all mounted safely away from the spa)

I only took pictures of the 'guts' of the powermat, I didn't photograph the taking it apart, part, Sorry

In pulling apart a powermat, you need to be careful of a thin cable that goes from the iPad port to the electronics.
I used a tin snips to cut around the edges, and separate the two layers of plastic.

The whole thing is put together with a kinda of double stick tape, so a gentle pry will separate all parts

You must remove all the plastic from the components, or it will be too far from the powermat to activate the inductive charge

Since I don't want to modify the iPad itself, I set everything up outside the waterproof enclosure, and plan on using a layer of hot glue
to hold everything in place, with the ability or unplugging the iPad and removing it, if needed in the future.

it is VERY important you keep the round sensor as CLOSE as you can to the outside layer.

I used industrial THIN PLASTIC (not Styrofoam) tape to hold the unit to the enclosure - you can use thicker stuff on the iPad side
to electrically insulate it from the iPad housing

Also the water of a Jacuzzi spa is hot, and the iPad will be operating in a warmer (100°+ Temp) so make sure any tape / glue you use
is rated at that temperature (but it doesn't need to be waterproof)

I was a bit unhappy with how thin the Waterproof case is, and wanted some protection of the iPad in case it gets blasted across the spa and hits a wall, so I added a silicon case to the iPad, cutting out access for the lower connector, as well as the Inductive charger.

The screen is sharp and clear, and you can control all functions.

I could show pics of me in the Spa, but this is a family website, and I did not want to scare small children and dogs.
so here is a quick video of me putting the iPad on the Inductive charger.

Now I have finally used the iPad in the Spa, and found these issues;

1) The iPad doesn't float - I need to add more ballast or build a holder that it stays above surface.

2) Hot water screws with the iPad screen, Random caricatures on typing, and random commands if the iPad is underwater for a few seconds, the water temp is just about 100° so I assume it thinks I am jumping up on down on it

:)

Using it and the screen has been VERY watchable, you cannot hear the sound out of the iPad with the SPA running
which I knew was going to happen, and am still building the Airplay sound system

To watch a movie holding it is not "there" yet, I need to come up with a better way to hold it.

Jonathan