@MadScientist

sounds like a good plan :)

edit:
i also made changes to the scripts so now u were able to end them via “ctrl+c”.
Don’t know if i did everything correct but it works here. :)
I am just electronics technician and no programer ^^

Thats how i tested and it works like a charm. I just set up a fresh raspbian stretch Desktop.
There was no need to install wiring-pi! the scripts just ran “out of the box”.

PIR: https://www.amazon.de/Aukru-HC-SR501-Menschliche-Pyroelektrizität-Bewegungssensor/dp/B00R2U8LLG

I am sorry bro, but u did it wrong :(

U need to connect the relay with the 5v pin! Look at my tutorial at around Point 5. There is a picture how to connect. Just leave the button away

Relay                        Raspberry
+                            Pin 2 or 4 (5V)
-                            Pin 6 or any other GND (GND)
in                           PIN 13 (GPIO 27)

@retroflex

the wifi on the RPi 3 is not the best. So i installed an automatically wifi_rebooter here. U could try that as well: http://alexba.in/blog/2015/01/14/automatically-reconnecting-wifi-on-a-raspberrypi/

in my case my Pi pings my router address every 3 minutes and when it cannot reach it, it reboots it’s wifi itself.

For your other problem u could try “nmon”.

sudo apt-get install nmon

start it by simply typing nmon

when it starts u can type letters to choose what u want it to show. with “t, l, m, c” it will show u “top processes”, “long therm CPU usage”, “memory usage” and “actual CPU usage”

@MadScientist

that is nice to know… So wiring-pi installs an old version?! Than i need to update my tutorial ^^Thanks mate

And how do you connect the relay? What relay do u use? is it active low or active high? U can try to connect a transistor or an pull up/down resistor to it, so that should disable the trigger from it. If u want to try i can send an image how to connect. It can also be, that your Power supply of the RPi is to small…

I am looking for a far field mic, too.
I just googled a little bit and this one should be very good: https://www.seeedstudio.com/ReSpeaker-Mic-Array-Far-field-w%2F-7-PDM-Microphones-p-2719.html
It detects your voice from 360° and the review are good as well. Maybe its also possible to install it on top or under your mirror so it will be hidden. Unfortunately its a little bit expensive.

I also heard, that the PS3 eye camera got a far field mic build in and it works out of the box on a raspberry: https://www.amazon.de/Sony-9600459-PLAYSTATION-Eye/dp/B000W3YQ1Y

In some cases it could be, that USB mic’s got a little more latency…

Anyhow, i would appreciate to hear what mic u buy and maybe u can give a little review ^^

In my opinion the most user friendly way is a PIR sensor ^^
Or u just install a button :)

@MadScientist
sorry, did a mistake. I edited my post above. just edit the *.sh files.

@MadScientist
Alright…

Because your relay turns on i think you did everything right. Probably there is a problem with your Module installation… but thats just a guess. Maybe u didn’t give the module the rights to turn on gpio’s?
sudo usermod -a -G gpio pi (the „pi“ at the end stands for your username)

If u did that and it doesn’t work at all you can try to do it with an external script. Follow these steps:

cd
nano monitor_on.sh

put in this:

gpio -g mode 27 out
sleep 0.2
gpio -g write 27 1

save with “ctrl+x” and “y”

nano monitor_off.sh

put in this:

gpio -g mode 27 out
sleep 0.2
gpio -g write 27 0

save with “ctrl+x” and “y”

chmod +x monitor_on.sh (to make it executable)
chmod +x monitor_off.sh

nano pir.py

put in this:

#!/usr/bin/env python

import sys
import time
import RPi.GPIO as io
import subprocess

io.setmode(io.BCM)
SHUTOFF_DELAY = 120 # in seconds, how long the monitor will be on until next button press or PIR detection
PIR_PIN = 22       # 15 on the board (this needn't to be a PIR. Can be a button also)
LED_PIN = 16      # optional

def main():
    io.setup(PIR_PIN, io.IN)
    io.setup(LED_PIN, io.OUT)
    turned_off = False
    last_motion_time = time.time()

    while True:
        if io.input(PIR_PIN):
            last_motion_time = time.time()
            io.output(LED_PIN, io.LOW)
            print ".",
            sys.stdout.flush()
            if turned_off:
                turned_off = False
                turn_on()
        else:
            if not turned_off and time.time() > (last_motion_time + 
                                                 SHUTOFF_DELAY):
                turned_off = True
                turn_off()
            if not turned_off and time.time() > (last_motion_time + 1):
                io.output(LED_PIN, io.HIGH)
        time.sleep(.1)

def turn_on():
	subprocess.call("sh /home/pi/monitor_on.sh", shell=True)

def turn_off():
	subprocess.call("sh /home/pi/monitor_off.sh", shell=True)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    try:
        main()
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        io.cleanup()

save with “ctrl+x” and “y”

chmod +x pir.py

You can check if your button works by simply typing python pir.py. Every time u move through the PIR or press the button it will show you several …
End the test with “ctrl+c”

The Shutoff delay in the script defines how long the relay will be turned on after detection through the pir.

If that works u can add the script to the rc.local to start it automatically when booting up.

Ah I see…
I will write u this evening. We will get it working ;)