Read up on a Fusion Brain
it's a 30 quid USB board that lets you connect about 10 relays to a PC, as well as 14 analogue inputs. The software is logic-based, so simple stuff like IF temperature IS GREATER THAN 25 degrees THEN turn on relay 1 (which is connected to a fan, or a power window motor, or somesuch.) The home auto guys and the CarPC guys use it a lot.
( Grrrmachine the indifference engine, Sun 6 Jun 2010, 11:37, archived)

Oooh, sounds interesting.
*bookmarks for a few years down the line*
( Noit happy baby orangutan, Sun 6 Jun 2010, 11:40, archived)

gay, get a proper bms, trend 693 of something

( mongychops, Sun 6 Jun 2010, 12:26, archived)