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Relay - Can C4 control over USB?


badjesus

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http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Relay-Board-16-Channels-RS232-Serial-controlled-/181366934938?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2a3a4fcd9a

 

I am assuming the answer is no...

I had posted on here previously, and other than the KMTRONIC (which I can no longer find any reseller in Canada to get it) there was no viable option for me to get a ridiculous number of relays at a low budget. In total, I am looking for about 32 relays.)

 

This uses Rs232, but over virtual serial through USB. Is there any way to have this work with C4?

 

Or does anyone else know of another device like this that is RS232 controlled or IR controlled? 

 

It is going to be used for blinds. (12v and 24v)

 

 

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Bam! Trying to find my account to axxess right now. I wonder why they don't have it on their normal website.

 

 

That thing is awesome! Nice price also. I don't have an account apparently with AXXESS so I went through black wire. I THINK that will do what I want but I am confused on the relay output. 

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I found my cost through BlackWire (I think you just approved me? I am assuming you are the same Kevin :) lol)

I am just confused on the actual relay wiring for them though.... 

 

I see there is only R1, R1 - R2, R2 - R3, R3 etc... I am assuming that is Common and NC but what about NO?

If it is actually supplying voltage to the outputs using P1 and P2, and R1 and R1 are actually NO and NC, then I am not sure how I could get this work with all of my blinds if I wanted to them to all open and close at the same time. I am assuming that would be parallel and cut my voltage each time by half? I need to send a consistent 12v to each motor when the relay is open (even if all relays are open). 

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These, as are Card Access and the other Axxess relays are SPST relays, not SPDT relays - ie the are either NO or NC depending on setup, and don't have both options.

If that (SPDT) is what is required - and I know this discussion came up before - i/o extenders remain the most cost effective way to add relays - indeed they are the most cost effective PERIOD if you need relays at the rack).

SPST relays can be used in pairs to create SPDT relays, but as 'pair' implys it'll cost you twice the number of relays.

 

Voltage across parallel wiring is always consistent (ignoring voltage drops acros long runs at least) - you'd have to provide enough amperage to support all blinds if you want to use a single powersupply.

That said any normal relay DOES NOT PROVIDE POWER across it's poles. The P connections are for alternative power options than the supplied adapter - this in case you want to use one powersupply to power whatever the relays power AND the unit itself (one of the things the CA relay had an advantage in and I complained to Axxess about when they first brought out the original units).

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These, as are Card Access and the other Axxess relays are SPST relays, not SPDT relays - ie the are either NO or NC depending on setup, and don't have both options.

If that (SPDT) is what is required - and I know this discussion came up before - i/o extenders remain the most cost effective way to add relays - indeed they are the most cost effective PERIOD if you need relays at the rack).

SPST relays can be used in pairs to create SPDT relays, but as 'pair' implys it'll cost you twice the number of relays.

 

Voltage across parallel wiring is always consistent (ignoring voltage drops acros long runs at least) - you'd have to provide enough amperage to support all blinds if you want to use a single powersupply.

That said any normal relay DOES NOT PROVIDE POWER across it's poles. The P connections are for alternative power options than the supplied adapter - this in case you want to use one powersupply to power whatever the relays power AND the unit itself (one of the things the CA relay had an advantage in and I complained to Axxess about when they first brought out the original units).

 

That makes sense, thanks Cyknight. 

I am not very familiar with relays... more so... to lazy to read up on them :)

I ordered one last night from Kevin. I am excited to try it out.

I also got a few 4 channel IR controlled relays I am going to try off of ebay. This should also allow me to easily control quite a few blinds. If this axxess works as I understand it to now, I think it will work perfect and I will just pick up a few of them over time as I finish the blinds. 

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If you don't have a security system then i recommend getting the Elk M1 security system with output expanders and the Recluse AV M1 driver.  You'll only need 4 output expanders to do what you want.

Unfortunately I already have a Vista20p that I installed. 

I barely understand how to use it right now, but have successfully added a tonne of zones to it. I haven't seen relay control for it yet though. Do you know if this can also be done with honeywell gear?

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Unfortunately I already have a Vista20p that I installed.

I barely understand how to use it right now, but have successfully added a tonne of zones to it. I haven't seen relay control for it yet though. Do you know if this can also be done with honeywell gear?

The default vista driver works pretty well. That's what I use.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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That makes sense, thanks Cyknight. 

I am not very familiar with relays... more so... to lazy to read up on them :)

I ordered one last night from Kevin. I am excited to try it out.

I also got a few 4 channel IR controlled relays I am going to try off of ebay. This should also allow me to easily control quite a few blinds. If this axxess works as I understand it to now, I think it will work perfect and I will just pick up a few of them over time as I finish the blinds. 

 

If you want to integrate the blinds into Control4 via IR with the right icon you will need to utilise our generic relay driver.  See link below.

 

http://www.chowmain.co.nz/generic-relay-driver

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Yes, but do you have several relay outputs with it?

 

Not sure if this question was pointed to me or not.  Our Generic Relay Driver can be added multiple times and be bound to the same IR output.  As such one IR emitter can control multiple relay devices from the same port.

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Kevin, I am starting to think this relay controller won't actually work for me.

I think I DO have to have a common... either that or I just can't figure out the wiring.

I have two wires coming out of the motor. When polarity is normal, it goes down. When polarity is reversed it goes up.

 

This motor is 24v DC (most of mine are 12v).
I am running the +24v into R1, and the one wire from the motor into the other R1.

I am running the ground into R2, and the other wire from the motor into the other R2.

I can't figure out how I can switch polarity. It goes down only. I can't get it to do anything else.

 

I do have some standard automotive relays and I think I have to use these in conjunction with this, but I can't wrap my head around how to wire it all up.

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Kevin, I am starting to think this relay controller won't actually work for me.

I think I DO have to have a common... either that or I just can't figure out the wiring.

I have two wires coming out of the motor. When polarity is normal, it goes down. When polarity is reversed it goes up.

 

This motor is 24v DC (most of mine are 12v).

I am running the +24v into R1, and the one wire from the motor into the other R1.

I am running the ground into R2, and the other wire from the motor into the other R2.

I can't figure out how I can switch polarity. It goes down only. I can't get it to do anything else.

 

I do have some standard automotive relays and I think I have to use these in conjunction with this, but I can't wrap my head around how to wire it all up.

 

email me and ill walk you through it 

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