Relay Expasion Controlled wirelessly

Request new hardware or ideas for the controller
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ganjero
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled via Bluetooth or Internet

Post by ganjero »

So it is possible to do something with the XBees...
instead of having the relay expansion and a USB cable, you would have maybe the RF Expansion and a "relay XBee expansion"?

could the XBee be integrated directly in the relay box or do you still need the expansion box with a serial port connected to the relay box?
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rimai
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled via Bluetooth or Internet

Post by rimai »

Yes, possible.
Not very easily though.
You would need a specially modded head unit to accommodate the XBee radio.
Then you would need a custom XBee board or an Arduino Uno with XBee shield and I/O expander shield to be able to control the relay box.
Roberto.
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DrewPalmer04
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled via Bluetooth or Internet

Post by DrewPalmer04 »

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't there other research with uploading via xbees that supported a head unit mod? Maybe this can turn into mass production? Headunit with xbee
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rimai
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled via Bluetooth or Internet

Post by rimai »

Well, there is a big difference in carrying UART over Xbee vs I2C over XBee :(
UART is very easy and plug and play, but I don't know any UART I/O expander.
It would be possible to do SPI over Xbee, but the current RA doesn't offer SPI very easily.
So, if I were to add XBee capability on future product, what would you do with it?
Roberto.
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DrewPalmer04
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled via Bluetooth or Internet

Post by DrewPalmer04 »

I'm thinking more like RA as a receiver and arduinos as master but that wouldn't be something for the masses.
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rimai
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled wirelessly

Post by rimai »

Ok, update to this...
I've made a prototype with Xbee radios and was able to get very good communication with another xbee :)
The prototype needs several revisions to be final yet, but I liked what I got out of this one.
With communication established, I can move on to creating a protocol to exchange data and we could have remote relay boxes controlled wirelessly :)
Roberto.
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lnevo
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled wirelessly

Post by lnevo »

Any idea on the range? Would love to control my mixing station in the basement :)
rimai
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled wirelessly

Post by rimai »

They say Xbee can go to 300ft and Xbee Pro can go up to 1 mile, but that is without obstructions.
Indoors is stated to go up to 100ft.
Check it out here:
http://www.digi.com/products/wireless-w ... dule#specs
Roberto.
Amos Poh
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled wirelessly

Post by Amos Poh »

Cant wait for this to be on the shelves !
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Pny
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled wirelessly

Post by Pny »

rimai wrote:Ok, update to this...
I've made a prototype with Xbee radios and was able to get very good communication with another xbee :)
The prototype needs several revisions to be final yet, but I liked what I got out of this one.
With communication established, I can move on to creating a protocol to exchange data and we could have remote relay boxes controlled wirelessly :)
Another candidate would be an xbee connected water level expansion... I guess thats the one most often placed a bit further away from the head unit...
200 liter reef cube + 1000 liter FOWLR
jgwinner
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled wirelessly

Post by jgwinner »

Hey, this sounds great - with aquariums, there's a lot of chances for water to get everywhere :) so having a remote head unit may make some things a bit safer (could control the lights and mount the head unit in the canopy, then SAFELY control the pumps, etc.

I'm very interested anyway.

BTW, slight change of subject, if I used the DB9 cables, how far can you mount the current expansion relay box? I have only a 2" tube to fit all the wires into the aquarium from above (it's an island).

== John ==
rimai
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Re: Relay Expasion Controlled wirelessly

Post by rimai »

You can go pretty far on the svga cable.
It's high density db15 and not db9 though.
You could also wire them up with two CAT5 cables and use these in each end:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EE ... UTF8&psc=1
Roberto.
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