Specifications – SmartRelay Controller

All Versions

• Field upgradable firmware, custom updates available.
• Surface mount components for reliability.
• Serial, Ethernet or Inverted Serial controllable*.
• 3 OR 6 relays*.
• 6 OR 12 Digital input lines*.
• Create macros - play back predefined list of commands when an input is triggered.
• Send timed relay commands - set up to 20 relay states at a time.
• Timed events from 1/10 second to 1.8 hours in 1/10 second increments.
• Works in standalone mode OR works with your computer.
• Easy to use commands for 1 or 2 way communication.
• Each relay may be connected to a dual discrete buss to supply power of ground to its load.
• High quality screw terminals for trouble free operation.
• Still works even if power is hooked up backwards!

*Depends of version and options selected.

Serial Control Version

Serial Control is RS232 using a standard DB9 Connector at 9600 Baud (8N1) allowing control of the relays from 1000's of devices including home automation systems, industrial controllers and Computers. Access is available to invert logic level to control from microcontrollers making this a very flexible board.

Ethernet Control Version

Optional Ethernet control using TCP/IP, UDP or virtual comport redirection allows placing the board just about anywhere. A single pc can control an almost unlimited number of relay boards without the worry of adding serial ports to the pc. The Ethernet interface is 10/100 MB with a standard RJ45 connection.

Firmware Upgradable

With Either the serial or Ethernet version the firmware can be upgraded without even touching the board. Using a pc with HyperTerminal you are able to X-modem firmware updated to the board. Updates may allow new commands or additional features in the future. The SmartRelay Controller uses a powerful microcontroller allowing us a large, expandable feature set. Contact us if your needs include custom firmware.

Input Lines

The board comes with either 6 or 12 ground triggered input lines allowing the connection of buttons, switches, sensors, etc. to the board. Instead of requiring you to poll or ask the board the status of the inputs, the board sends an event to the controlling device. A notification is sent when an input is triggered, and also when is it released. The input lines are also able to trigger macros.

Input Line Macros

This is where it gets interesting. Each input line can be assigned 2 macros - 1 on trigger and 1 on release. Each macro can contain several relay commands, or even timed relay commands (see below) making the SmartRelay Controller extremely powerful and versatile even without a computer. The macros are stored in non-volatile memory, so once they are set the board can run the input macros without a computer or other controller allowing for stand alone operation even between power cycles.

A couple of examples:

A macro could set so that when a switch connected to an input line is triggered, relay #1 is turned on

or

the switch turns relays 1,3,5 on and 2 off

or

Turns relay 1 on in 10 seconds, relay 3 on in 30 minutes and relay 2 off

and

When the switch is released, relay 6 turns on, then turns off 4 seconds later.

It can even be set it up so that input 1 turned on relay1 and input 2 turned it off, or for simple applications, input 1 turns on relay 1 while trigged and relay 1 off on release.

Each macro can execute up to 21 commands, with timed relay commands counting as 2 commands.

Timed Relay Command

Timed relay commands allow flexibility and ease of use not seen before in a relay board. The board allows up to a 1.8 hour delay in 1/10 of a second increments, with + or - 1% accuracy, and can have up to 12 concurrent timers running.

Examples, all of these examples are accomplished with 1 command to the board

Turn relay 1 on now and off in 3 seconds

or

turn relay 1 on in 30 seconds and off on 43.3 seconds

or

turn relay 1 on, then off in 10 minutes, turn relay 2 on in 10.1 minutes and off in 20 minutes.

High Quality Screw Terminals

There are a lot of poor quality terminal connectors in use out there; the SmartRelay Controller uses a 45 degree reusable terminal connector, that allows a wide range of wire sizes, and allows for multiple connects and disconnects without bending or damaging the terminal.

Relay Busing Options

When your design requires all the relays to have a common ground or common power (or other common line), the SmartRelay Controller eliminates the need to cut and strip a bunch of jumper wires going from relay to relay. The SmartRelay Controller has 2 jumper selectable busses. Each relay has a jumper terminal allowing the relay common to be tied to ground, power(or other common line) or no bus at all. This bus terminates with a single screw block. For example, if all your relays are used to switch a 24 volt dampers, just jumper them all to the power bus. And of course each relay common is brought out to a screw terminal as well.

Command Set

(For more detailed command set instructions, please refer to the manual in the download section or just use out easy setup program)

The SmartRelay Controller has a truly easy to use command set. Here is a summary from the on-board help(use the ? command to see this from the board)

R - relay
(relay number)R(1/0)
(relay number) - 1-6 the relay number on the board
(1/0) - 1 is ON 0 is OFF

eg:
1r1 turns ON the relay number 1
3r0 turns OFF the relay number 3

Note: is ASCII (13) a carriage return

T - timed relay
(relay number)T(1/0)(time)
(relay number) - 1-6 relay number on the board
(1/0) - 1 is ON 0 is OFF
(time) - is time in 1/10 of seconds
0-65535 are valid (+/- 1% accurate)

eg:
1t130 turns on the relay on port 1 after waiting 3.0 seconds
3t0600 turns off the relay on port 3 after waiting 1 minute

Note: is ASCII 13 (carriage return)

M - macro command
(port number)M(A/B)(1/0)(commands)
(port number) - 1-6 port number on the board
(A/B) - input the macro is tied to, input A or B
(1/0) - which input state the macro is fired on, 1 for input triggered 0 for input un-triggered
(commands) - any number of regular relay, or timed commands separated by the | symbol (the pipe is located just below BACKSPACE on your keyboard)

eg:
1MA11R1|1T0500 when input A on port 1 is triggered relay 1 turns on and a timer is scheduled to turn off the relay in 5 seconds.

Events sent from the board

R - relay state set
(relay number)R(1/0)
T - timed relay event received
(relay number)T(1/0)(time)
A - sensor A state change
(relay number)A(1/0)
B - sensor B state change
(relay number)B(1/0)

(relay number) - 1-6 relay number on board
(1/0) - 1 is on 0 is Off
(time) - is time in 1/10 of seconds

When you send 1R1 (turn relay 1 on) the board responds with 1R1 when the relay is turned on

If you send 1T130 (turn relay 1 on in 30 1/10ths or 3 seconds) the board responds with 1T130 when the timer starts, then 3 seconds later 1R1 when the relay is turned on.

Surface Mount Components

The SmartRelay Controller uses reliable surface mount components and was designed in house using the latest cad and automation tools. Each board is manufactured with high quality components and tested thoroughly - if you don’t have problems neither do we. The power input is polarity indifferent so it can be plugged it in backwards, and the input lines are surge protected.

High Quality Power Relay

The board uses either 3 or 6 high quality 10 Amp relays rated at over 1 million cycles. See the spec sheet in the downloads section.

Product Notes

With the Ethernet option - the serial option is removed from the board.

Ideas For The SmartRelay Controller

 Here are a few unique uses for the SmartRelay Board.  If you have an interesting use for the board please send it to us via email and we will gladly include it here.

 Home theater electric screen masking control.  If you have an electric masking screen, you know the nuisance of setting up the different aspect ratios.  There are so many: 2.35:1, 1.85:1, 2.22:1 or 1.65:1 just to name a few.  Each time the movie you’re watching has a different ratio you have to change the screen.  With the SmartRelay macro timing accuracy of .1 Sec, you could easily wire a separate switch for each setting.  Just let SmartRelay do the timing for you.

Home theater amplifier power sequencer.  If you have several amplifiers or other equipment that you would like to turn on in a certain sequence, SmartRelay can easily do the trick.  You may have the equipment power down in a different order than it powered up. Don’t ever blow a circuit breaker again!

HVAC damper controller.  Have dampers in your HVAC?  SmartRelay is an easy and efficient system for controlling them.  You decide when they should be open or closed.  In fact with 6 relays you could control your dampers and power sequence your equipment!

Lawn sprinkler control.  With a few key strokes you can have SmartRelay give you the control you want with the watering system.  Attach the SmartRelay to your computer for a completely automated system.

Door alarm system.  Use one input to monitor a door opening and closing.  Sound an alarm, turn on a light or even the TV when a door is opened or closed.

Downloads– SmartRelay Controller

We have included documents, programs, photos and programming examples to make it easy to use the SmartRelay Controller.

 Documents

• SmartRelay Controller Manual
• Inverted Serial Pinheader Pinout
• Terminal Specifications
• Relay Specifications

 Tools 

• SmartRelay Simulator (Flash)

Allows you to try the Smartrelay controller online

Photos & Graphics

• Board, Top View
• Terminals
• Power Supply
• Board, Bottom (Desktop)
• Optional Wall Mount and Template

Programs

• SmartRelay Easy Setup

An optional utility to setup, program and start using your new SmartRelay Board.

• Lantronics Ethernet Utility Device Installer (Lantronix site)

A utility for advanced Ethernet users.

• Comport Redirector (Lantronix site)

Programming Examples

• VB6 Sample Code
• .NET Sample Code (Comming Soon)