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Arduino relays for lighting

Former Member

All,

 

I'm building a new house, and I decided that I want microcontrollers to control my lighting. Now I have dimmers covered, with a 0-+10V system, but surprisingly I'm struggling a bit with the lights that should just be on or off. I figured it should be doable with a relatively cheap array of relays connected to an Arduino. I'm not going to get my hands dirty, my electrician is (which is, I should say, a good idea). He insists on the following standard for the relays:

  • CE certification.
  • at least 240 VAC
  • at least 10A
  • DIN Rail mountable

 

I'm guessing I could satisfy the last requirement with a PCB in something like this: http://cpc.farnell.com/pulse/acc-case-m/flightcase-universal-medium/dp/DP31699

I have not yet found a product, that matches all of the top three though: I found something in various shops that has 250 VAC @ 10A, but no visible CE mark, and I found one on hobbyking http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__26921__Arduino_6_Channel_Relay_Module.html that had a CE mark, but could only do 240VAC @ 7A. I'd like something like that, with 6-8 channels would be nice.

 

It would be nice if the electrician could order all the products from Farnell, since they have a Norwegian office and I have used them for some other projects. Any pointers?

 

Message was edited by: Matt Collinge. Updated CPC link.

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    So if you want really safe and secure mains control, a consideration might new the new NFC programmable Timer Relay from Schneider Electric RENF22R2MMW | Multi Function NFC Time Delay Relay, Screw, 0.1 s → 100 h, 2CO, 2 Contacts, DPCO, 12 → 240 V ac/dc | Schne…

    I could not find it on Newark site but I have already reviewed a prototype of this device and it is pretty cool. I now have 2 production units to play with

     

    Based on the specifications the release voltage for its control input is <2.4V so should be controllable from Arduino. I will test this out in the next few days

     

    anyway, it is a brand new unit on the market and certainly is for industrial use.

     

    The other think I will mention is about the Industrial Shields units. They are CE certified and are for industrial use. There not for EVERY industrial application though for many of the reasons mentioned above.

     

    Would you use them in a smelting application or other more extreme environment. No, not without additional protection in the form of cabinets etc.

    I would entertain them though in a more normal environment like process control in a people populated factory ... production line control for instance, certainly for home automation where the environment is well controlled, and certainly for office automation.

     

    If you want to have something in the more extreme industrial / temperature range installs then this is probably not for you. Otherwise this is a great set of nuits that are very open for your choice of software. I have examples running ModBus etc with no issues whatsoever. Not in an industrial setting but running well nevertheless.

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  • 0

    So if you want really safe and secure mains control, a consideration might new the new NFC programmable Timer Relay from Schneider Electric RENF22R2MMW | Multi Function NFC Time Delay Relay, Screw, 0.1 s → 100 h, 2CO, 2 Contacts, DPCO, 12 → 240 V ac/dc | Schne…

    I could not find it on Newark site but I have already reviewed a prototype of this device and it is pretty cool. I now have 2 production units to play with

     

    Based on the specifications the release voltage for its control input is <2.4V so should be controllable from Arduino. I will test this out in the next few days

     

    anyway, it is a brand new unit on the market and certainly is for industrial use.

     

    The other think I will mention is about the Industrial Shields units. They are CE certified and are for industrial use. There not for EVERY industrial application though for many of the reasons mentioned above.

     

    Would you use them in a smelting application or other more extreme environment. No, not without additional protection in the form of cabinets etc.

    I would entertain them though in a more normal environment like process control in a people populated factory ... production line control for instance, certainly for home automation where the environment is well controlled, and certainly for office automation.

     

    If you want to have something in the more extreme industrial / temperature range installs then this is probably not for you. Otherwise this is a great set of nuits that are very open for your choice of software. I have examples running ModBus etc with no issues whatsoever. Not in an industrial setting but running well nevertheless.

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