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AC Power Switching Relay with Wireless Module
AC Power Switching Relay with ZAURA Control
This reference design integrates Zilog’s ZAURA RF 868 MHz Wireless Module onto an AC power switching relay designed to showcase the features and performance of a relaybased switch with AC voltage zero-crossing detection to minimize surge currents. This reference design can be used as a basis for developing systems that can control different power installations.
On its own, without the ZAURA RF Wireless Module attached, the AC power switch functions as a demonstration board, providing current to power the ZAURA RF Wireless Module and relay. However, the AC power switch cannot control load, because the source of the on/off pulses required to perform this operation is generated by the Z8F2480 MCU on the RF Module. In combination, the Power Board with the Module attached, all controlled by a hand-held remote control device, enable RF communication to turn the load on and off.
For purposes of demonstrating RF control, a hand-held ZAURA RF Remote Control device is also included with this reference design. See the Remote Control Operation section on page 7 for a description of this remote control device.
Note: If you wish to develop RF remote control software, Zilog recommends purchasing the ZAURA RF Wireless 868 MHz Module Development Kit, because the hand-held ZAURA RF Remote Control device included with this reference design uses the same hardware and software libraries as this development kit.
Features
This AC Power Switching Relay with ZAURA Control reference design includes the following features:
- 90–240 V AC RMS input voltage range
- Up to 10 A load current
- Less than 2 mA standby current at 120 V AC when in an ON or OFF state
- 868 MHz Wireless Module operating frequency
Potential Applications
The AC Power Switching Relay can be used to develop a number of applications; the brief list below offers a few ideas.
- Remote-operated commercial or architectural lighting
- Private lighting with remote control convenience features
- Central lighting control without wiring or infrastructure changes
Discussion
The AC Power Switch Demonstration Board is simply comprised of the AC Power Switch Base Power Board (Power Board) with Zilog’s ZAURA RF Wireless Module affixed to it, as shown in Figure 1 (the Module is located in the center of the figure). The Power Board is a two-layer surface mount board that provides easy probe access points to all AC Power Switch inputs and outputs, allowing the user to quickly connect and measure electrical characteristics and waveforms. The ZAURA RF Wireless Module is a four-layer board featuring an MCU, an RF transceiver, an antenna and passive components.
Figure 1 AC Power Switching Relay with ZAURA Control Demonstration Board
The Power Board and attached ZAURA Module are powered from a single-phase AC line with a 90–240 V voltage range. The AC Power Switch Base Power Board provides up to 10 A load current at 240 V AC RMS.
The Board and Module are contained in a housing assembly with a female 3-prong extension cord; see Figure 2.
To continue reading this reference design from Zilog, please follow the link below:
http://www.zilog.com/docs/referencedesign/RD0019.pdf
Comments on this post:
4 months ago: Very good article I enjoyed reading this Imagine now if you will what you can do with the Raspberry PI not only can you network wireless this via wifi you can also propagate your messages via an internal server network across TCPIP broadband and internet extranet to other homes with the ability to control all of this from a simple smart phone application or via a web page
See http://www.harrington.force9.co.uk/HomeAutoCar/launch.html
I saw this coming 5 to 10 years ago You will have to forgive the unsigned applet Unfortunately you need to not click trusted but simply run application “Self taught I’m afraid “ , never the less It works tried and tested using J2ME now of course its Android
In fact if your smart enough you could use VB scripting or simply logon to a database to address various clients homes Another home built DNS server even using access and Active x
Hopefully it works on your browser and all this from a car using new TFT technology
Good work keep it up nice to see someone moving with technology makes life interesting
4 months ago: Or blackberry or windows smartphone Or soon to be Linux os phones
4 months ago: You could even do this with a 433mhz transciever from Maplins and something as simple as pic12F627 so that its even smaller with a bi of zero cross control Amazing
4 months ago: If you want to try this out at home if you happen to have windows paradox you will find it has a webserver control Simply write one small aplication for your mobile phone open a socket up from this ensure your router has portforwrading enabled and you can do this via http stream as well Would you just believe that one too
4 months ago: In fact if you wanted to be really ultra clever but you do have to study a little bit You could even use dtmf tones or you could possibly use X10 or you could possibly use YES mores code via Correct Ham radio Interesting because low and behold on linux is a whole section dedicated to Ham radio Clever huh !!
4 months ago: The what you do is operate a couple of repeaters here and there hmmm
4 months ago: And so we wind up with boolean
4 months ago: Of course there is also full duplex transmission which amounts communication in both directions which them means you can also receive a transmission code that verifies that your signal has been received and actioned accordingly which is also very clever because we can now definatley say Thunderbirds are go
4 months ago: Finally of course we can use Bluetooth as well with full interrogation meaning we can now produce a self repairing mechanism of electronics with fault diagnosis over the air or ,via hardwire communication soon to be fiber optic
Motorola achieved this nearly 25 years ago talk to Dave Mc-Hue one of the best engineers going with Hamish from Panasonic UK
Ham radio enthusiasts did this over 70 years ago using RTTY
4 months ago: Power stations do this via microwave links
4 months ago: Power stations do this via microwave links I would imagine this would now be via satelight link up hence Star wars
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