Help with relays and roof

[rogerg (Roger)]

Hi all,

I can do basic soldering but my understanding of relays and what power needs to go where is limited. I've been stalled on getting my roof motor connected to the PC because of this. I wonder if someone is able to advise the correct way to open the roof from the PC.

Attached are three images from the manual of the roof motor showing the available terminals and how they expect them to be used. My plan has always been to some how connect a USB controlled relay to the appropriate terminals and then write software to control the roof. Software is the easier bit for me.

I thought of buying a relay board like this:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/280758385...84.m1423.l2649

Can anyone advise if such a relay board would be suitable and what motor terminals I would connect to which relay terminals?

Thanks!
Roger.

[rogerg (Roger)]

bump.

no one more knowledgeable than I regarding relays?

[SteveInNZ]

It's a bit hard to work out what you are trying to do with just a skip read.
By "motor", you mean the "gate controller" which has a motor connected to it, right ?
And you want to use the relay box to simulate the button presses to open or close the roof (gate), yes ?

If that's the case, you'd wire the "C" terminal of two of the relay outputs to the "Common" terminal (#21) on your gate controller. Then connect one of the "NO" terminals to the "Open" (#26) and the other "NO" to the "Start Close" (#22). You can have the pushbuttons there too (in parallel) so either the button or computer can open of close the roof.

I hope I've answered the right question.

Steve.

[Auster1b (Neil)]

Roger,
From your website I gather that the roof motorization, manual buttons AND limit switches are already installed ?

If so, to connect this or a similar board wire as shown.

You may be better off getting a board that can monitor inputs as well as relay outputs. This will allow you to monitor that the roof is actually open, closed or somewhere in the middle. (Power outages or other system crashes may cause some ambiguity of where the roof is).

Limit switches are important in that it automatically stops the motor when the roof is either fully open or closed. Definitely required for remote operation !.

Another point is whether the mount has to be parked for safe closing without expensive collisions.

If the motor is not already installed and operating, then this will require a bit more discussion.

Neil.

[rogerg (Roger)]

Originally Posted by SteveInNZ

It's a bit hard to work out what you are trying to do with just a skip read.
By "motor", you mean the "gate controller" which has a motor connected to it, right ?
And you want to use the relay box to simulate the button presses to open or close the roof (gate), yes ?

If that's the case, you'd wire the "C" terminal of two of the relay outputs to the "Common" terminal (#21) on your gate controller. Then connect one of the "NO" terminals to the "Open" (#26) and the other "NO" to the "Start Close" (#22). You can have the pushbuttons there too (in parallel) so either the button or computer can open of close the roof.

I hope I've answered the right question.

Steve.

I should have perhaps elaborated more on the setup sorry.

I have a gate motor installed, complete with limit switches and electronic eye to prevent it closing when the telescope is pointing up (and may hit the roof if the roof were closed). I've been using the roof like this via it's RF remote control for a few months.

So your interpretation is correct that I want to use the relay box to simulate the button presses to open or close the roof (gate).

Thanks for your instructions on the connections, it seems yours and Neil's instructions match which is good too

Originally Posted by Auster1b

Roger,
From your website I gather that the roof motorization, manual buttons AND limit switches are already installed ?

If so, to connect this or a similar board wire as shown.

You may be better off getting a board that can monitor inputs as well as relay outputs. This will allow you to monitor that the roof is actually open, closed or somewhere in the middle. (Power outages or other system crashes may cause some ambiguity of where the roof is).

Limit switches are important in that it automatically stops the motor when the roof is either fully open or closed. Definitely required for remote operation !.

Another point is whether the mount has to be parked for safe closing without expensive collisions.

If the motor is not already installed and operating, then this will require a bit more discussion.

Neil.

Thanks Neil, that diagram is exactly what I need. Motor is installed as per comment above to Steve.

I've also had a PM regarding an alternative option which I'll be following up to decide which route I take.

Regarding limit switches, the only other piece in the puzzle is if I put limit switches or some other kind of input sensor on the telescope mount to ensure good and proper that the telescope is parked before closing the roof, and handle the logic for that in the PC as opposed to the current electronic eye which doesn't interface with the PC at all simply stops the motor moving the roof. Perhaps that's for another discussion though.

Thanks both Neil & Steve for your input.

[rogerg (Roger)]

I have fed some wires through to the motor from inside the observatory and have been testing my understanding of the operation.

I'm a bit confused that:

- touching common to 22 will:
a) open the roof when closed
b) close the roof when open
c) stop the roof moving when moving
d) start the roof moving in reverse direction when just recently stopped ie (C)

- touching common to 26 does nothing

so....

The behaviour shown by 22 is as per using the remote, and together with sensors to know when the roof is open or closed could be used on its own through a single relay. But I'm confused as to why 26 is doing nothing, and was hoping 22 would ONLY close.

[rogerg (Roger)]

Originally Posted by rogerg

I have fed some wires through to the motor from inside the observatory and have been testing my understanding of the operation.

I'm a bit confused that:

- touching common to 22 will:
a) open the roof when closed
b) close the roof when open
c) stop the roof moving when moving
d) start the roof moving in reverse direction when just recently stopped ie (C)

- touching common to 26 does nothing

so....

The behaviour shown by 22 is as per using the remote, and together with sensors to know when the roof is open or closed could be used on its own through a single relay. But I'm confused as to why 26 is doing nothing, and was hoping 22 would ONLY close.

OK, just tried again and 26 will open the roof from closed, doesn't do anything else. Not sure why I got it to work now but not earlier. Behaviour of 22 is unchanged from my previous explanation.

[Auster1b (Neil)]

Roger,
from reading your attached scans, 22 can be programmed to toggle open/close (current operation) or as a close only.

Neil.

[rogerg (Roger)]

Originally Posted by Auster1b

Roger,
from reading your attached scans, 22 can be programmed to toggle open/close (current operation) or as a close only.

Neil.

ahh yes .... you are right. I can change a parameter via it's configuration to be either "Start" or "Close". Thanks!

[rogerg (Roger)]

start/close successfully reprogrammed to close only. Small but good steps. Getting there!