Switching relays using UDP commands with the Rutenbeck TCR IP4 and Loxone

[Peter van Es]

I needed to switch lights in a barn located around 140m from my main house. I tried bridging this distance with Nano IO Air devices, but found I needed 2 in addition to the one I actually needed... 4 hops. And occasionally the Miniserver would lose contact with the NANO IO Air.

I had the foresight to lay Ethernet Cat5E cable to the barn. I came across the Rutenbeck TCR IP4 switch (http://www.conrad-electronic.co.uk/ce/en/product/976282/Rutenbeck?ref=searchDetail). This switch can be controlled using UDP commands, and has 4 relays. Additionally it has local inputs, allowing switches to control the relays as well (just like the inputs on the Nano IO Air). Remote UDP commands can overrride the local switches.

Initially you need to connect a PC with a static IP address of 192.168.0.1 to the Rutenbeck using a cross over cable. Only then can you access the web interface to set a different static address or a DHCP assigned address to the Rutenbeck. Then you also need to enable UDP operation and the UDP port 30303. Then it is a simple matter of sending a command using standard Loxone virtual output: OUT1 1 to switch on relay 1, OUT3 0 to switch off relay 3.

I also found a hidden HTTP request that returns the status of the relays (so that you can check if a local switch has enabled a relay). Go to http://IPADDR/status.xml

and it returns:

<response>
   <led1>0</led1>
   <led2>1</led2>
   <led3>0</led3>
   <led4>0</led4>
   <pot0>nicht angeschlossen</pot0>
</response>

This obviously is suitable for an virtual http input.

I've found this a useful addition to the set of equipment that can be controlled through Loxone. And Eur 160 (it's a bit more expensive in the UK) getting 4 independent 240V relays is quite cost effective.

Peter

[Andrew B]

Another alternative is the Elexol IO24R and IO72. These are Ethernet devices and have 3 and 9 8-bit IO ports each, which can connect to any of the various breakout boards. One of which has 8 darlington transistors, each of which can drive a typical relay. There are a large variety of DIN mounted relays that can handle all sorts of loads and voltages. I'm using a couple of these boards from the loxone with great success, both for switch inputs and relay outputs. Sounds like these might be at least as cost effective, and more flexible. The UDP commands are quite simple to use.

[Peter van Es]

Thanks Andrew, I'll keep that in mind for indoor I/O expansion. What attracted me in the Rutenbeck is that the relays and the controller are in a DIN-rail housing, ready to be installed. I bought an IP66 housing with a small DIN-rail and a few cable gland nuts, for direct installation in the barn. And I only needed 2 relays and 2 switches for now. 

The Elexol, and relays, and installation material would have made it all a bit more expensive.

Op dinsdag 18 april 2017 03:26:23 UTC+2 schreef Andrew B: