Solid State: A Practical Alternative to Mechanical Relays!
Mechanical Relays have a good home in low-cost control applications. But for some users, only solid state switching will do. Solid State Relays are ideal for users who require long term reliability, silent operation, or high induction tolerance. Many inductive control applications require a solid state relay. Inductive loads such as Motors, Valves, Pumps, Solenoids, and Large Transformers (including Fluorescent Lighting) benefit from the use of solid state relays because they reduce the chances of the inductive load interfering with the logic of the relay controller.
ZB ZigBee Networking Interface
Available as a ZB ZigBee Mesh Network
Router or
Endpoint
The latest Buzz in Wireless Technology is ZB ZigBee. ZB ZigBee is a great way to communicate data throughout buildings (or even across town) because it uses all the devices in the area to make sure your data arrives at its intended destination. ZB ZigBee automatically hops your data all over the ZB ZigBee Mesh Network, transparently forwarding your data to its intended destination. The beauty of ZB ZigBee is that you don't have to do anything except tell it where you want your data to go. The ZB ZigBee Mesh Network handles everything else for you. We have created a page dedicated to helping ZB ZigBee Mesh Network users understand this technology.
So if you are a first time user of ZB ZigBee and you are looking for a great place to get started, see our article!
Here is a quick rundown of what you should expect from ZB ZigBee Mesh Network:
Plug a
ZB ZigBee Coordinator into the USB Port of your computer. The Coordinator will be used to communicated to your wireless ZB ZigBee Mesh Network. The Coordinator will mount as a COM port on your PC. Open the COM port and start sending data to the Coordinator. The Coordinator will forward your data to any or all devices on the ZB ZigBee Mesh Network.
| A ZB ZigBee Mesh Network consists of up to three components:
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A
Coordinator is Required because it allows your computer to talk to the ZB ZigBee Mesh Network. Use only ONE coordinator in your ZB ZigBee Mesh Network. |
| A Router allows data to hop to another part of the ZB ZigBee Mesh Network. It helps contribute to the network, and it can serve as an Endpoint device. In other words, if a relay controller has the Router firmware installed, you can talk to this device directly, or data can be forwarded from this device to another device that may be too far away for the Coordinator to reach directly. Routers are slower than endpoint devices, so use routers wisely. |
| An Endpoint device can also be a relay controller or many other types of NCD devices. However, endpoint devices cannot forward data to other parts of the ZB ZigBee Mesh Network. Endpoint devices are faster than router devices, so it is always wise to use Endpoint devices when possible, and router devices when required. |
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Learn More: Introduction to ZB ZigBee Mesh Networking..... |
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Reactor Relay with Key Fob Control
Customize your Key Fob to Control Relays WITHOUT Programming!
If you are looking for a solution to remotely control a Relay from a Wireless Remote control, then our Key Fob Reactor Relay Controllers will offer the most powerful solution available on the market today. Not to be confused with single function low-cost solutions, our Key Fob Reactor Relay Controllers are years ahead! Use a button to activate a Relay, use another button to deactivate a relay. Use another button to toggle a relay. Use another button as a momentary switch. Key Fob Reactor Relay Controllers allow you to configure your Key Fob Buttons to control relays in just about any way you can think of. Use a single button to control 8 relays using a Rotation. Use a single button to activate a light for a pre-configured time period. Step the number of active relays up and down using only 2 buttons, or trigger relays in binary sequences for simple 1-button controlled lighting effects. Add sensors to your Reactor controller to make intelligent decisions!
Key Fob Distance:
The antenna that is included with the board provides between 200 and 300 feet of reliable operation within Line of Sight using 418 MHz RF frequency. With an optional Long Range Externally Mounted Yagi Antenna that is available on purchase, you can Take Control of your Relays up to 3,000 feet away when used with a Key Fob with an Antenna. A single Key Fob Remote can control relays on different Key Fob Reactor Relay Controllers. Configuration is powerful and flexible with included software that can be found on this page with NO PROGRAMMING! A Key Fob can be selected at checkout.
Autonomous and Computer Control...from Anywhere!
If you need to read a sensor from anywhere in the world, or control a switch from a distant location, the Reactor Series relay controllers will take control while you are away and give you worldwide access using our Free SignalSwitch.com. Ten Reactor Controllers is all you need to completely automate a large house. You don't need to be a programmer any more. Things have changed. There is a new way to bring the power of automation (once reserved for master programmers) to the average person who possesses basic computer skills. The Reactor Series relay controllers represent an entirely new technology, a new step forward, designed for the real world in mind.
How It works:
The Reactor controller must be configured using a computer. All decisions are made based on your configuration settings. Configuration settings are created and loaded into the Reactor controller using the
NCD Configuration Utility. The Reactor is usually configured using a USB communications module, but may be configured wirelessly. Configuration is a simple Point and Click process, setting parameters to activate relays with user-defined limits. Configuration files can be saved onto your computer or into the controller. We have created many
sample configuration files that can be loaded into the Reactor to help speed the configuration process.
Once configured, the Reactor CPU is constantly monitoring your Key Fob button presses using 8 analog inputs. You can use all 8 analog input channels for to monitor your Key Fob buttons, or you can trade a few buttons and use
External sensors which may be used for more complex decision making tasks. Key Fob Buttons and Sensors can be configured to trigger relays, relay timers and relay activation sequences. Complex events can also be configured without any programming. Use the Reactor as a Thermostat, a Motion Activated Light with a Programmable Timer, an Automatic Garage Door Closer using sensors.
External Sensors:
The Reactor Controller has Analog Inputs that can read switches, resistance changes, or voltages from 0 to 5VDC. Higher or lower voltages will damage the Reactor, so care must be taken not to exceed these limits on the Reactor inputs. We offer many sensors to help get you started, including Motion Detectors, temperature sensors, light sensors, and magnetic proximity sensors. You can connect your own sensors to the Reactor if we don't offer what you are looking for. The Reactor configuration will control how the sensor affects the Relay.
Controlling Relays with a Reactor Relay Controller:
Relays are associated with inputs or events depending on your configuration. Using our
NCD Configuration Utility, each relay can be associated with just about any event, so it is possible to associate a relay with a Timer, or directly with an input or a counter (we call counters Rotations). A Rotation counter can be increased or decreased in value, and relays can be assigned to these counters to increase and decrease the number of active relays. A computer is an essential tool for configuration. Once configured, the Reactor controller can operate on its own, without a computer. The Reactor will never lose its settings. In fact, the communication module can be removed from the Reactor controller and used to configure another Reactor controller. This helps keep costs down. If you choose to leave the communication module installed on the Reactor, your computer can monitor inputs and relays, even take control of relays, and even use SignalSwitch.com to control the relays from anywhere in the world.
Computer Controlled Relays:
Software developers who need remote access to a Reactor controller will find themselves at home. The Reactor supports a very powerful computer-based command set, so it is possible for a computer to operate the relays and read sensor input. The computer can over-ride the Reactor decision logic, trigger events, and return control of the relays back to the Reactor Logic. Configuration settings are stored in files that can be loaded into the Reactor controller; we have provided a
Reactor Sample Library to help get you started using the Reactor Series Relay controllers.
Many Communication Options:
Reactor Series Relay Controllers Offer Many Communications Options, Including USB, XSC Long Range wireless, 802.15.4 Point to Point, Bluetooth, RS-232, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and ZigBee ZB Wireless Mesh Networking with other communication options to come. A communications module is required for configuration. Once configured, the Reactor will work on its own or a computer may use the communications module to take control of the Reactor for computer control.
Contact Information
Download the NCD Configuration Utility
Download the Reactor Manual to learn about the Reactor Logic and Configuration
