Ethernet Relay with ME Firmware
and Built-In Real Time Clock
ZETH-ME uses Digi Stock Digi Connect ME firmware.
Providing a low-cost network communications solution to NCD Devices.
We have just taken Network Communications a Huge Step Forward!
For several years now, NCD has been the Only maker of a powerful Ethernet Relay Controller, but now it's time for a New Generation of Controllers. We have just taken Network Communications a Huge Step Forward by Offering a Low-Cost and a High-Power Network Communication Solution teamed with our time activated relay controller.
Two Ethernet Modules Available |
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ZETH-ME
Includes Extensive Network Configuration Options
Supports Virtual COM Port over Ethernet |
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ZETH-NET
Supports Multiple Communication Methods Simultaneously
Web Browser Interface
Direct Internet Access |
Ethernet Network Module
Introducing
ZETH; the Ethernet Network communications Module from National Control Devices. Designed to plug into NCD Surface Mount devices, two powerful Ethernet network communication options bring you device connectivity from anywhere in the world. Our first generation of Ethernet relay controllers was based on the Digi Connect ME Ethernet communications module. This is a great low-cost solution that has empowered our users since 2005, and is now repackaged into the ultra-small ZETH-ME communications module. The Digi Connect ME firmware allows you to login to the device and setup powerful network communication options. Though it does not offer a web browser interface for relay/device control, it does offer many powerful connectivity options for advanced networks at a very low cost. ZETH-ME supports Virtual COM Port Ethernet Communications, Direct TCP/IP communications, or direct communication to SignalSwitch.com. ZETH-ME is only capable of handling only one of these communication options at a time, but can easily be reconfigured if you prefer to change how you communicate.
Integrated Real Time Clock
The Taralist series Time Activated Relay Controllers are unlike any other relay timer in the world. The Taralist series have an integrated battery backed Real Time Clock with memory that allows users to control relays based on a time schedule. Use your computer to setup the time schedule and store your schedule into the Taralist controller. Once stored, the Taralist does not require a computer, and will activate relays according to a schedule that can be as simple or as complex as your application requires.
The Taralist can be configured with a new time schedule after installation using wireless communications to your computer. Optionally, the Taralist may be configured using the USB port of your computer (you may change or upgrade communication modules at any time).
Time Schedule Events & How They Work
Events are scheduled times when a relay or group of relays are turned on or off. They are defined by the user first by time: Year, Month, Day of Month, Day of week, Hour, Minute, and Second. By having these options you have the ability of switching relays on or off at very specific times. Activate relays only when the day is Monday, activate relays when the day is Monday and the Year is 2020, activate relays when the day is Monday, the year is 2020 at 9:44:21 AM. They are also defined by how they control the relays, whether they turn a relay or group of relays on or off. You can add up to 999 Events to the list.
Program Multiple Schedules
Override functions are also supported. So if the normal schedule activates a light during weekdays, but you don't want the light to come on during holidays, simply program your holiday schedule to prevent the light from activating according to your normal schedule.
Daylight Savings Time is also supported, and is FULLY CUSTOMIZEABLE. As we all know, DST laws change periodically, but the Taralist series allow you to change the year and date of all DST events (we have programmed the US dates until 2030).
Taralist controllers allow you to build and save your time schedule as a file on your computer, you can comment your schedule and control which events are active and inactive. We encourage you to keep your schedule file in a safe place. Once you have perfected your file, you can store the time schedule into as many Taralist controllers as you could ever need.
Defining Time
Setting Controller's Time
By default the Time Relay controller does not know what time it is so this must be defined. The only way of doing this is from the Configuration Utility. Once your controller is connected to the computer and the Configuration Utility is launched the first thing to do is tell the Time Relay Controller what time it is. You may do this manually or you can Sync the time with your PC. This is done using the window below in the Con-figuration utility. The user can do this by simply clicking the Sync Time with PC Time button or by filling in the Year, Month, Day, Week Day, Hour, Minute, Second parameters and then clicking the Set Time Manually button.
Clock Accuracy - Adjustable Time Compensation
Clock Accuracy is of paramount importance to us. Like most clocks, time drift is a reality that must be considered. The Taralist clock has some special features to help keep the time accurate. We have included time compensation functions that allow you to automatically adjust the clock forward or back (by up to 15 seconds) each day of the week. For instance, you may find the Taralist keeps better time if it automatically advances the clock 1 second each day of the week. Or you may find that you need to subtract 5 seconds from the clock 1 day per week. Adjustable time compensation will help keep your clock accurate (though it is always a good idea to check on the clock periodically).
When the current time matches the time of the event stored in your controller, you can activate or deactivate a single relay, a group of relays, or all 256 relays. You can also set the relays to Computer control or Taralist control (this is perfect for holiday override. A computer may be used to activate/deactivate relays at any time. The computer will override the time schedule. The computer can also return control of the relays back to the Taralist controller, or the Taralist controller can be set to automatically take back control of relays at a specific time.
Computer Control
Time Relay Computer Control
The Time Relay series controllers have some amazing abilities when it comes to making decisions on their own based on the events you configure into them, but you can take control of the relays at any time from a computer as long as communications are established between your computer and the Time Relay device.
The interface elements shown at right allow a computer to take over control of any relay and force the relays to a On or Off state. You may also turn all relays on or off using the all relays on and all relays off buttons. You can also read the status of relays by clicking the Read Relay 1-8 Status. The Status of the relay will be shown to the right of the button. The slider at the top of the screen allows you to select with bank of relays these commands are directed to. You may attach up to 32 banks or 256 Relays.
Power Loss Backup Buffer
The Midnight Backup Buffer is a special feature we developed to help keep track of which relays should be activated in the event power is lost. Every night at midnight, the current status of all relays is stored in non-volatile memory. If power is lost, the Taralist will load the status of the relays from memory. Next, the Taralist will calculate all events from midnight to the current time to determine if any relays need to be activated or deactivated. Finally, the Taralist will refresh all relays and will be ready for normal operation.
Relay Outputs
Time Relay Controllers are capable of controlling up to 256 Relays from only one Time Relay CPU. These controllers are available with 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 32 relays on a printed circuit board as well as a small controller with only an XR expansion port instead of relays. XR Expansion Relays may be added to the XR Expansion Port at any time giving you as many relays as you need (up to 256).
A relay is similar to a switch. The only difference between a switch and a relay is the actual mechanism for changing the on/off status of the switch. On a switch, you manually push on a piece of metal or plastic to operate the switch. On a relay, an electric current is used to operate the switch. Though a relay resembles the characteristics of a switch, it cannot be controlled by touching it with your finger. So from now on, we will use the word "Relay" to indicate a switch that is controlled by the Time Relay controller (instead of your finger).
Relays do NOT provide a voltage output. They provide a contact closure output, exactly like the terminals found on a light switch at your local hardware store. Wiring to a relay will be slightly different depending on the model controller you choose.
Notes:
Boot up time of a Taralist controller is less than 1 second. The CPU on the Taralist controller operates at 64 MHz and is capable of processing 2000 events in 17ms. Taralist controllers may be configured wirelessly or through the USB port using the NCD Configuration Utility. A computer may take control of a Taralist controller and control relays by sending only a few bytes of data (using Wireless or USB communications). The Taralist controller requires power at Midnight of each night for proper operation
of the Backup buffer. A very small rechargeable Lithium battery is permanently soldered to the controller; the charge rate of this
battery is programmable from the NCD Configuration utility. When connected to the USB port of your computer, the Taralist controller
must have power to prevent excessive time drift. The Midnight Backup Buffer may be edited using the NCD Configuration Utility.
Time schedule events cannot be processed without power, battery backup is used to keep time only.
Product Variation: Web-i with Web-Browser Interface
NCD Currently offers 2 variations of the Ethernet Modules. The Web-i with Web-Browser interface is also available.
Web-i is our own breed of Ethernet communications. Web-i is an Open-Source project that offers a powerful web-browser interface for direct control of relays from a web-page served directly to users from the Web-i module, without the need for a server. Web-i is accessible from anywhere on your local area network. If you have a static IP address, Web-i is accessible from anywhere in the world. In addition to a web browser relay control interface, Web-i devices also allow you to control the device from your own software through direct TCP/IP communications while still hosting a web browser interface. Write software that directly accesses the controller or access the control from your web browser. Web-i also supports a simultaneous connection to SignalSwitch.com, allowing you to control the Web-i from our server, your program, or your web browser...all at the same time. Use the chart below to compare features of the ZETH-ME and ZETH-NET Ethernet Modules.
| Feature Comparison: |
ZETH-ME |
Web-i |
| Supports Virtual COM Port over Ethernet |
YES |
- |
| Supports Direct TCP/IP Communications |
YES |
YES |
| Supports Direct Connection to SignalSwitch.com |
YES |
YES |
Supports Multiple Communication Methods
(Above) Simultaneously |
- |
YES |
Supports Direct Internet Access Without a Server
|
- |
YES |
| Includes Extensive Network Configuration Options |
YES |
- |
| Web-Browser Interface for ProXR Series Controllers |
- |
YES |
| Web-Browser Interface for Reactor Series Controllers |
- |
YES |
| Web-Browser Interface for Taralist Series Controllers |
- |
YES |
| Web-Browser Interface for Network Configuration |
YES |
YES |
| Supports DHCP |
YES |
YES |
| Supports Fixed IP Address |
YES |
NO |
| Password Protection |
YES |
YES |
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Contact Information
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Download the NCD Configuration Utility
Download the Taralist Manual for Setup Instructions
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