Automating a hurricane shutter

Posted on
Tue Apr 07, 2015 7:52 pm
FlyingDiver offline
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Automating a hurricane shutter

It's basically a big roller shade, just made of Kevlar. ;)

It's controlled with a SPDT Center Off switch. Like this one: http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ProductD ... tion=41454

Anyone ever done one like this? Insteon, Z-Wave, or Lutron based solutions would work. Or something else if I have to.

I think that I can use one of these: http://www.smarthome.com/insteon-micro-open-close-module.html, but it's limited to a 2.5amp motor load, which isn't enough. So I'm going to have to use a pair of NO relays as well. Which is going to take up more space in the switch box. So I'd like to find something that can either replace the switch directly, or doesn't need both a switch module and a relay.

Any ideas?

joe

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Posted on
Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:29 pm
kw123 offline
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Re: Automating a hurricane shutter

how may amps does the motor draw?

the regular insteon*) wall switches http://store.indigodomo.com/devices/onoffwallswitch/insteon-switchlinc-on-off-switch-2477s.htmlthat fit directly into the space of the old witches support ~17 amps. You could drive them through indigo or still can use them manually.
Now with a motor as a load they likely only support 1/2 of the nameplate amps as at rest the motors draw more amps.


Karl

*) similar the ZWAVE switches

Posted on
Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:32 pm
FlyingDiver offline
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Re: Automating a hurricane shutter

I think 8 or 10 amps. I'm not sure which motor they're using for ours. I'll find that out.

Normal switches won't work. It needs to be momentary double throw with an off position, or equivalent. Theoretically I could use two momentary switches, but I'm not sure that there's any way to wire them so that there's no possibility of both of them trying to send power to the motor at the same time. That would be bad.

joe (aka FlyingDiver)
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Posted on
Wed Apr 08, 2015 2:29 am
FlyingDiver offline
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Re: Automating a hurricane shutter

Nope, can't use that either. A standard DPDT relay doesn't have an "off" position. With that relay, there's always going to be voltage to one side of the motor or the other.

Like I said, I would need the microswitch plus 2 SPST NO relays. Which I think can be had in a single package. But that still makes for three items in the wall box - the original switch (for local control), plus the microswitch and the dual SPST NO relay package.

So I'm looking for alternatives that don't use that particular combination of parts, hoping for something with less components.

joe (aka FlyingDiver)
my plugins: http://forums.indigodomo.com/viewforum.php?f=177

Posted on
Wed Apr 08, 2015 6:41 am
kw123 offline
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Re: Automating a hurricane shutter

got it. Let me try another proposal:

how about putting the relays into the motor box triggered by an insteon switch in the motor box and put an insteon switch in the place where the switch is right now.

This would require that all 3 power wires to be present in the motor box(ground, neutral and line).
Threshold be enough wires running to the motor box to carry all 3.


In other words all the switching is done in the motor box.
Some other insteon device sends an insteon signal to the insteon switch in the motor box that switches a relay that switches the motor... I am really bad at explain things..



Karl

Posted on
Wed Apr 08, 2015 8:41 am
FlyingDiver offline
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Re: Automating a hurricane shutter

Hmm. That might work. I'd have:

(1) A SwitchLinc dimmer in the switch box, not actually controlling anything, but sending commands to:

(2) Micro-controller and relays mounted at the motor.

That assumes that there's room at the motor for the controller and relays, and that the micro-controller understands the commands sent by the SwitchLinc. I was planning on using the hardwired inputs on the micro-controller, which I know would work. Not sure about the dimmer. But I need both "up" and "down" from the switch, so I think it has to be a dimmer type control. Now that I think about it, the micro-controller doesn't have to understand the dimmer. I can use Indigo to bridge between them, if needed.

Anyone know what signals or events the Insteon 2477D or 2466D actually send while the paddle/switch is held down? Is it one event when pressed and another when released? Or continuous events while held down?

joe (aka FlyingDiver)
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Posted on
Wed Apr 08, 2015 10:06 am
kw123 offline
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Re: Automating a hurricane shutter

you could use the 6 switch insteon http://store.indigodomo.com/devices/keypads/insteon-keypadlinc-relay-2487s.html

has 4 more than you need...

Posted on
Wed Apr 08, 2015 10:13 am
kw123 offline
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Re: Automating a hurricane shutter

check out these options to set the keypad behavior: set keypad ....
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Posted on
Wed Apr 08, 2015 10:16 am
FlyingDiver offline
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Re: Automating a hurricane shutter

Yeah, I'm sure I could make it work. Not sure if the keypad would pass WAF, since we're using Lutron keypads everywhere else in the house. That's why I was aiming for a simple Decora style switch. But it's definitely a possibility. I have the Insteon modem for my Indigo, but not currently using any Insteon devices.

Thanks for the pointers.

joe (aka FlyingDiver)
my plugins: http://forums.indigodomo.com/viewforum.php?f=177

Posted on
Wed Apr 08, 2015 5:28 pm
howartp offline
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Re: Automating a hurricane shutter

If I've followed this thread correctly, the Fibaro relays should suit you fine?

They take two switch inputs, which can be configured as one DT switch like you linked to, and two outputs (Up/Down).

Actually I think there might be a special version just for shutters/blinds which would be even better.

http://www.vesternet.com/z-wave-fibaro- ... rt-2-1-5kw

http://www.vesternet.com/z-wave-fibaro-roller-shutter-2

Posted on
Wed Apr 08, 2015 6:26 pm
FlyingDiver offline
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Re: Automating a hurricane shutter

I need to check the requirements of the shutter motors. Might be more current that those devices can supply, which means I'm back to using external relays. Then it'll come down to which technology I want to use - Insteon or Z-wave. Thanks for the links!

joe

joe (aka FlyingDiver)
my plugins: http://forums.indigodomo.com/viewforum.php?f=177

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