[pcCinema]

For electric screen control via girder? How about rs232 if there is no USB?


I have a matrix orbital display with some 5v relay controls, but that doesn't sound optimal and I'd have to add larger relays of course to that solution.


I do have a low voltage control module for the screen, so it's not that I need to swtich line voltage.


Troy

 

[gtrogue]

Go to Smarthome and put "serial relays" and "automation controllers" in the search field. There's a fair amount of stuff for this type of thing.

 

[Dean Roddey]

 CQC supports an inexpensive RS-232 one from Carl's Electronics . I don't know of any USB ones, and any that are IP based are likely to be expensive multi-function boxes.

 

[orbitzboy]

Have you considered x-10? I use a x10 controller via girder with low-voltage controllers for all sorts of things.

 

[Dean Roddey]

If you do, you better be sure that you understand X-10 and have a good control on the quality of your eletrical system. Else, you can get spurious X-10 signals fairly often and have your screen suddenly go up or down spontaneously.

 

[orbitzboy]

Dean,


True enough in the old days. In my last Condo I put 1 too many 2-way light controllers into the system and random lights would go on and off in the middle of the night. It would drive my wife nuts. These days there are a plethora of good products you can buy that will ensure reliable transmission and noise suppression at a reasonable cost..Signallinq, boostlinq, filterlinq. etc... I'm also guessing his HTPC is fairly close to the screen, minimizing potential problems.


My current home is 8000+ sq ft with 3 220 panels, and I have it working fine everywhere, even a paddock about 2 acres in front of the property.


The irony is now, after all of these years it's finally getting reliable, there are a few new standards coming out for RF to "solve" he x10 problems.

 

[Dean Roddey]

Quote:

These days there are a plethora of good products you can buy that will ensure reliable transmission and noise suppression at a reasonable cost..Signallinq, boostlinq, filterlinq. etc... I'm also guessing his HTPC is fairly close to the screen, minimizing potential problems.

Hence the need to understand X-10, and you have to consider whether all those things are worth it to put one screen riser controller in.

 

[pcCinema]

I use x-10 with firecracker for lights and A/C via girder, but it's too slow to stop the screen in any position I want other than full up or down. I guess I will have to use a usb serial adapter to a serial relay... My com ports are full.


thanks guys!

Troy

 

[Casper42]

Not sure what your budget is, but at my office we use Serial to Ethernet converters that arent much bigger than a pack of smokes. When you telnet to them you instantly get a connection to whatever serial device is on the other end.


They include software that installs Virtual COM ports on a Windows PC anywhere from COM1 through COM30 if I recall right. You can configure which COM port equals which pack of smokes, and then when a peice of software opens the com port, the special driver dynamically opens a connection to that device over the network and established the connection.


If you want more info, PM me and I will go lookup the model information.

 

[kchad]

I know www.sealevel.com makes USB relay boxes. I have no experience with these units.


I'm setting up a control system using Premise SYS. I have Ethernet to RS-232 controllers wherever serial ports are needed. This allows me to control devices all around the house. When I get to the point where I am hooking up the sensor inputs and relay outputs I am planning on using Adicon modules.


I don’t know if the delay with this setup will be small enough to precisely control your screen. I guess that depends on the speed of the motor too.


Look at the supported devices page for Premise SYS to get some more ideas for relay outputs.

http://www.premisesystems.com/product/devices

http://www.homecontrols.com/
http://www.worthdist.com/

 

[pcCinema]

Great info... I'll go check those both out.


Budget? Whats that? My budget was $300 when I first got into home theater with a old crt video only pj. Now I think I've blown that by about $6000-7000 and still climbing. Luckily I'm single.


Troy