[Timinator]

What's the best way to activate 12v triggers from a remote control such as the MX-600? I'm planning using a HTPC as a source, so the setup could involve Girder, etc. The triggers are on B&W DS7 surround speakers and are used to switch between monopole/dipole modes. A constant 12V is required, not a momentary bump. This is for a 7.1 setup, so I'll have two pairs of triggers to deal with.


Ideally, my HTPC would be smart enough to use automatically use monopole mode when playing music and dipole when playing movies.


I would prefer a DIY or low cost commercial answer.


Thanks!

- T

 

[digiphotonerd]

Quote:

Originally posted by Timinator What's the best way to activate 12v triggers from a remote control such as the MX-600? I'm planning using a HTPC as a source, so the setup could involve Girder, etc.

There are many ways to do this (especially if you're planning on using Girder), but for starters you could consider using a Xantech CC12 to switch a 12v DC source (e.g. wall wart) when it receives specific IR codes.


- digiphotonerd

 

[Timinator]

The CC12 seems like just the thing, but it requires a $130 remote to program it!? paLEASE! Maybe I can grab the 14K IR codes it knows from remotecentral.com and dump them into my Pronto Neo, but even still it seems little pricey for only handling a single task.


- T

 

[digiphotonerd]

Quote:

Originally posted by Timinator The CC12 seems like just the thing, but it requires a $130 remote to program it!? paLEASE! Maybe I can grab the 14K IR codes it knows from remotecentral.com and dump them into my Pronto Neo,

Hey, don't shoot the messenger . FWIW, you should only need two codes, unless you're needing to re-assign code groups (Xantech's way of allowing unique addressability of otherwise identical devices). If you ask for those two codes on remotecentral, you'll probably find someone willing to help you out...

Quote:

but even still it seems little pricey for only handling a single task

That's $113 at HomeTech, probably cheaper at Worthington (I've even seen a CC12 or two pop up on eBay from time to time).


If that's too expensive, you could spend $43 and go the kit route (or for more flexibility, you could use a Celadon IRC-38, Evation IrMan or similar device to trigger Girder commands for controlling a parallel port relay module ).


If you want to get much cheaper than that, you'll need EE and firmware skills to roll your own (an 8-bit micro would probably suffice for sampling the output of an IR demodulator and wiggling a GPIO to switch a FET when the desired pattern is matched). But if you were prepared to do that, you probably wouldn't be asking here...


- digiphotonerd

 

[Timinator]

Bingo! 50 beans for multiple triggers - exactly what I had in mind and much cheaper than several years in college becoming an EE.


I'm not cheap (no, really) but need to make sure my precious HT dollars are mainly sunk into speakers, the PJ, and components. This means that automation, room treatments, etc, have to be done guerrilla-style. Now if I could only find a low cost alternative to GOM fabric, but that's a topic for a different thread!


Thank you very much,

- T


BTW - I never shoot the messenger. A warning shot is usually sufficient.