Low Voltage Lighting Control

[sanders2222]

I am familiar with Insteon, but can think of no solution to fit this request.

I have a client that wants to set up one 300W 12 volt transformer to run 3 zones of landscape lighting remotely at his Winery. Something like the EZRain8 can control low voltage circuits, but it can only run or have one zone 'ON' at a time.

What is there our there that could manage this problem?

 

[Desert_AIP]

Here is what I plan to do.
I plan on having 3 legs of lighting. leg A (the front) will always be on when any of the others are on. Legs B anc C will be selectable depending on whether or not we are in the back deck or garden areas.
I will run the transformer off of a UPB controlled receptacle, that will power leg A On/Off.
Inside the transformer there is a plug and receptacle designed for a timer.
I am going to plug the SA I/O Moudle into the receptacle and the cord into the always on outlet, so it can communicate with the UPB network.
I am going to run legs B and C through relays which are in turn controled by the relays in the IO Module.
The contacts of the relays in the IO module can't handle the current, but the Elk relays can.
I'll steal a few miliamps of 12VDC from the transformer itself to run the relays' contacts, switching it through the IO Module.

So I can Turn On/Off A only; A and B; A and C; A, B and C, and can turn all off with a single link by turning off A.

This will also keep the transformer from running during daylight hours wasting electricity.

The transformer.
http://www.landscapelightingworld.com/Low-Voltage-Transformer-Outdoor-Lighting-p/7300-1222-p.htm

 

[fwd03]

Use WebControl from here:
http://www.amazon.com/Webcontrol-Universal-Temperature-Humidity-Controller/dp/B001H4JXLU
and relay board from here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/220800803204

you can remotely control 4 zones. With this relay board:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120730386614
you can control 8 zones.

You will need to use rectifier to make 12VAC to DC:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/220796412482

 

[apostolakisl]

Use WebControl from here:
http://www.amazon.com/Webcontrol-Universal-Temperature-Humidity-Controller/dp/B001H4JXLU
and relay board from here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/220800803204

you can remotely control 4 zones. With this relay board:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120730386614
you can control 8 zones.

You will need to use rectifier to make 12VAC to DC:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/220796412482

That would be my suggestion as well.

 

[johnboy70_99]

I have that same transformer from volt, they are really nice units.

I put in a UPB appliance module in it where the timer plugs in, I control from homeseer. Seemed like a clean solution where I did not have to make custom circuitry. Cost is probably a little more but saved a lot of time for me.

 

[Desert_AIP]

I have that same transformer from volt, they are really nice units.

I put in a UPB appliance module in it where the timer plugs in, I control from homeseer. Seemed like a clean solution where I did not have to make custom circuitry. Cost is probably a little more but saved a lot of time for me.

It looked nice, well built, well laid out and the specs are great.
Good to know.

Also good to know my intended plan will work.

Did you buy any of their fixtures?

 

[johnboy70_99]

It looked nice, well built, well laid out and the specs are great.
Good to know.

Also good to know my intended plan will work.

Did you buy any of their fixtures?

I didn't buy any of their fixtures.

For fixtures I bought some Kichler led features which I like so far. Only two issues I have had. One is that they were brighter then I expected, I needed to use lower wattage units in the places I had planned to use higher wattage ones to get the intended effect. Also their in-step units were a bit cheaply made IMO for the money, when I tried to screw the faceplate down tight enough so that it fit snug to keep water out the screw head dug itself right through the faceplate.

 

[hult]

The transformer.
http://www.landscape...7300-1222-p.htm

You will need to use rectifier to make 12VAC to DC:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/220796412482

Note that a full wave rectifier such what is referenced will rectify 12.0 vac into ( 12.0 * 1.4) -1.2 = 15.6 vdc . The output voltage of transformers (contrasted with electronic power supplies) drops with current draw and typically provided rated voltage at rated current and so output higher voltage with no load. At (eg) 16vdc, the output voltage would be ~ 21vdc . You might consider a voltage regulator or resistor to drop the voltage if your relay electronics don't tolerate the higher voltage.

Alternatively, use one diode (not a bridge) on the transformer's 18 vdc tap yielding or 18 x 0.7 - 0.6 = 12.0 vdc which is what is optimal
.
In any case, a filter capacitor ( eg 1000 ufd at 35vdc) is also recommended. A half-wave rectifier circuit (one diode) requires twice the capacitance of a full-wave rectifier ( four-diode bridge) to achieve the same AC ripple on the DC supply.

HTH ... Marc

 

[Desert_AIP]

Note that a full wave rectifier such what is referenced will rectify 12.0 vac into ( 12.0 * 1.4) -1.2 = 15.6 vdc . The output voltage of transformers (contrasted with electronic power supplies) drops with current draw and typically provided rated voltage at rated current and so output higher voltage with no load. At (eg) 16vdc, the output voltage would be ~ 21vdc . You might consider a voltage regulator or resistor to drop the voltage if your relay electronics don't tolerate the higher voltage.

Alternatively, use one diode (not a bridge) on the transformer's 18 vdc tap yielding or 18 x 0.7 - 0.6 = 12.0 vdc which is what is optimal
.
In any case, a filter capacitor ( eg 1000 ufd at 35vdc) is also recommended. A half-wave rectifier circuit (one diode) requires twice the capacitance of a full-wave rectifier ( four-diode bridge) to achieve the same AC ripple on the DC supply.

HTH ... Marc

You are correct, thanks for the memory jog.
It's been a while since I looked at this idea.