I am planning to install some sprinkler valves in two different locations outdoors to be controllrd by Elk outputs. One location would be somewhere around 75' and the other one around 125' away. I do not want to do anything that could bring the rest of my system down in case of a problem. I have considered several options.
Run the low level Elk outputs to either an Elk relay board or solid state relays located at the house and using a seperate power supply also located at the house to power the valves run the power directly from the house to the valves. This way I believe the Elk would be pretty well isolated from the other wiring.
Run the low level Elk outputs to the location and then fire a solid state relay (very low current required to operate) with a power supply at the remote location to operate the valves. With this approach I would be concerned about what would happen if a problem were to develop in the underground wiring between the house and the remote location. Are the outputs short circuit protected, I suspect not but need to know for sure? If not I would be concerned about either burning up an output or taking down the whole system due to low voltage in the case of a short in the wiring.
Run the RS485 to the remote location and install an Elk output expander at the remote location. This option worries me also due to concerns of a wiring problem taking down the Elk network.
My existing Output Expanders are Elk-M1XOV.
Any thoughts?
Brian
Run the low level Elk outputs to either an Elk relay board or solid state relays located at the house and using a seperate power supply also located at the house to power the valves run the power directly from the house to the valves. This way I believe the Elk would be pretty well isolated from the other wiring.
Run the low level Elk outputs to the location and then fire a solid state relay (very low current required to operate) with a power supply at the remote location to operate the valves. With this approach I would be concerned about what would happen if a problem were to develop in the underground wiring between the house and the remote location. Are the outputs short circuit protected, I suspect not but need to know for sure? If not I would be concerned about either burning up an output or taking down the whole system due to low voltage in the case of a short in the wiring.
Run the RS485 to the remote location and install an Elk output expander at the remote location. This option worries me also due to concerns of a wiring problem taking down the Elk network.
My existing Output Expanders are Elk-M1XOV.
Any thoughts?
Brian