I am putting a few relays around the house for various things and want to make the installs code compliant and also look reasonable for when I might sell the home. In one location I want a low voltage outdoor motion sensor for some outside lights. For the logic I will use a microprocessor board (Arduino or similar) to provide the delay so it operates independently of an automation system. I want to keep things simple for future owners so they don't have to have an automation controller for basic operation of things. The micro can send serial messages to report its status or receive to modify the time on, force it off, etc. but the serial link is not needed for basic operation. I can sense the voltage using an optoisolater so I can flip the switch off momentarily to force the light on forever and a longer off time to return to normal operation (switch is before the micro). I design totally different things that have this sort of voltage isolation requirement and get UL approvals on them so understand the needed spacings and such but not as familiar with NEC. While I can put together something that meets UL spacings my HA device won't have UL approval. A RIB seems like the way to go to avoid any issues. May still build up the micro board although a production board would look better for that too. My question is mainly how to package up the installation. The RIB goes on a electrical box and the low voltage control wires are long enough to be routed outside the box and spliced to wires going the micro board. Having the low voltage wires spliced in the open seems ok but might raise questions for someone unfamilar with the RIB, especially since they are coming out of a line voltage box.. I need a box for the micro board anyway so I am thinking of putting the micro in its own box (would fit in a plastic outlet box). I can sense the voltage by adding an outlet and using a small wall wart with output routed to the micro box. Wondering how others do this to make it look neat and also code compliant.
In another location I want to sense current so have a similar issue with routing wires from a current transformer to a micro board.
Most of these are in the attic or unfinished space but one is outside to control a pump so needs to be weatherproof. Thinking of putting things in a sprinkler timer box as they have a high voltage compartment and low voltage section. They are set up for just an outlet so I would need to add a hole to get the RIB low voltage wires into the low voltage section.
In another location I want to sense current so have a similar issue with routing wires from a current transformer to a micro board.
Most of these are in the attic or unfinished space but one is outside to control a pump so needs to be weatherproof. Thinking of putting things in a sprinkler timer box as they have a high voltage compartment and low voltage section. They are set up for just an outlet so I would need to add a hole to get the RIB low voltage wires into the low voltage section.