[Hai-users] Somfy blind control

[Dan Hoehnen]

Thanks Larry.  I had thought of this, but I have 15 blinds, each requiring 2
relays (1 for up and 1 for down).  There are also 4 master UP/DOWN contacts,
adding 8 more relays.  This brings the total to 38 relays needed.  Since I
need the relays to close for either 200ms or 700ms, this would get too
complicated.

The answer is going to be to use IR (by adding an Ocelot), or use a
different controller.

I have been fighting using IR partly because I want to keep everything in 1
box, and partly because I'm not sure if the Ocelot can send the signals in
the way needed.  I do have a Somfy IR interface on order just so I can try
it and see.  

But, in the end, it looks like the Omni won't work due to UPB limitations.
I need to control the blinds from UPB lighting keypads.  The keypads are
programmed to send various UPB messages, such as FADE and GOTO in order to
control the blinds.  The Omni can't currently respond to these messages.  In
fairness, if I had enough keypad buttons available, I could assign a
different LINK message to each button and this would work.  But, it would
require several buttons per blind and I don't have that many buttons
available in all rooms.  I want to control each blind with 1 button (up/down
and tilt open/close), which requires the goto and fade messages to be used. 

Thanks to everyone for your replies.  I hope to become a regular poster here
after lurking for a very long time.  

Regards,
Dan


-----Original Message-----
From: hai-users-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:hai-users-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of Larry Huppert
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 7:29 PM
To: hai-users at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [Hai-users] Somfy blind control

Don't know how to make an OP2 directly have a contact closure for less than
1 sec, but you could have the OP2 drive a 3rd party timer relay which would
do it.  Lots of companies make timer relays which work over a wide range of
time settings from fractions of a second to hours.  The only downside is
that these relays are fairly expensive.  Take a look in the Digi-key or
Newark catalogs for these parts.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Hoehnen" <dan at customautomationtech.com>
To: <hai-users at tssi.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2005 6:50 PM
Subject: [Hai-users] Somfy blind control


> I'd like to use an Omni Pro II in an upcoming project that uses Somfy
blind
> motors.  The Somfy blind interface requires contact closures that last
less
> than 0.5 seconds.  The Somfy web site even has a technical document
showing
> the connection between a Somfy DC5 blind controller and an Omni.  It also
> states a contact closure time of 400ms is needed to perform the UP and
DOWN
> functions.
>
> How do I get OP2 outputs to turn on for only 0.4 seconds?  I thought the
> Omni outputs had a resolution of 1 second.
>
> Regards,
> Dan Hoehnen
> Custom Automation Technologies, Inc.
> http://www.customautomationtech.com
> 614-939-iCAT (4228)
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> HAI-users mailing list
> HAI-users at tssi.com
> http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/hai-users

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