Need help picking a relay to open garden gates with pi pico w

October 6, 2024, 00:59

gmc_96

Hi, I apologise in advance for my lack of knowledge when it comes to electrical components. I want to make my electric gates controllable via a raspberry pi and home assistant, but I struggle to understand the limitations. They currently open using a remote, there is no way to open them otherwise in the current configuration. This is the controller for the gates: https://v2uk.co.uk/product/flexy2-230v-analogue-control-unit/ On the page i see the following info about the accessory connections: 230v power supply for 2 single phase motors Max accessories load 24V 3W (continued after photos in thread)

gmc_96


gmc_96

So from what I understand, the connection between K3 and K4, then K6 and K7 need to be “shorted” in order to trigger both gates to open. Now because the accessories run on 24V I need a 24v relay hat for each gate motor if i want to open both, right? And if I want to use the GPIO of a Pi Pico W to control this, I need to get a relay hat that has two channels and can be switched by a low voltage? I found this one on eBay that I thought might work: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156030053194 (24v 2 channel option) Once i have this set up I’ll need to find or make an integration for home assistant that can send an api request to the pi that will then trigger the relay through GPIO causing the gates to open. I made this basic diagram to describe how I think it would be wired, but simplified to one gate, for two gates I assume I just duplicate the relay and connections.

gmc_96


gmc_96

Any advice, suggestions or guidance is much appreciated, the only electronics projects i’ve done before have been following guides to build mechanical keyboards on a PCB so this is all new to me. Cheers!

oops.se

The K side of the terminal block is outputs (Motors and lights)! And the L side of the terminal block is inputs (Limit switches and buttons)! So if you shorten the K side smoke will appear or a fuse will blow, preferably. And be aware that some of the relay boards (the one you linked to could be like that) can have inverted logic.

gmc_96

yes i think you're right, i had another look at the diagram and noticed that it's actually shorting: - L1 & L8 to start (open if closed and vice versa) - L3 & L8 to stop if moving

gmc_96

picking a suitable relay is the bit i'm really struggling with

gmc_96

I think i should first buy a relay and breadboard, to figure out how to switch it with the pi, then once i have that figured out i can hook up the accessory connection from the gate controller