Ethernet Contact Input / Relay Output

[David_AVD]

I have need to send a contact closure over an Ethernet network to a remote relay.  The input is an ordinary switch and the output will activate an alert buzzer.

If I *have* to, I can also use something with RS485 I/O as I already have contact-to-RS485 and RS485-to-noise boards.

Looking to buy something off the shelf, so no Arduino, pi, etc solutions please.   

[SL4P]

Probably cheapest & simplest route is the smallest ethernet-enabled Arduino with a minimal relay board (or a transistor & relay!).

If you're in Melbourne SE suburbs (Glen Wav) - I'll gladly help you out - and I have all the parts laying around to get you proto up & running.  PM if interested.  it should take a couple of hours max.

[David_AVD]

Was really looking for a pair of small ready made boxes (or DIN rail cards) that I can give to the installation guy and have it "just work".

I'm in Brisbane but will keep you in mind.

[SL4P]

I used to have one of these - but after a quick trawl around the web, I can't see any other off-the-shelf solutions that suport physical buttons (they all  have web-based/iPhone applications).

https://www.iobridge.com/
The only weaknesses of iobridge in this application - are $price for a simple solution, and it is 'cloud' based - requiring a web connection to their servers to act as the arbitrator between modules.

With two of these units and a relay driver - it is fairly trivial to set up a button in one location and a relay in another - but it is an unnecessarily complicated & expensive way to go.

Arduino (or any micro with an IP stack) + shield + a bit of code = cheap and cheerful - and you have control of the whole system from end to end - forever.

[dave_k]

I have need to send a contact closure over an Ethernet network to a remote relay.  The input is an ordinary switch and the output will activate an alert buzzer.

If I *have* to, I can also use something with RS485 I/O as I already have contact-to-RS485 and RS485-to-noise boards.

Looking to buy something off the shelf, so no Arduino, pi, etc solutions please.   

Advantech make a decent range of both ethernet and serial I/O devices. I have used them before on several projects, they seem decent and reliable.

http://www.advantech.net.au/products/Remote-I-O-Modules/sub_1-2MLCJF.aspx?utm_source=home&utm_medium=tab-link-category&utm_campaign=trackhomelinks&utm_content=%2Fproducts%2FRemote-I-O-Modules%2Fsub_1-2MLCJF.aspx

[David_AVD]

Yeah, anything cloud based is definitely out.   

I'll check out those Advantech modules.  A lot of the ones I've found so far are switch or relay to "virtual something" and don't seem to be able to be used as a simple pair.

[SL4P]

Yep - exactly.

Most are ''port extenders'' to put a pc (or web page) driven remote serial or I/O port at the far end, but very few (if any) offer a dedicated pair of peer-to-peer interface for contact closure.

I have certainly used a few different serial-net-serial products, but nothing that I've seen with contact-net-contact

[Kjelt]

Have a look at the Global cache products, usually used for hometheaters and av installs, does what you want and reasonable price.
Check out the GC100 products with relay or the very cheap Itach IP2CC.
Good thing is that they have a document for the API so you can use 3rd party SW or write your own software.

http://www.globalcache.com/

[Richard Crowley]

There appear to be a wide variety of commercial products that do precisely "contact closure over ethernet".
Of course, being industrial products, they bear an industrial-strength price.
Assuming that when you say "ethernet" you mean routing data packets through one or more switches, hubs, etc.

Otherwise, if it is a single-hop from point-A to point-B, some people simply use the un-allocated pairs of the Cat-x cable.
There are also gadgets that "break-out" the "spare" pairs from a Cat-x cable in ethernet service (which uses only 2 pair of the 4 pairs)

[SL4P]

Of course, being industrial products, they bear an industrial-strength price.
Assuming that when you say "ethernet" you mean routing data packets through one or more switches, hubs, etc.

Fair point - I made the assumption that the OP wanted to use remote 'networked' operation - using some existing network/internet TCP/IP infrastructure.

You're right about the availability of industrial style devices, but the cost & wasted resources (enclosure, extra unused I/O etc) to implement them are just a bit OTT for a simple remote contact closure (in AND out).

Global Cache seems to have half the solution (their web info is near useless)
http://www.globalcache.com/products/itach/ip2ccspecs/  seems to address the IP to Relay, but I didn't see a contact-closure to IP device - and no obvious mention whether units can talk directly to each other, or require a host controller...?

[David_AVD]

Yes, I want an Ethernet (network) solution, not a CAT5 cable solution.   

The end points are serviced by CAT5 Ethernet IP connections, but separated by various network transport/routing possibly including fiber.

I can ask for a pair of IP addresses and have them provide a route between them.

[David_AVD]

Check out the GC100 products with relay or the very cheap Itach IP2CC.
Good thing is that they have a document for the API so you can use 3rd party SW or write your own software.

There's no software required / wanted apart from maybe a configuration web page.  Purely a switch closure on one end point and a relay on another.

[SL4P]

Yep - I'm still with you to do a quick & easy Arduino/Atmel/PIC solution.
Arduino will be fastest with off the shelf parts and - cheap.

Go to PM if you want to discuss.
Think about a budget - remember uC module, ethernet interface, relay board, enclosure, (power supply? plug-pack?) and a bit of code.

By definition it will include a (USB/serial/telnet) command line and/or web interface for LAN/configuration.

(and surprisingly the enclosure can take 30% of the hardware budget in some cases.)

[Rasz]

https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=54722

[sca]

Something from Lantronix?

http://www.lantronix.com/device-networking/external-device-servers/intellibox-io.html for example?

sca

[David_AVD]

https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=54722

That seems to be exactly what I'm not looking for.  I only scanned the thread but only saw mention of SMS or web page triggers (not an end to end solution).

[VintageTekFan]

Something like this?: http://www.relaypros.com/Relay/Device/MirCR120_MCNET

[SL4P]

Something from Lantronix?
http://www.lantronix.com/device-networking/external-device-servers/intellibox-io.html for example?
sca

Look interesting, but I still didn't see anywhere that units can talk to each other... ?
They expect an intelligent host or user to initiate the port activity...
http://www.lantronix.com/pdf/IntelliBox-IO_UG.pdf

[SL4P]

Something like this?: http://www.relaypros.com/Relay/Device/MirCR120_MCNET

www.relaypros.com/   ALMOST PERFECT !
Caution - they say no STATIC IP
- which suggests they 'phone home' to an arbitration server - like iobridge...
- or use broadcast packets to locate  each other - which voids te ability to p[ass through routers during auto-discovery...

[David_AVD]

Something like this?: http://www.relaypros.com/Relay/Device/MirCR120_MCNET

www.relaypros.com/   ALMOST PERFECT !
Caution - they say no STATIC IP

Yeah, as far as I know the IT infrastructure will require that the end points are static IP.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  At least I know what's out there and some better search terms. 

[SL4P]

Visual summary - over routed TCP/IP network
It may be worthwhile to add a backchannel at no extra cost - to indicate the actual relay state.

[Mr Smiley]

 

[Paul Moir]

If you just need a one-off, what about a cheap Koyo PLC and Ethernet (modbus over TCP) module?
Disadvantages:  ~$350 all told, somewhat large.  I never trust PLC's security.  May not be the sort of thing you're looking for?
Advantages:  6 relays, inputs, some logic if you need it, built in power supply if one isn't available, regulatory approvals.

[SL4P]

Well that was exciting...
Yet another uC option that you can consider if rolling your own.
Seems only missing the pushbutton and the wired ethernet and relay, but otherwise - a neat solution.

Easy to add those - but the rest is what has been proposed already - several times.
Back to step 1.

[David_AVD]

Looks like I've found a solution: http://oceancontrols.com.au/CBW-040.html and http://oceancontrols.com.au/CBW-060.html

Job quoted !