I built my own irrigation controller using nodemcu’s and an Inland 8 channel relay. Are these relays junk? Two out of 8 don’t work after the winter. They sat outside and powered off over the winter. Do I have to bring these in, did they get moisture? No idea why they failed so quickly.
Hi Bryan, if your config has not changed and a few work and others don’t, it’s very likely a HW issue.
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The Magic 8-ball says…
If they’re sitting outside, how did you have them covered/protected? Electronics definitely don’t like moisture…
Thank you. Most likely it was moisture, 3 off the 9 relays I am using don’t work but if I tap on them after they were activated they then activate. Most likely this is my stupidity for leaving it out on my workbench over the winter without enclosing the electronics into a enclosure. Never really got that far. You dont think it could be the 3.3 volts I am using from the nodemcu do you. These relays are 5 volts however I read th
at 3.3 volts would be sufficient. the light on the circuitry comes on, the relay just does not get activated.
If they worked before winter, voltage is likely minor issue here. Anyway, don’t expect that 5V relay works reliably if coil is powered at 3.3V.
If you need help for running them correctly, post some link/datasheet to your specific relay module.
Is your workbench outside and exposed to the elements? I’m confused… 
Also, have you made sure it’s not your breadboard(s)? Those are really just for temporary use and honestly tend to be pretty janky even in the best of scenarios versus soldering things up properly.