first of all, I’m a newbye to HA and I’ve created an automation to open the door of a small greenhouse 90 minutes after sunrise and close it 90 minutes before sunset, using the graphical interface.
The action takes place with a linear actuator powered at 12 VDC.
To handle this, I need something that reverses the polarity of the power supply so I can use it to open or close.
The system I have adopted is based on a double zigbee relay which, in fact, inverts the polarity of the 12 VDC.
To make the 2 relays work at the same time, I created a Group, which is used in automation.
THE AUTOMATION WORKS, BUT IT IS UNRELIABLE.
Indeed, it often happens that HA signals that an action has been performed, but not in reality, or that one of the 2 relays does not change state together with the other and the door does not open/close as requested.
What do you think?
few days have passed since the previous post and I wonder if it’s normal that no one has replied.
Is there perhaps a more frequented forum than this or another virtual place where I can exchange experiences and ask for help?
I add to what I wrote above that I’m wondering if the unreliability of the automation could depend on an interference caused by the 12 VDC actuator in motion and/or by the latency of the Zigbee network which perhaps requires a certain time to pause between successive actions to handle the command correctly.
Does it work reliably if you manually trigger the automation from the UI (Settings / Automations)?
If it does, then your problem is with your code and we can’t help you without seeing it. Please post any automations, sensor definitions etc in full, correctly formatted with the </> button.
If it does not work reliably when triggered manually, your problem is “downstream” of HA, and we can’t help without wiring diagrams, pictures, model numbers etc.
Could it be that simply the range is not sufficient to your greenhouse? Have you tested how reliable it is to manually (not through an automation) to switch one of the actuators? Maybe it helps to put another router inbetween your coordinator and your actuators.
Here is a side-note from a certified electrician, who I’m.
You should never use a device with two separate relays to change polarity on any circuit. Yes, it works, but yes, it can cause serious troubles, when malfunctioning.
The correct way is using a single relay with two NO and two NC contacts. That device eliminates the risk almost completely.
I confirm that the Zigbee signal reaches the greenhouse well.
Regarding the simultaneous malfunction of the 2 relays, I add to what was reported in the first post that I observed the 2 red LEDs while activating the button which, via HA, controlled them together and I noticed that, while the LED of relay 1 always changed state, the one of relay 2 sometimes failed.
I believe that if I want to be sure of the polarity reversal of the actuator power supply I have to follow BebeMischa’s advice.
Unfortunately I won’t be able to deal with it in the next few days …
I solved the problem with a ZB01mini which commands a relay which, in turn, it supplies power to the linear actuator with polarity reversal to open/close.
Thank you for the contributions received.