I have a large system that needs some dramatic changes.
Some equipment must be moved from one building to another. The system is responsible for climate control in almost 80 containers.
Each container has a control unit that in placed in room about 200m away.
I must move them to new building. Instead of doing all the wiring again I’d like to use ethernet cables and ESP based devices.
Each containet is controlled with 8-14 relays.
I did a quick test with Shelly 1 and Shelly I4.
I put Shelly I4 near the control unit and connected inputs to it, then I connected Shelly 1 to relays in container and configured it in app. Everything worked fine. When the control unit send signal to Shelly I4, it was send to Shelly 1 and correct relay was turn on.
I used Shelly only as a proof of concept, but now im looking for a larger device with lan control.
Basically I need a board with 16 inputs and a board with 16 relays to act as an output. Idea is to connect those devices to lan and pair them together. When input one will be turn on, the relay one will be turn on, when input one will be turn off the relay one will be turn off, and so on.
I will need around 60 of such pairs.
I’d like to avoid creating devices if there is something available on the market.
I was lookng at Siement LOGO or S7, but the total price is extreme.
Can someone recommend any devices that can be used with my scenarios? I don’t need Home Assistant integration, online acces and other funky stuff. Simple input-output via ethernet.
What type of input does this board need to support? Analog voltage, Digital voltage (logic level), or something else?
How electrically noisy will the environment be? Will the inputs and outputs need to have isolation from potential spikes? How far will the inputs and relay cables run?
Do the relays need to switch low voltage or mains voltage?
I used 12V with Shelly, but it can be 3.3V or 5V from ESP, and the control unit will turn on or off an input.
on the other side (receiver) I used four Shelly 1 which has potential-free contact (Shelly 1 Gen3) to control large relays.
How electrically noisy will the environment be? Will the inputs and outputs need to have isolation from potential spikes? How far will the inputs and relay cables run?
There will be a lot of noise, and there will be a lot of inverters involved. On the input side, I will have max 1m cables going from the control unit to my board. On the output side, max 5m cables going from my board to the second control unit.
Do the relays need to switch low voltage or mains voltage?
The output board relays don’t need to be high amp because they will control target relays.
