I’m using an amplifier that allows me to choose playing through speaker A or B (or both). The amp has no remote, and everything is controlled manually from the amp itself. I’d like a way to control which speaker set remotely since this amp is fed music from my Sonos system. I’m sure someone more skilled with circuitry than I am could pop the amp open and hook up some cool gadget. But alas, I’m only semi-skilled with such things. But I did have an idea for a solution. Some kinda gadget to plug the speaker wires into that does the remote listening, and turning on/off feed out. DIY solution is great, my semi-skilledness will carry me that far (and I won’t potentially brick the amp).
You could probably use a Shelly 2 to control the connection to the speakers (connect/disconnect) through its relays.
There are also a bunch of threads for irrigation projects that basically use the same approach to connect/disconnet power to solenoids.
I have a similar situation (amp with no remote to switch zones).
I used an 8 way relay with an arduino to make an mqtt switch which I can then control via HASS. I then setup mqtt switches in HASS, but can also use anything else that can post MQTT to switch the speakers.
If I did it again I would use an esp8266 and 8 way relay for zone selection (I have 3 stereo zones currently)
You will need to think about the logic in the switches though - as if you run multiple speakers on the same amp in parallel at the same time, you run the risk of cooking your amp due to the drop in impedance.
Like @chairstacker says - you could likely use an irrigation sketch - just note you need to turn on 2 relays at a time (left and right channel - assuming you are running a stereo channel setup)
Good point about the need to have 4 channels if you have stereo speakers - from the wording ‘playing through speaker A or B (or both).’ I assumed it was mono.
I use a Wemos D1 Mini for my irrigation system - together with a 4 channel relay, of which I only need 2 channels.
That would work perfectly but require some DIYing.
If I’d redo my irrigation system, though, I’d definitely use the Shelly.
These are two sets of stereo speakers.
I’m thinking I’d keep them both ON at the amp, and then the device would just be controlling whether the signal is getting through or not. The device or devices wouldn’t need to be doing any mixing or anything, so impedance shouldn’t be an issue unless the on/off device was meant for super low voltage applications.
phileep can give me some more details on your setup? How you wired it together? The code the arduino is running? etc.
can do - I didn’t put on my github, so will have a dig around when I get home - in about 8 hours
If you want something integrated, I have not looked at the Shelly 2, but another option might be a sonoff 4 - but you might need to check if it can have 2 relays on a the same time.
WRT wiring, I use only speaker A out from my amp, to the relay box. Then I divert that using the relays to whichever set of speakers I want to use. this means all the logic for branching is managed in one place (slightly more wife proof)
Do be aware that a purist would say to be very careful that no noise or attenuation should be introduced by using the relay.
What frequencies of controlled circuit is the relay rated for?
you need 4 relays and an nodemcu chip.
although maybe you can get away with 2 relays if you wire both speakers to the same -ve then just relays on both the positives.
Thinking about it further, and if I do it after the amp then I won’t be able to control which speaker manually from the amp. I’d need to always be controlling which speaker remotely, or make the switching device also have a manual setting.
Maybe I’ll open up the amp and take some pics of the speaker button circuitry and see if anyone has any ideas on how I can achieve what I want to do.
Thanks for all the input so far.