IR controlled by relay switch

[brizzy bloke]

I am a level C4 quadriplegic and use a box called a Envicom 10
(Environmental Control Unit) It is used to control electrical appliances,
such as a fan or a lamp etc, by use of a single puff switch. It has a row of
red lights along the front, with each light representing each appliance,
plugged into the back. A tube plugs into a puff switch also on the front
panel, the other end of the tube leads over to my bed, so when I am in bed,
I can puff into the tube. When I puff once, the first red light flashes on
for a few seconds then goes off, then the next light, then the next and so
on. There are ten lights and after the last light flashers, it goes back to
the first light and it cycles through the lights about 20 times then stops.
So I can make the lights cycle by one puff and then I puff when one of the
lights is on and that appliance comes on or off. So for example, if I
wanted to turn one the reading lamp, I would puff once, the lights move,
then when the light gets to the reading lamp, I puff and it comes on. On the
back of the unit, there is about 5 places to plug in appliances. Also on the
back there are also places to plug in two bared wires, these are simple
on/off relays for controlling things like triggering alarms, call buzzers
etc. I think they are low voltage relays.

I would like to control my air conditioner, but to turn on the air
conditioner, I need to use the Remote Control which came with the aircon.
So if I could wire the Envicom unit relay to the on/off button on my remote,
I could control my aircon by puffing into the air tube in bed. Is there a
gadget which has a relay input and a IR transmitter? I hope this hasn't
confused people, but I'm wanting to find a solution. Any suggestions would
be very much appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[Marc Alexander]

I found these two with google,
http://www.tecsol.com.au/TSFile7.htm
http://www.tecsol.com.au/TVcont.htm
These Australian units and company look like they can do the job easily,
and have been interfaced with an Envicom 10 unit.

Where are you located?

Also someone near you with electronics experience could
open up your remote and hook up one of the low voltage
on/off relays directly to the on/off button contacts inside
the remote control itself.
The feasibility of that would depend on if these relay
outputs can be momentary on, and if not, how your remote and a/c
unit deals with its on/off button being held down for at
least a few seconds each time as you activate it on and off.

You could also use a universal learning remote control,
hack that one up to the relays and save pulling the
original remote apart if that suits.

Is it cooling only? Most modern aircon units have an 'override' switch,
usualy a semi-hidden pushbutton under a panel, you may also
find that if there is a way to jam or wire this button down,
the aircon unit may come on in cooling mode set to ~21 degrees
any time it has power.

Anyway there's a few ideas, hope this helps!

--
Cheers,

Marc

* My email address requires the identical words and
* underscores removed to email me

 

[Kevin Martin]

I am a level C4 quadriplegic and use a box called a Envicom 10
(Environmental Control Unit) It is used to control electrical appliances,
such as a fan or a lamp etc, by use of a single puff switch. It has a row of
red lights along the front, with each light representing each appliance,
plugged into the back. A tube plugs into a puff switch also on the front
panel, the other end of the tube leads over to my bed, so when I am in bed,
I can puff into the tube. When I puff once, the first red light flashes on
for a few seconds then goes off, then the next light, then the next and so
on. There are ten lights and after the last light flashers, it goes back to
the first light and it cycles through the lights about 20 times then stops.
So I can make the lights cycle by one puff and then I puff when one of the
lights is on and that appliance comes on or off. So for example, if I
wanted to turn one the reading lamp, I would puff once, the lights move,
then when the light gets to the reading lamp, I puff and it comes on. On the
back of the unit, there is about 5 places to plug in appliances. Also on the
back there are also places to plug in two bared wires, these are simple
on/off relays for controlling things like triggering alarms, call buzzers
etc. I think they are low voltage relays.

I would like to control my air conditioner, but to turn on the air
conditioner, I need to use the Remote Control which came with the aircon.
So if I could wire the Envicom unit relay to the on/off button on my remote,
I could control my aircon by puffing into the air tube in bed. Is there a
gadget which has a relay input and a IR transmitter? I hope this hasn't
confused people, but I'm wanting to find a solution. Any suggestions would
be very much appreciated, thanks in advance.

Try this web site. It is based in Melbourne, so you ought to get a
reasonable response. He has a large range of kits, perhaps he will be
able suggest a combination of them.

http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/talking/

--
Regards

Kevin Martin

To reply - delete what is "not required" (Abbrev) from my address.

 

[Gordon W]

I am a level C4 quadriplegic and use a box called a Envicom 10
(Environmental Control Unit) It is used to control electrical appliances,
such as a fan or a lamp etc, by use of a single puff switch. It has a row of
red lights along the front, with each light representing each appliance,
plugged into the back. A tube plugs into a puff switch also on the front
panel, the other end of the tube leads over to my bed, so when I am in bed,
I can puff into the tube. When I puff once, the first red light flashes on
for a few seconds then goes off, then the next light, then the next and so
on. There are ten lights and after the last light flashers, it goes back to
the first light and it cycles through the lights about 20 times then stops.
So I can make the lights cycle by one puff and then I puff when one of the
lights is on and that appliance comes on or off. So for example, if I
wanted to turn one the reading lamp, I would puff once, the lights move,
then when the light gets to the reading lamp, I puff and it comes on. On the
back of the unit, there is about 5 places to plug in appliances. Also on the
back there are also places to plug in two bared wires, these are simple
on/off relays for controlling things like triggering alarms, call buzzers
etc. I think they are low voltage relays.

I would like to control my air conditioner, but to turn on the air
conditioner, I need to use the Remote Control which came with the aircon.
So if I could wire the Envicom unit relay to the on/off button on my remote,
I could control my aircon by puffing into the air tube in bed. Is there a
gadget which has a relay input and a IR transmitter? I hope this hasn't
confused people, but I'm wanting to find a solution. Any suggestions would
be very much appreciated, thanks in advance.

Have you tried TAD.
TAD= technical aid to the disabled qld inc
3216 1733
www.technicalaidqld.org.au

Gordon

 

[Ross Herbert]

I am a level C4 quadriplegic and use a box called a Envicom 10
(Environmental Control Unit) It is used to control electrical appliances,
such as a fan or a lamp etc, by use of a single puff switch. It has a row of
red lights along the front, with each light representing each appliance,
plugged into the back. A tube plugs into a puff switch also on the front
panel, the other end of the tube leads over to my bed, so when I am in bed,
I can puff into the tube. When I puff once, the first red light flashes on
for a few seconds then goes off, then the next light, then the next and so
on. There are ten lights and after the last light flashers, it goes back to
the first light and it cycles through the lights about 20 times then stops.
So I can make the lights cycle by one puff and then I puff when one of the
lights is on and that appliance comes on or off. So for example, if I
wanted to turn one the reading lamp, I would puff once, the lights move,
then when the light gets to the reading lamp, I puff and it comes on. On the
back of the unit, there is about 5 places to plug in appliances. Also on the
back there are also places to plug in two bared wires, these are simple
on/off relays for controlling things like triggering alarms, call buzzers
etc. I think they are low voltage relays.

I would like to control my air conditioner, but to turn on the air
conditioner, I need to use the Remote Control which came with the aircon.
So if I could wire the Envicom unit relay to the on/off button on my remote,
I could control my aircon by puffing into the air tube in bed. Is there a
gadget which has a relay input and a IR transmitter? I hope this hasn't
confused people, but I'm wanting to find a solution. Any suggestions would
be very much appreciated, thanks in advance.

It is possible that Technical Aids for the Disabled
http://www.technicalaidnsw.org.au/ can assist you. This type of
problem may already have a solution. If your group moniker indicates
where you live then the Qld branch can be contacted via
mailto:[email protected]

 

[Ross Herbert]

Have you tried TAD.
TAD= technical aid to the disabled qld inc
3216 1733
www.technicalaidqld.org.au

Gordon

Sorry Gordon, I just sent off my post before reading your response to
the OP, so your advice is duplicated.

 

[brizzy bloke]

I wrote originally

I am a level C4 quadriplegic and use a box called a Envicom 10
(Environmental Control Unit) It is used to control electrical appliances,

Thankyou to those who replied to my question, you've been very helpful

 

[Matt H]

Hi Brizzy Bloke,
let us know how you go with the project

Matt