wired relay

More goo, sorry for getting windy. I used a combination of an Arduino board ($25), a 2 channel relay module ($6), a screw Sheild ($4), and a dedicated 9 V supply ($6) to interface between an existing garage door opener and my brand new Incontrol system with a Z-stick. I used a Linear FS20Z relay ($34) and an Ecolink tilt sensor ($33) on the door itself. As this is my first exercise with z-wave, I think I will need a repeater to get more reliable feedback from the tilt sensor. The Linear relay has been rock solid once I learned the correct way to include it. 2 very fast pushes of the button instead of a single push as decribed in instructions. I choose all this hardware based on the functionality of the Linear door control that Lowe's sells ($99) and doesn't seem to work with anything. That is supposed to have an audible beep for a few seconds prior to the door actually starting it's motion. I heard that was an "informal" regulation in CA to minimize injury in an un-attended door closure. Maybe good, maybe not but I thought it worthwhile to include if liability does become an issue. If you don't need the alarm at start of door sequence, the control can be executed by the 2 z-wave products alone. A box of some kind will need built for the Linear relay.

I choose the Arduino to keep costs down as the only wireless function I deemed critical was the initation of the door sequence. Once that happens, the remainder is a static function through completion. Timing can be adjusted but that is minor and still availble on the Arduino. I initiate a command to close the door from my phone. It is a one second toggle that is sent to the Linear relay. That relay closes and wires on it serve as an input to the Arduino board. Once seen, it starts a timing sequence. With the sequence in motion, I turn on a hardwired output that has a cheap buzzer ($2) connected to it. Anyone standing there would hear that before the door moves. Cameras are well down the road btw. For $3 total, I added 2 poreclain light holders. Those are wired to a 2 channel relay board connected to the Arduino. Those relays are used to isolate house line voltage 120VAC from the board. The lights are also flashed at a different interval to provide local warning that something is up. I never have enough light in the garage so I added a toggle switch to the box ($3) so I can over-ride the control and turn on 200 watts of lights whenever I want. Before the flashing sequence is over, I drive the second Arduino relay for a one second pulse that connects to the door opener directly mirroring the hardwired wall button for the door. I have no doubt a seasoned programmer could do all of that with Z-wave hardware but I suspect it would cost a lot more.

Arduino makes single, 2, 4, and 8 channel relay modules. You could use something with all those relays for a low cost Christmas light interface perhaps. What isn't direct yet is conditioning the Arduino I/O for Z-wave. They do have Ethernet though so that might be another way around a specific problem. For now, it was a relaibale, low cost alternative for my garage door. Again, if you didn't need the alarms, you could do it for around $70. I would like to see a Raspberry Pi serve as the gateway with the Z-stick so I didn't have the power consumption of a dedicated PC but that might be a real trade off. I don't think the Z-stick works with the Pi at the moment. Intel has a new board that might be another alternative.

Probably more than what you asked for.