Nice job! I'm currently attempting to do this project for my undergraduate Senior Project in Electrical Engineering Technology, except I'm writing my own code in Java instead of Python. I'm also writing my code so that the light sequencing is automatic, instead of interpreted from input files. It's going to be a real challenge for me, but I'm doing my best to get it done.
how are you running the power from the Raspberry Pi to both relay boards? i understand each relay board gets a dedicated power supply but aren't they also supposed to get power from the Raspberry aswell? 5v and ground to each relay board to the pin out with the channels pin, not the JD-VCC
@7:11 the power wires do not make sense to me, would that not overload the relays? Or am I missing something here? What I'm seeing is that the wall is being powered to that hot side electrical outlet, which the 3 red wires are connected to and leads into the relay boards. I'm new to electronics so please explain.
I like the other all setup, however if I were going to use this I would have either a weatherproof box for everything, or have the outlets on some type of conduit/piping to move them around and keep the electronics out of the elements (I'm assuming this is outside either fully or partially)
Ok so my friend (and boss) challenged me to make something like this. It would really help me out to have a list of supplies you used to do this with. Any help would be awesome. The software part I think I can work my way around due to my experience with computers and writing a few GUIs myself.
is there a fuse anywhere in this to protect the relay? or will plugging it into a GFI outlet protect it. I had a strand short in the rain and trip the GFI and Im afraid if I wire them up to this controller, it would fry the relay
Thanks for the explanation dude, but did you just move the jumper relay on the midle side to each others? i found it had different place at the minute 8. And have difficulty deciding on which one the hot cable jumper to put. would like to waiting on your answer, thank you and bless u always
How can I identify a problem in the lighting system and send a warning when this is having trouble using raspberry pi? for instance, when a light bulb has burnt out or it's loose
You could add some kind of current monitoring to an entire channel but not really just a single light unless you only had one light per channel. No current flowing in that channel would mean a bulb has gone open-circuit. Not really practical with strings of LEDs to monitor a single LED though it would detect if the entire string was not drawing current for some reason.
Hello, Thanks for your video, Nice Project!!!! Could you please provide a link for the Solid State Relays and the link for the website to see the coding? I am seeing that you are using two different channel Relay Modules. THANKS
hello Ryndon, did u modified the instruct able code. the test.py is not turning off the relays using the GPIO False function under test.py. Also how do I get the music to play, I tried following the tutorial but no success.
Hi an am trying to do something like this. I am running Home assistant(HA) on the pi 3. I have (1) 8 channel 5v relay and 10 of the single channel. Question, I want to use the home assistant software to control the 18 relays. Can the pi 3 power, power all 18 relay or can a 2nd 5v cell charger power all 18 5v relay?
I'm working on the exact same project, 16 channel relay board. Nice job. I went through an ordeal trying to shield all the data cable going from arduino (the dreaded EMI from 120v lines), but I see you didn't bother with this. Am I over designing? Very clean job, bravo.
Regular "mechanical" relays use an energised coil to magnetically close a set of contacts. Sold state relays use semiconductor based switching elements such as triacs, thyristors or transistors to switch currents up to about 100 amps.
Hi Michael. I think I modified code from an Instructables guide, it may have been this one: www.instructables.com/id/Raspberry-Pi-Christmas-Tree-Light-Show/
Hi, I need some help. Could you please help me. I want to play relays without Vixens software. My board is Arduino Uno. If it's possible mean please reply me
Great video. I am guessing that this is the second or third in the series. Where do you explain what a raspberry pi is, and how it operates? How do you integrate music to sequence the lights to it? The build technique was informational and thorough but I think that each output should be fused individually to protect the system from shorts after the relays. I have the electrical assembly down, I just need an explanation on what the R pi does and works. Thanks
One question, if I use this it means the whole time i use it the lights will use the sequence, or there's a way of using it normal? if not, is there any danger of overheating or something like that?
Sweet project, brah! I was thinking of using a 6 socket grounding block for my project instead of the NEMA 1-15 sockets you used in your project. So, question/statement for you: I am considering using a Kuman 5v 8 channel relay. In other instructables I have seen everyone seems to be plugging their lights into a wall socket and interrupting the circuit with the RPI GPIO pins/relay controller but you seem to be drawing the power directly from the relay board. Would it be possible to just cut the plug off of a light string and wire it directly to the relay board?
I followed this setup as close as I could and in the end when I plugged my lights in, they were on and when they received the signal they flashed off instead of the other way around. It's not a huge issue, but I was wondering if you could help me figure out where I went wrong.
A lot of relay boards turn the lights on (close contacts) when at logic low. So if you send the relay a "high" signal from your controller, it may turn off. I simply wire all my lights to the NC (normally closed) contact for this reason.
Not sure if I like this or if I recommend anyone else wanting todo this. I can imagine with any modest current on each socket this thing would start smoking pretty quickly as there is a sufficient bus with all the relays daisy chained like this. OK for low loads I guess but not safe for general consumption in my opinion.
The closest thing to this would be something like a Light-O-Rama CTB16PC, but that's based on proprietary hardware rather than a Raspberry Pi, and it's pretty pricey.
I enjoyed the subject manner. Due to the constant camera motion, I had to skip ahead and missed some info. Hopefully future videos will have the camera stationary. Again, great project and will be duplicating most of it. Thanks
Guys this is not intended to Run a large scale Christmas light show. The power is coming from a cell phone usb charger. Think one led strand per outlet. 5 volts ain’t gonna power a lot. If you were powering an entire outside light show then the suggestions concerns in the comments would be warranted.
using wire off a string of a cheap xmas tree light for your main wiring to relays could be problematic. Easy to overload that cheap stranded wire. Solid 12 ga wire (black/while/neutral) should be used.
Daisychaining the neutral wire through the little brass strip between the white screws on the neutral side of the receptacles is a very bad idea. That means that the total load on the system goes thru the brass strip between the screws of the first outlet connected to the incoming power. With small loads like a string of led christmas tree lights you may get away with it for a long time but with larger loads you will burn up the receptacles. Please tie all of the white wires from each receptacle to the same point where the power comes in. Otherwise nice project.
So you can control smaller/simpler LED lights with the 2-Amp relay board and huge strings of led lights or much larger "pro" led lights per relay on the 10 Amp relay board. You will have to use math to keep tabs on how many watts you are loading Each Relay with to keep from destroying relays. You can calculate the amps a light bulb uses by dividing the watts by the voltage: Amps are = to your Watts divided by your Volts ( 120V or 240V) So if your using 120V, each 100W lamp will take 0.8 Amps or a 300W lamp will take 2.5 Amps. Too much load for your 2A relays! So for my example you can safely use two 100 watt lamps or four 60 Watt lamps MAXIMUM per each of the 2A relays. OF COURSE, most everyone uses LED lamping nowadays so you can use More lamps per relay. Just check the labels, use math and have fun! This comment uses REAL math formula/s for my examples. Failure to follow them may give more of a "fireworks" type of result and cost you more money and work than you are counting on. I thought if Ryndon was willing to share some of what he has learned, I could share some of the rules I used many years ago doing "stage lighting" . Christmas lighting should be a breeze, just do the math! Happy Holidays! (computers of all sizes are very handy, ain't they? lol)
Where is the diagram to hook up two 8 channel relay board to the GPIO, like in the video?
Nice job! I'm currently attempting to do this project for my undergraduate Senior Project in Electrical Engineering Technology, except I'm writing my own code in Java instead of Python. I'm also writing my code so that the light sequencing is automatic, instead of interpreted from input files. It's going to be a real challenge for me, but I'm doing my best to get it done.
how are you running the power from the Raspberry Pi to both relay boards? i understand each relay board gets a dedicated power supply but aren't they also supposed to get power from the Raspberry aswell? 5v and ground to each relay board to the pin out with the channels pin, not the JD-VCC
Have you got a wiring diagram ?
Can I use a Quid-Led controller?
Hey can you send a pic of the 8 relay board the all blue one with the red wires
where is the music show?
I am making something similar but in hind sight, it's a glorified power strip that can be induviualy controlled.
And also no longer 15 amp capable.
@7:11 the power wires do not make sense to me, would that not overload the relays? Or am I missing something here? What I'm seeing is that the wall is being powered to that hot side electrical outlet, which the 3 red wires are connected to and leads into the relay boards.
I'm new to electronics so please explain.
I like the other all setup, however if I were going to use this I would have either a weatherproof box for everything, or have the outlets on some type of conduit/piping to move them around and keep the electronics out of the elements (I'm assuming this is outside either fully or partially)
Can you provide the wiring from the second relay board to the GPIO pins?
You have no listing to the non mechanical relays ?
Can you do this same setup with a single 16 channel relay? or do you need two 16 channel relays for 16 different plugs?
Ok so my friend (and boss) challenged me to make something like this. It would really help me out to have a list of supplies you used to do this with. Any help would be awesome. The software part I think I can work my way around due to my experience with computers and writing a few GUIs myself.
is there a fuse anywhere in this to protect the relay? or will plugging it into a GFI outlet protect it. I had a strand short in the rain and trip the GFI and Im afraid if I wire them up to this controller, it would fry the relay
Thanks for the explanation dude,
but did you just move the jumper relay on the midle side to each others? i found it had different place at the minute 8. And have difficulty deciding on which one the hot cable jumper to put.
would like to waiting on your answer,
thank you and bless u always
Great video! I love your patience.
I have 20 amp outlets in my garage for when I build this project. Will it matter if i use 20 amp circuits for to power to the raspberry pi project.
Ryndon Ricks I have another question for you what size was the box you put the relays in for this project.
How can I identify a problem in the lighting system and send a warning when this is having trouble using raspberry pi?
for instance, when a light bulb has burnt out or it's loose
I not sure that this is what it is designed for, but if anybody knows how to do that, please tell
You could add some kind of current monitoring to an entire channel but not really just a single light unless you only had one light per channel. No current flowing in that channel would mean a bulb has gone open-circuit. Not really practical with strings of LEDs to monitor a single LED though it would detect if the entire string was not drawing current for some reason.
Hello, Thanks for your video, Nice Project!!!! Could you please provide a link for the Solid State Relays and the link for the website to see the coding? I am seeing that you are using two different channel Relay Modules. THANKS
I went ahead a purchased the solid state relay, could you tell me how to correctly connect it to my rpi show it could control my gpios
Can you add your parts list to the video description please?
where the wires from power to relays solid or strand?
hello Ryndon, did u modified the instruct able code. the test.py is not turning off the relays using the GPIO False function under test.py. Also how do I get the music to play, I tried following the tutorial but no success.
Hi an am trying to do something like this. I am running Home
assistant(HA) on the pi 3. I have (1) 8 channel 5v relay and 10 of
the single channel. Question, I want to use the home assistant software to control the 18 relays. Can the pi 3 power, power all 18 relay or can a 2nd 5v cell charger power all 18 5v relay?
Thanks I will start my project this weekend
Is it possible to split a large load among multiple relays? so that an arduino can control a large load.
I'm working on the exact same project, 16 channel relay board. Nice job. I went through an ordeal trying to shield all the data cable going from arduino (the dreaded EMI from 120v lines), but I see you didn't bother with this. Am I over designing? Very clean job, bravo.
what is the difference between the solid state and regular. ?
Regular "mechanical" relays use an energised coil to magnetically close a set of contacts. Sold state relays use semiconductor based switching elements such as triacs, thyristors or transistors to switch currents up to about 100 amps.
on the surface, regular makes loud audible clicking sound when activated. solid state is silent operation.
I would caulk around the outlets so water does not get in
i have it built, do you have a link to the software for this. Or the python code.
Hi Michael. I think I modified code from an Instructables guide, it may have been this one: www.instructables.com/id/Raspberry-Pi-Christmas-Tree-Light-Show/
is the solid state relay board necessary or can i use 2 regular 8 channel relay boards?
+Ryndon Ricks okay thank you :)
how painful is the programming, are you essentially uploading templates that are in time with songs or is the software audio responsive?
Hi, I need some help. Could you please help me. I want to play relays without Vixens software. My board is Arduino Uno. If it's possible mean please reply me
Yes, this link might help: ediy.com.my/index.php/blog/item/82-arduino-communicate-with-vixen-lighting-control-software
Great video. I am guessing that this is the second or third in the series. Where do you explain what a raspberry pi is, and how it operates? How do you integrate music to sequence the lights to it? The build technique was informational and thorough but I think that each output should be fused individually to protect the system from shorts after the relays. I have the electrical assembly down, I just need an explanation on what the R pi does and works. Thanks
One question, if I use this it means the whole time i use it the lights will use the sequence, or there's a way of using it normal? if not, is there any danger of overheating or something like that?
Hey Ryndon if possible can u give me the link of script which you used for ur device
Sweet project, brah! I was thinking of using a 6 socket grounding block for my project instead of the NEMA 1-15 sockets you used in your project. So, question/statement for you: I am considering using a Kuman 5v 8 channel relay. In other instructables I have seen everyone seems to be plugging their lights into a wall socket and interrupting the circuit with the RPI GPIO pins/relay controller but you seem to be drawing the power directly from the relay board. Would it be possible to just cut the plug off of a light string and wire it directly to the relay board?
ryndon ricks can you give me your wiring I want to build a project like yours. I just got all of my stuff today
hi, what is the model of the ssr board? is it the sainsmart brand?
+Ryndon Ricks Thanks for the quick response. I ordered a few.
I followed this setup as close as I could and in the end when I plugged my lights in, they were on and when they received the signal they flashed off instead of the other way around. It's not a huge issue, but I was wondering if you could help me figure out where I went wrong.
Most relays have both Normally open and Normally closed connections you are on Normally closed, May be the relay is only normally closed
A lot of relay boards turn the lights on (close contacts) when at logic low. So if you send the relay a "high" signal from your controller, it may turn off. I simply wire all my lights to the NC (normally closed) contact for this reason.
Not sure if I like this or if I recommend anyone else wanting todo this. I can imagine with any modest current on each socket this thing would start smoking pretty quickly as there is a sufficient bus with all the relays daisy chained like this. OK for low loads I guess but not safe for general consumption in my opinion.
do they sell kits like these?
Makes me wonder why nobody is selling an actual enclosed unit with that many options for *homeowners* to use as they desire?
The closest thing to this would be something like a Light-O-Rama CTB16PC, but that's based on proprietary hardware rather than a Raspberry Pi, and it's pretty pricey.
I enjoyed the subject manner. Due to the constant camera motion, I had to skip ahead and missed some info. Hopefully future videos will have the camera stationary. Again, great project and will be duplicating most of it. Thanks
Could I buy one from you I lost so bad I want to buy one
whats the name of theaapp
Guys this is not intended to Run a large scale Christmas light show. The power is coming from a cell phone usb charger. Think one led strand per outlet. 5 volts ain’t gonna power a lot. If you were powering an entire outside light show then the suggestions concerns in the comments would be warranted.
wish I knew how to do!!!!!!!!!sooooo cool!!
using wire off a string of a cheap xmas tree light for your main wiring to relays could be problematic. Easy to overload that cheap stranded wire. Solid 12 ga wire (black/while/neutral) should be used.
Nice video
Daisychaining the neutral wire through the little brass strip between the white screws on the neutral side of the receptacles is a very bad idea. That means that the total load on the system goes thru the brass strip between the screws of the first outlet connected to the incoming power. With small loads like a string of led christmas tree lights you may get away with it for a long time but with larger loads you will burn up the receptacles. Please tie all of the white wires from each receptacle to the same point where the power comes in. Otherwise nice project.
This is a late question. Would you recommend breaking the breakoff tab for the neutral side if you tied all of them to the supply neutral?
its perfectly fine to dazy change the neutral thats how its done in real electrical 120vac.
Perhaps I missed something. Did you address grounding (for safety) issues? With all that metal there is increased potential for electric shock!
So you can control smaller/simpler LED lights with the 2-Amp relay board and huge strings of led lights or much larger "pro" led lights per relay on the 10 Amp relay board. You will have to use math to keep tabs on how many watts you are loading Each Relay with to keep from destroying relays. You can calculate the amps a light bulb uses by dividing the watts by the voltage: Amps are = to your Watts divided by your Volts ( 120V or 240V) So if your using 120V, each 100W lamp will take 0.8 Amps or a 300W lamp will take 2.5 Amps. Too much load for your 2A relays! So for my example you can safely use two 100 watt lamps or four 60 Watt lamps MAXIMUM per each of the 2A relays. OF COURSE, most everyone uses LED lamping nowadays so you can use More lamps per relay. Just check the labels, use math and have fun! This comment uses REAL math formula/s for my examples. Failure to follow them may give more of a "fireworks" type of result and cost you more money and work than you are counting on. I thought if Ryndon was willing to share some of what he has learned, I could share some of the rules I used many years ago doing "stage lighting" . Christmas lighting should be a breeze, just do the math! Happy Holidays! (computers of all sizes are very handy, ain't they? lol)
WHAT IF AMERICANS DECORATES HIM HOUSES BY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TO CALLING THE ALLIENS FROM SPACE, AND TO ALLOW WILL SMITH KILL EM ALL THEN?
I think a bag of apples would be cheaper and easier to bait aliens with then to build this project :-P
Hey my friend mind bulid on scratch he's a programmer Controller sequence editor that's my question about it on UA-cam reply back
If you could edit this down to 6 or so minutes it would be a great video.
Awesome vid, very nauseating though. Weird sync/video movement issue.
apologies ? .. he\\ -- we don't need to know about details (7:59) ... they are meaningless -- right ? ...
Farmere... We've seen a thing or two! for the time you burn your house down during the holidays!
Patent and sell em!
Buyer should install their own and program it! I'd buy the setup!
codings