Battery-Operated Zigbee or Zwave Relay

[tka (Tim)]

Hi,

I would like to build a battery-operated Zigbee or Zwave relay (just on and off, nothing fancy). Has anybody experience with it? I couldn’t find a single off-the-shelf product, but I do not want to use an arduino because of the power consumption (it should run for at least 3-6 month on 2-4 AA/AAA)

Thanks,

Tim

[DavidCreed]

Hi Tim,

Check these posts out:

Need Battery-Operated Relay

Hello, I am looking for an inexpensive battery-powered z-wave relay that I can use to control low-voltage devices. Does such a device exist? If not, is there information about how I can “roll my own”? I am willing to build the controller myself if someone can point me in the right direction. Thanks,

Possible Arduino sleep w/ ST shield?

i have been reading extensively about how to make an arduino uno sleep to preserve battery life. Most pages i visit are saying to connect a resistor from RX to pin 2. But is rx reserved for ST shield? im quite a beginner here and somewhat losing my mind

Multiple Devices on One Shield

Is it possible to create multiple devices, and main tiles, from one arduino shield? Anyone have an example? Tia, Twack

Cheers,
David

[JohnR (John Rucker)]

When you say build do you mean construct a circuit and communicate with SmartThings? If so here is an example of how to do it with an xBee and a Propeller. I have several devices based on this hardware and the end devices can run months if not over a year on 3 AA batteries. http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/157233-Propeller-to-SmartThings-(communicating-with-the-ZigBee-HA-public-profile)

The example in the link above is for a ZigBee router device (always on). To get long battery life you will need to convert it to an end device that puts the propeller a sleep and only wakes it when data has been received. The ZigBee spec has this all very well defined.

Please take note this is not a kit or an Arduino (code and go) solution it is a blog post that discuss the parts required and circuit to turn a LED on and off. You could easily modify the circuit and add a relay.

[tka (Tim)]

Thanks JohnR, that was exactly what I was looking for.

-Tim

[Ash (Ash Raj)]

@tka

I couldn’t find a single off-the-shelf product

Check out Cooper’s Anyplace Switch: http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/public/en/wiring_devices/products/lighting_controls/aspire_rf_wireless/anyplace.html

[tka (Tim)]

That does not help me. The main goal I have is to replace a wall switch, that does not have a neutral, and where I can not send a current through the wire without activating the device on the switch (for simplicity think a LED lamp).

I also found this tutorial, which seems very useful to me: http://examples.digi.com/lights-motors-more/802-15-4-digital-output-with-an-led/

This together with a solid state relay should do the trick.

Thanks!

[JDRoberts]

Why isn’t the relay drawing power from the wire instead of batteries? The aeotec microswitches are often used for this. And they’ll pass a home inspection in most places, which DIY may not.

Z-Wave socket and switch; Nano Switch • Aeotec by Aeon Labs

Aeon Labs DSC18103-ZWUS, White, US, AL001 Aeotec Z-Wave Micro Smart Energy Switch, 2nd Edition, White, Small - Wall Dimmer Switches - Amazon.com

[Ere]

Without a neutral wire, the z-wave switch does not have power when turned off, so it goes offline.
Fibaro dimmers are a working solution since they don’t require a neutral wire.

I found a helpful article about it here:

I am also looking for a solution to control my roller shutters that don’t have a neutral, so a battery powered switch could do the trick, but I can’t seem to find anything online. Any help would be appreciated.