Need a 'multi control' actuator - suggestions?

Rockingit · Oct 25, 2011

Hi all,

got an interesting little problem to solve that needs something clever: Client has bollard lights that they want on a manual 2-way circuit (ok so far..) that can also be triggered by the alarm system..(right....) and also left on a PIR option.

So I've got one string of lights (figure the load is going to be around .5kW total), one 230V two-way switching, one 230V PIR and one 5Vdc control.

The 230V stuff could just gang onto the coil of an actuator, it's combining the low voltage alarm circuit that's foxing me. I guess I could just fit a relay before the actuator, but that seems a bit messy?

Knobhead · Oct 25, 2011

If your wanting a 5V relay to switch .5KW I’d get your prayer mat out and look to Mecca. You’ll have to use a interface relay.

Rockingit · Oct 25, 2011

Tony - I think that would have to be to use the 5V one just to trigger the coil on the 240V one, at which point it could be multi-ganged with the other 240V triggers.

I'll have a look on the V-mum site through interface relays.

Another headache that I have is simply size of site and cable runs, together with an unfortunately high Ze on a TN-S to start with - so everything is having to be physically big enough to terminate 10/16/25 SWA even though the current isn't anywhere near that high.

telectrix · Oct 25, 2011

if power through an RCD, then you're allowed 1667 Zs. assuming your VD is OK.

Rockingit · Oct 25, 2011

Thankfully so!! It's the VD I'm having to worry about. [Hmmm......that just didn't sound quite right, did it?!]

Main intake is straight to a pump/plant house with the rest of the site (domestic - ONE house) being fed from there so I've either got RCBO at source or MCB>RCD at destination depending on the board type. It's a 50m run just to the main house!

Some people have more money than sense; it's in the absolute a-end of nowhere, half mile down a muddy puddle of a track, no mobile reception, no terrestrial reception, too far out for decent broadband, no mains water or sewerage, the DNO can just about manage to give me 80A as the last pole on the series...... and the site is about 500m wide.

Add to this that the client is very technically switched on and wants power and data running all over the place = a sparky with less hair than he started the project with!!