Relay Configuration

The RX3000 station can include an optional relay module with three individual relays for connecting devices. To configure the relay module in an RX3000 station:

1. Click Devices and then RX Devices, and find the station you want to configure. Click the arrow next to the icon and select Relay Configuration. Or, click the station name to open its detailed page, click the arrow next to the Configure button, and select Relay Configuration.

2. Click a relay on the left menu to configure it.

3. Type a label and select Open or Closed for the Normal Relay State. The label can be used to show what Open or Closed corresponds to in your system (for example, "closed relay turns pump on").

4. Select what should happen on the station's next connection to HOBOlink: open relay, close relay, or leave relay in its current state.

5. Click Save (or click Next to move to the next configuration page).

6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 for any additional relays you want to configure.

See Sensor Alarms for details on configuring a relay to open, close, or pulse for one second when a sensor alarm trips.

Refer to the RX3000 station manual for information on connecting devices to the relay module.

The relay contact on a U30 station can be opened, closed, or pulsed to control the operation of an external device, such as an irrigation system or fountain, when an alarm is tripped. Setting up the relay is a two-step process. First, use HOBOware to set the default deactivated state of the relay to open or closed (the factory default is normally open). Then, set the alarm action for the appropriate sensor to activate, deactivate, or pulse the relay in HOBOlink.

To configure the relay in a U30 station:

1. With the device connected to the computer, open HOBOware and select Manage U30 > Control U30 Relay > Set default (deactivated) state.
2. Select Open if you want the relay to open when there is a sensor alarm (such as an irrigation system that shuts off when it is raining or a fountain that shuts off when it is too windy).

Select Close if you want the relay to close when there is a sensor alarm (such as an irrigation system that turns on when the temperature drops below a specific reading to avoid frost damage to an orchard or cranberry bog).

Select Pulse if you will be setting up a pulse relay in which the relay will close briefly to activate a piece of equipment and then reopen (such as if you want to trigger a water sample when the water level reaches a certain amount).

3. If you are setting up a pulse relay in which the relay will close, select Device > Manage U30 > Configure U30 Alarms in HOBOware. In the Sensor Alarms window, set the pulse width (the default is 1 second) and click Set.
4. Click Devices and then RX Devices, and find the station you want to configure. Click the arrow next to the icon and select Alarm Configuration.
5. Click an existing sensor alarm or click Add a Sensor Alarm to create a new one. Set or edit the fields under Sensor Condition (see Sensor Alarms for more details).
6. Under Actions, select Activate Relay (Close) or Pulse Relay as needed if the default state was set to Open in HOBOware. Select Deactivate Relay (Open) if the default state was set to Closed in HOBOware.

7. If you selected Activate Relay (Close), you also have the option to deactivate the relay (reopen it) when the alarm clears. Select the Deactivate Relay (Open) on clear checkbox if desired. Another option would be to create a second alarm with a Deactivate Relay (Open) action and the conditions set to the values you wish to use to clear the relay (or stop the equipment).
8. Add or edit any additional actions for this alarm, such as sending an email or text message.
9. Click Save. Connect the equipment to the device and run a test to make sure the relay operates as expected. You can view the device relay state as of the last time the device connected to HOBOlink on the device overview page.

Refer to the U30 Station User's Guide for information on connecting equipment and examples of starting and stopping equipment.