Trial code for HS 1.7

[kclark]

Michael,

I am trying to test mcsTemperature in HS 1.7 (waiting for 2.0 to settle out a little more before I trust it with my home). The 1.7 updater doesn't give a Trial Code for this plugin (and I also noticed not for mcsAudrey).

How should I proceed?

Thanks
Ken

[Michael McSharry]

HST does all the licensing so you need to submit a Help Desk ticket to get the trial code. It may be the case that HST does not want to encourage continued use of HS1. If you get to a dead end with HST then repost and I prepare a time-stamped version that you play with.

[kclark]

Michael,

I did get the trial code for mcsTemperature. I have got it all set up and am testing. WOW - just what I need. I'll definitely be buying.

One question please. Will mcsTemperature work with either the aag TAI8558 1-Wire Multiple I/O board -- Based on a DS2408?

or the Hobby Boards 4 Channel Relay Board [4R3-R1-A] -- Based on two DS2406 and four DS2405?

Thanks,
Ken

[Michael McSharry]

I have not used either of these devices, but looked at the schematics. It appears that the hobby-boards design uses the DS2405 as the output and the DS2406 to provide a positive feedback as to the true state of the output. This device will work directly with mcsTemperature, but likely not quite as expected. Each relay will have 2 HS devices created. One can be used to control the output and either can be used to observe its current state. One will be a measured feedback and the other will be the last commanded output.

The TAI8558's DS2408 has not been implemented with mcsTemperature. I have done it with the AAG text display that also uses the DS2408 as part of xapmcs1Wire, but even in this case it assumes the LCD display and would not directly support the multiple IO.

I could likely implement the multipleIO interface in mcsTemperature if you wanted to ship it via my house. I will not make mcsTemperature merge the DS2406 input with the DS2405 output to make a device tailored to the hobby-boards design because of the difficulty of providing a user interface to accomodate the relationships of the 6 devices.

[kclark]

If you're willing to do it, that would be great! If you will PM me your shipping info, I'll get the AAG TAI8558 on order today.

[Michael McSharry]

I povided you the contact info. While the commanded state and the actual state should always be in agreement, the hobby-board design does appear to provide an actual measured state of the device driving the relay coil so it will provide a greater degree of confidence that your relay is actually doing what you want it to do. Both designs should be fine, but just making you aware.

[kclark]

Thanks for that clarification Michael. My read of your previous post was that you didn't want to implement the Hobby Board design. Now I see you were only concerned with how the user would connect the dots between the DS2405 controller and the DS2406 monitor.

In any event it got me to look closer at the schematics of the two boards.

For my HVAC application, I want to control some dampers and a vent fan as well as monitor the state of the four outputs of an existing zone controller board (24V going to other dampers). The AAG board gives me the ability to do both with one board.

And down the road, if I (or others) need to get positive monitoring of the relay's state, I can connect the relay output back to the opto-coupler inputs and monitor that way. In my experience, voltage to the coil is the least reliable way to tell if a relay is functioning properly. And the Hobby Boards is actually monitoring the voltage on the base of the coil drive transistor.

So, unless I missed something, I think the AAG board gives me more of the functionality I need.

[Michael McSharry]

I believe we are communicating. I have ordered some things from AAG and their delivery has been pretty good. When I received a bad LCD display it was 6 months before they got back to me. After a week of no response it was not worth the hassle and I just order the LCD from Hong Kong. I think Rupp has an inside contact since he has reported good customer service. Eric from hobby-boards is a regular on this message board and I have been happy with his deliveries and support. A feature I like in the AAG products is the dual RJ12. It allows the board to be mounted on the main 1-wire line without the need for a pigtail. Pigtails tend to introduce reflections that degrade the 1-wire performance.