Remote Switch Bricklet 2.0¶

Features¶

• Wireless house automation
• Controls remote mains switches (supported devices)
• Can control remote mains switches with dimming function
• Can read out the remotes of remote mains switches

Description¶

The Remote Switch Bricklet is equipped with a 433MHz radio module (433MHz SMA antenna is included). It can be used to extend Bricks by the possibility to control remote mains switches that are based on the PT2262 and HX2262 ICs.

House code as well as receiver code can be configured with the API.

The Bricklet can also be used as a receiver for the remotes.

Technical Specifications¶

* without antenna

Resources¶

• RFM69HW datasheet (Download)
• Schematic (Download)
• Outline and drilling plan (Download)
• Source code and design files (Download)
• 3D model (View online | Download: STEP, FreeCAD)

Test your Remote Switch Bricklet 2.0¶

To test a Remote Switch Bricklet 2.0 you need to have Brick Daemon and Brick Viewer installed. Brick Daemon acts as a proxy between the USB interface of the Bricks and the API bindings. Brick Viewer connects to Brick Daemon. It helps to figure out basic information about the connected Bricks and Bricklets and allows to test them.

Connect the Remote Switch Bricklet 2.0 to a Brick with a Bricklet Cable.

If you connect the Brick to the PC over USB, you should see a new tab named "Remote Switch Bricklet 2.0" in the Brick Viewer after a moment. Select this tab. After that configure the house and receiver code. If everything went as expected you can now control remote mains switches.

After this test you can go on with writing your own application. See the Programming Interface section for the API of the Remote Switch Bricklet 2.0 and examples in different programming languages.

List of Supported Devices¶

The following devices are known to be controllable with the Remote Switch Bricklet 2.0. If you found another remote mains switch that is compatible please write us an email, we would like to add it.

The Remote Switch Bricklet 2.0 currently supports three different addressing types: A, B and C.

Switch 230V devices¶

Switching 230V devices is a typical application. Devices for this come in several forms. For example, as intermediate adapter that goes into your standard socket (e.g. Intertechno ITR-1500 and ELRO HE874) or designed for flush-mounting (e.g. Intertechno ITL-1000). Additional features such as timers to turn off the connected device after a given amount of time are also available.

Switch 12/24V devices¶

Low-voltage or battery powered systems are common in cars, trucks and boats. There are specialized remote switches that operate on 12/24V (e.g. Intertechno CMR-1224).

Dim (energy-saving) light bulbs and LEDs¶

In addition to simple on/off switches there are also dimmers for normal lamps (e.g. Intertechno ITLR-300), for energy-saving lamps (e.g. Intertechno ITL-150) and for LED lamps (e.g. Intertechno ITL-250).

Control Garage Doors and Blinds¶

For garage doors and blinds simple on/off switches are not enough. For this applications there are specialized remote switches that can handle three state up, down and off (e.g. Intertechno CMR-500).

Trigger Gongs¶

Beside switches in different variations there are also gongs (e.g. Intertechno ITR-7000) that can draw attention with sound and/or light signals and are trigger remotely.

Addressing Types¶

To control remote switches or dimmers their address must be known. The Remote Switch Bricklet 2.0 supports different addressing types. How to figure out or set the address of your device is described below. See the list of supported devices for the specific addressing type of your device.

Type A: House Code and Receiver Code¶

The house and receiver codes are typically configurable with small DIP-switches inside the remote switch or dimmer. Please note that house and receiver code is sometimes labeled differently. In the following example image the removed cover of the DIP switch is labeled with "System Code" and "Unit Code". "System Code" means house code and with "Unit Code" the receiver code is meant.

In the image below DIP-switches 1 and 5 are on for the house code, this equals 10001 in binary (least-significant bit first) or 17 in decimal. For the receiver code only DIP-switch A is on, this equals 10000 in binary (least-significant bit first) or 1 in decimal.

Type B: Address and Unit¶

Devices of type B do not have switches to configure their address and unit. Instead the remote switch or dimmer has to learn its address and unit. Depending on the specific device at hand it is in learning mode for some seconds after it has been plugged in (left one from Intertechno in the image below) or it has a button that has to be pushed to enter learning mode (right one from ELRO in the image below). While in learning mode you have to send a switch-on command to the device with the address and unit that should be assigned to the device. Maybe it is necessary to send this command several times until the device leaves the learning mode.

Type C: System Code and Device Code¶

The system and device code are typically configurable with code wheels on the back of the remote switch or dimmer. Please note that the system code is sometimes called differently. For example, "House Code", "System Character" or "Family Code".

In the image below the left code wheel (A-P) is set to M for the system code and the right code wheel (1-16) is set to 1 for the device code.

Usage as Receiver¶

Typically remote mains switches come with a remote. The signals of these remotes can be read out with the Remote Switch Bricklet 2.0.

For that the Bricklet has to be configured to receive the signals of the corresponding addressing type. After that the received data can be read out.

Case¶

A laser-cut case for the Remote Switch Bricklet 2.0 is available.

The assembly is easiest if you follow the following steps:

• Screw spacers to the Bricklet,
• build up side plates and put them around Bricklet (the antenna plate is slightly asymmetric, the wider margin goes to the bottom side, when viewed from the outside),
• screw bottom plate to bottom spacers,
• screw top plate to top spacers.

Below you can see an exploded assembly drawing of the Temperature IR Bricklet case:

Hint: There is a protective film on both sides of the plates, you have to remove it before assembly.

Programming Interface¶

See Programming Interface for a detailed description.