Using optocoupler as actuator in node

[ferpando]

I have now the hardware part working with 9 optocuoplers driven by an Arduino micro, using a couple shift registers.
The problem now is from the software point of view.
How to address the optos.
When using relays or opts directly, the sketch uses digitalWrite to have the pin HIGH or LOW.
When I set the number of relays, VERA creates that number of light switches.

Now with the shit registers, I use only pins 4, 6 and 7 of the arduino.
I don't know if this will work just by telling the sketch I have now 9 relays, and then change a bit the program to address the shift register correctly.
Will the pins I use (4,6,7) conflict with the ones used by the sketch for the relays? (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,.... 9,10,11 for the 9 relays) The mini only has 3-8 free pins.
I don't know how to start with this.

[BulldogLowell]

@ferpando

the key is mapping the bit in your register to a device you create.

you can use your bitwise operators to determine if you should toggle a device's status.

which shift register are u using?

[ferpando]

@BulldogLowell
I'm using 74HC595.
I solved it changing the sketch from relay to servo, and them making some modifications to it.
It works very nice now.

[BulldogLowell]

@ferpando said:

@BulldogLowell
I'm using 74HC595.
I solved it changing the sketch from relay to servo, and them making some modifications to it.
It works very nice now.

so, pulsing the optocoupler with 'pushbutton' front end on vera's UI, good idea.

[ferpando]

@BulldogLowell
Works pretty well.
The servo sketch installs a blind control device on vera with allows me to control stop, up and down buttons with one device per blind.

[Hoffan]

Please show us some photo of the Servo into the Blinds :)

[ferpando]

@Hoffan
No servo in the blinds.
The blinds have somfi motors.
I just use the sketch of a servo to control it.

[daulagari]

Had this problem myself, controlling Somfy blinds using my computer/smartphone.

Did read in a forum on a Somfy RS-485 solution (way to expensive) and about somebody that took his remote control and replaced the buttons by relays and had those relays controlled by a zWave (dual) binary switch. Also quite expensive solution to my opinion and not that supported.

Recently, but before I knew mysensors, RFXCOM came with the RFXtrx433E so I went for that. Quite nice, you can pair the Somfy blinds with the RFXtrx433E and control everything.

Knowing mysensors, taking the remote control and replacing the buttons using relays controlled by an Arduino Pro Mini would also be a good option.

[Zeph]

@daulagari said:

Knowing mysensors, taking the remote control and replacing the buttons using relays controlled by an Arduino Pro Mini would also be a good option.

Or better still, optocouplers or an analog switch as described above...

[daulagari]

@Zeph said:

Or better still, optocouplers or an analog switch as described above...

Yes, that's a better option as relays are quite power hungry and bulky.