💬 4-channel switcher/dimmer

[openhardware.io]

https://www.openhardware.io/view/344/4-channel-switcherdimmer

[tbowmo]

Nice, and complete design.

Would you mind adding the schematics as a PDF file as well? (It will make it easier for those that doesn't have eagle installed)

[esawyja]

Would this be able to switch about 3000W at 230VAC? Trying to control heater elements with triacs

[HouseIOT]

@tbowmo said in 💬 4-channel switcher/dimmer:

Would you mind adding the schematics as a PDF file

Yes, I add it soon.

[Samuel235]

Really liking the use of Triacs for the dimming here. Will be sure to be building on this! :)

[HouseIOT]

@esawyja,
No, triacs used without radiators and under severe conditions for a long time can not work. In practice, I have loaded a maximum of 360W.

[HouseIOT]

Updated description and been added the source code.

[tonnerre33]

Thanks you very much for this work ;)

I have only few comments about the security issue :

• In france, we only put the fuse on the phase, never on the neutral because if the fuse blows, we cut the dangerous potential (230V)
• Will you add a varistor for increase the protection of this board ?

[HouseIOT]

@tonnerre33,
Thank you for your interest to my device.
The fuse installed to protect the mains 220V from short circuit in the device. Phase need to be connected to the device through a circuit breaker. It will protect from dangerous potential and this allows the lamps to be served safely. But you're right. It would be properly to put the fuse on the phase.

Looking at my experience I can say that never had a problem without varistor. But probably in the future I will add it to the board.

[Samuel235]

@HouseIOT - From my understanding of a varistor: it stops voltage spikes and voltage spikes are the things that causes arcs and therefore shorts on the board. I would include one, i do on my modules anyway.

[HouseIOT]

@Samuel235, It is just my first project and it has some weaknesses. But thanks for the comment, I will use it in future.

[tonnerre33]

@HouseIOT said in 💬 4-channel switcher/dimmer:

It is just my first project and it has some weaknesses

It's a very good project for your first. I hope see many another projects from you ;)

[Samuel235]

@HouseIOT - Not for a second was I point out mistakes to make you feel your first project wasn't good enough dude. Its a very nice project and i'm interested in using it to develop one myself. I'm just giving you my perspective on where to develop this board on your next revision, that is all :)

[scalz]

hello,

congrats for your first board :+1:
if i can add a sidenote..
hopefully you have never got problem without varistor. but imho, varistor should be "mandatory", it protects against overvoltage, storms for instance etc. It's not the same as a fuse, and should be always used in combination with a fuse.
Googling will give you a lot of infos i think.
My 2cents if this can help ;)

[DavidZH]

@scalz

I agree with the comments about the varistor, it can certainly help with spikes. But only around 10 times. After that, the varistor will fail. Violently. In Europe, Australia and North America that will not be a big problem, but in countries with a little less reliable grid that could be within a year.
When the MOV fails, it will become a short across the live and neutral, so ALWAYS put your varistor/MOV behind the primary fuse so that that will blow and stop the current across. Otherwise you'll have a nice fire inside the switchbox...

little story: a friend of mine lives in the Carribean and they have a sketchy power grid there. One day the fridge was "tingly", so we start searching. Few minutes later: POOF!: magic smokes escapes from the power conditioner for the TV. OK. Something's really wrong here.
So we suspected the wiring because of the corrosive nature of the air there (warm, humid sea breeze). Switch off the power, and start opening switchboxes and outlets (all US 120V system), we start finding all sorts of weird stuff like a circuit that is spliced off, goes into the floor and exits in another box, that is also fed directly from the panel.....
So a few hours later we have checked everything, ripped out some unused wires and checked all connections and switch all back on. Still auchie on the fridge. So after a few minutes unplugging all appliances and socketstrips it was gone!

It was a socket strip with net filter. The MOVS had blown and created a short to earth. And since the US system does not use RCDs on all circuits that could go on for a while.

Moral of the story: MOVs can do good. And bad. Use them wisely!

[hhalibo]

@HouseIOT There's missing a hole of C17

[Andrea Boarino]

This post is deleted!

[hhalibo]

@HouseIOT As a newbie, I did a board completely following you schematics. But unfortunately，not working...

I use the MYsensores-bootloader(8Mhz，V1.5.4!), and I flashed your source ino-code into the board.

I can see the dimmer in the MYSController(as picture show), but there's no output from the X1.

My gateway is a esp8266 wifi gateway, version is 2.1.1 and it works fine.

PS: After testing job, the circuits of low voltage seems work well, shortcuts x5 and x2, the indicator led show lightness change(OFF, 30 & 100). The problem maybe in the Hi-voltage parts.

PLS help, THANKS a lot !

[HouseIOT]

@hhalibo
Check for neutral and phase connected right. I can see only one wire of load connected to X1. Other one must be connected to neutral if on X4.1 is phase. Otherwise try to reduce down to zero R5,7,9,11. May be not open the optocouplers.

[HouseIOT]

@Andrea-Boarino
Hi! It is Sanhe enclosure. I have bought it in Ukraine.