USB Relay Module 4 Channels, for Home Automation - v2

Features

• 4 Digital I/O lines
• Power supply: from USB port
• Max. current consumption: 400 mA (when all relays are on)
• Chipset: MCP2200
• Significant resistance against USB interference
• Keeps the relay states in internal EEPROM on every toggle
• Power led
• Relay leds
• Size: 77mm x 56mm x 17mm
• Temp Range: -40 to +80 °C
• PCB parameters: Extra PCB openings for better voltage isolation and doubled high voltage tracks
• Footprint is fully compatible with our other model USB 4 Relay Board with FT245RL for easy integration or replacement
• Supported by DRMv3 Software (Windows, Linux, Raspbian) - New;
• Supported by DRM software (Windows, Linux, Raspbian): Yes
• Supported by Denkovi Command line tool (Windows, Linux, Raspbian): Yes
• Software examples - here
• Documentation: here

Chipset

The relay board chipset is MCP2200. We decided to develop such relay board because as per our tests MCP2200 has some more advantages with other USB-UART chips and one of them is that it is more reliable against  USB interference and this is critical on every USB relay board.

The four relays are mapped in the following way with MCP2200 i/o lines:

• Relay1 -> GP0
• Relay2 -> GP1
• Relay3 -> GP2
• Relay4 -> GP3

The four I/O lines are mapped in the following way:

• In1 -> GP4
• In2 -> GP5
• In3 -> GP6
• In4 -> GP7

Compability with our previous USB 4 Relay Board

The board footprint, mechanical dimensions, and hole positions are the same like our previous USB 4 Relay Board so it is easy to be used as replacement as well. It is also supported by DRM software and our Relay Command Line Tool and can be controlled the almost the same way.

If you would like to compare the both devices, please take a look at this comparison table

Denkovi Relay Command Line Tool

Supported OS: Windows Linux Raspbian

The main goal of this project is to help you to use our USB relay boards easily and without any specific knowledge how do they work. This tool is actually shell for all our USB relay boards and it does not matter which is the relay board, the command is the same. Just type one command and the the tool will set, get relay status or even will take temperature value from the board sensor (if any). It can be integrated in other software and you don't need to know much about how the USB relay board protocol. With this tool it is like a "game" and it takes literally minutes to create for example PHP script and control the USB relay board from smartphone browser.

Typical applications for this software are:

• Create desktop icons to turn particular relays
• Create BAT/BASH files to make more complex logic (like timers for example)
• The commands can be executed from PHP script
• Control our USB relay boards from Android / iPhone mobile devices
• The USB relays can be controlled from each software/platform which can run external executable files or commands in command line promt

Example commands:

LIST COMMAND - lists all devices connected to computer.

java -jar DenkoviRelayCommandLineTool.jar list 

STATUS COMMAND - display relay(s) status(es).

java -jar DenkoviRelayCommandLineTool.jar 0001234567 4v2 2 status

java -jar DenkoviRelayCommandLineTool.jar 0001234567 4v2 all status

SET COMMAND - set relay(s) state(s).

java -jar DenkoviRelayCommandLineTool.jar 0001234567 4v2 2 1

java -jar DenkoviRelayCommandLineTool.jar 0001234567 4v2 all 0

java -jar DenkoviRelayCommandLineTool.jar 0001234567 4v2 turn 1110

TIMER COMMAND - execute time-critical operations. Well known fact is that every time when we run the command line tool the jvm is being run and this takes significant time. Many users contacted us with requests to execute timer commands for time-critical operations. That's why we added such command. It can perform single pulse, many pulses and even cycles with more complex sequences of pulses and every pulse can be with different time (in milliseconds). Please note the state bits must be equal to the relay number!

java -jar DenkoviRelayCommandLineTool.jar id=1 4v2 timer 1,1111,10,0000,50,1111,25 //makes all relays ON for 10ms, all OFF for 50ms and all ON for 25ms

• For more information - here
• For download - here

Access via software DRMv3

This device is supported by DRMv3 Software.

The device can be found in the device list under the default name: USB 4 Relay v2

Links

• Product documentation - here
• MCP2200 web page with drivers, guides and tools - here
• Windows drivers - here
• Linux drivers information - here
• MAC drivers information - here
• Controlling inductive loads - http://denkovi.com/controlling-inductive-devices
• DRMv3 Software - software for monitoring, control and configuration - here
• DRM Software download - DRMsetup.exe
• Denkovi Relay Command Line Tool - here

Software Examples

• Some of the source code demos are not public, and the download links will be sent to your ordering email after purchase or by request.
• .NET - C#.NET, VB.NET and C++.NET examples how to set/get the relays using the 32bit Microchip MCP2200 API .dll libraries (managed and unmanaged).
• C#.NET with hidsharp - example how to read the status of the inputs using hidsharp library via USB HID raw communication (x86 and x64)
• LabVIEW - Example1 (using .NET library import or stdcall .dll import) - for labview 32bit only; Example2: set/get the USB4v2 Relays and I/O status using VISA (not recommend for WIN10); Example3 (download): control the board using the Denkovi Relay Command Line Tool
• JAVA -  Example how to set/get the USB4v2 Relays and I/O status (USB HID)
• Android -  Android Studio example how to set/get the USB4v2 Relays and I/O status. The relay board is connected to the Android mobile device via USB cable.
• Python - github download (example how to communicate with the MCP2200)

Troubleshooting

• Problem: The device is not shown in DRM Software and/or Command Line Tool.
• Solution: Please check if the MCP2200 drivers are installed. Please update the Java Virtual Machine to the last and finally be sure you have the last version of the denkovi software.
• Problem: I have done the above actions and the device is still not listed in DRM sofwtare and/or Command Line Tool.
• Solution: Please check if you have some other HID compliant device and check if its drivers are not causing troubles for other HID devices.
• Problem: I can not open .jar files.
• Solution: Usually this is happening for Windows 10 most oftenly and that easily can be fixed using Jarfix tool for assing jar files to be opened with Java Virtual Machine.

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