Looking for a long range device to remotely turn a mains socket off and on. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Chris Wilson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2018, 03:15:09 pm
content: OK, I have some Ebay RF controlled 13 Amp UK mains adapters that will work from about 50 feet away, but I need to be able to remotely turn off and on my electric cattle fence energizer. It's about 200 yards from the house and the armored cable that supplies its socket also supplies other things that need NOT to be turned off, so I need something in the energizer box, rather than at the cable's source in a nearer workshop. The box is in heavy woodland too, which will sap some RF... What's available that will definitely have the range and can be used from within the house? It need not be a hand held or portable gizmo. Thanks for any ideas, I am in the UK.

author: Buriedcode
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2018, 03:54:34 pm
content: Whilst they probably aren't in any way certified, there are "high power" 433MHz remotes on ebay/alibaba/amazon that are good up to 500 yards (at least I've had them reliably work at that range when the receiver has a decent antenna).There are bare modules that are smilar (without the nice hand held remote casing):https://www.robotshop.com/uk/seeedstudio-433mhz-rf-long-distance-transmitter-receiver.htmlBeware these use the PT2264 type remote encoder decoder - it isn't encrypted in any way, no security, but fairly reliable.I believe there are also "smart" modules on that frequency, possibly 868MHz, that will reach a kilometer line-of-sight, so about 200m for real-world apps. I say "smart" because they handle all the RF protocol, presenting as a serial port, which means you can roll your own with an MCU/arduino. Example:https://www.rapidonline.com/rf-solutions-zeta-433-d-rf-transceiver-module-dil-13dbm-116dbm-2km-43-1321As with most things "RF remote control" the complexity is up to you. You can do everything from scratch with "dumb" RF modules, you're own protocol etc.. but for a simple on/off it sounds like the PT2264-based stuff would suit you. It sounds like what you currently have uses that anyway, so you might be able to just use a more powerful transmitter:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Long-Range-433mhz-Universal-Clone-Copy-Remote-Control-Key-Fob-Duplicator/401540862179?epid=9019655227&hash=item5d7db350e3:g:RvYAAOSwtn9bApYJthese have address that you can set with solder jumpers, but there's no guarantee your receiver will recognize the codes.

author: jeroen79
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2018, 11:03:54 am
content: -GSM module.Ring once toturn on, ring twice to turn off.Or send SMS.-Wifi module.Add very directional antenna for extended range.-Powerline ethernet module.-LoRa module.-'Hacked' RF device thathas sufficient range.For example some walkietalkie or FM bug.Then transmit a short tone to turn on or off.

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2018, 10:29:50 pm
content: Not sure about the UK and its 230VAC/50Hz power, but here in the States we have several purveyors of switchable outlets, etc. that transmit their control data over the power wires themselves. As long as you're on the same phase of the transformer winding these can work a LONG ways out.Here's one:https://www.insteon.com/products/...and another:https://www.x10.com/x10-home-automation.htmlMy thought is, don't make this more complicated than it needs to be.

author: Harb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2018, 10:45:48 pm
content: Quote from: Chris Wilson on May 24, 2018, 03:15:09 pmI did this with cheap walkie talkies once, sending different tones to flip flop circuits.......it worked well to switch irrigation pumps on and off and change valves to divert water........at the pump end it also TX'd back to base on a different channel if the pump ran out of fuel or stopped for some reason......

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2018, 12:39:28 am
content: Will WiFi work? You can get web controlled power switches for that sort of thing.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2018, 12:56:54 am
content: I've used a bit of these guys stuff for LV and mains control at ranges to 500 Yds.https://www.ebay.com/str/rfremotechThey're mostly into fireworks control these days but their gear in the past was of wider range and cheap.Google can find the: rfremotechPop them an email.

author: C
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2018, 10:01:08 pm
content: If you have access to both ends of the power cable, that would be most secure way to control this.The down side for control over power line is the high noise that some loads create.The X10 way is a signal around 125k that is transmuted three time each half cycle.An RFI filter can remove this.It can also protect this signal. If you connect the X10 device before RFI filter and all the loads to the RFI filter then you are protecting receive end. With the X10 transmitter & receiver between RFI filters you can add some protection to this X10 signal.This signal can often go between houses connected to a common transformer. X10 adds a house code to handle this.When you study the insteon devices, you often also find Zbee radio link.C