Wireless Contact Closure

MIRCR15 are sold in pairs, you will receive both boards shown here when you purchase this set.  These boards will give you the opportunity to control a relay wirelessly using a simple dry contact.  The dry contact (no voltage) input on the sender board controls the relay on the receiver board.  When the contact closure circuit on the sender board is closed the relays on the receiver board are energized, when the circuit opens the relay turns off.  Wireless applications include gate controls, door lock control and anywhere you need to transfer a contact closure to another location wirelessly.  Pricing shown on our web site indicates pricing for the pair of boards.

XBee-PRO 900 RF Module

The MIRCR15 boards are equipped with an 900HP Modules and are paired together using the serial numbers of the radios installed.  The XBee-PRO 900 RF module is ideally suited for less power-hungry, low-latency point-to-point applications.  Capable of point-to-point and peer-to-peer, the XBee-900 modules have a higher selectable transmitting power of 250mW.  This higher TX power allows for line-of-sight range up to 15 miles with the right antenna.  All range tests are conducted in clear line-of-sight installations.  It is not possible for us to accurately predict range prior to purchase.  We cannot predict range inside buildings, using google map images, or predict interference that may be present at your location that would prohibit proper operation.The module is powered from the board and the board itself will require 12 VDC power and can be hard wired or you can purchase a "wall wart" type Power Supply at checkout.

Standard Range Antenna

The 900HP Standard Range Antenna (distance of 2 miles) is included with the price of the boards.  The included antennas are a 6" whip antenna with an RP-SMA threaded connection.  The antenna will screw directly onto the wireless module.  NCD has tested this device at 2 Miles with excellent results using smaller antennas than what would be required to achieve the 28-Mile range achieved by the manufacturer.  All range tests are conducted in clear line-of-sight installations.  It is not possible for us to accurately predict range prior to purchase.  We cannot predict range inside buildings, using google map images, or predict interference that may be present at your location that would prohibit proper operation.

Extension Cable

An extension cable can be used position the antenna if needed.  The cable should be no longer than 20' (6 m) to prevent signal loss.  The antenna uses an RP-SMA connection or Reverse Polarity SMA connector.

Line-Of-Site Operation

As with any wireless technologies, for optimal performance it needs to be line-of-sight.  We can't stress this enough.  In other words the antennas of the boards must "see" each other to get the optimal range or even be able to communicate at all.  Obstructions like walls, buildings and even trees and hills can diminish the signal or prevent communication altogether.  Metal being the worst for any wireless signal to penetrate with stone, brick and hills being a close second.  Upgrading to a longer distance module will not mean that the signal will be able to penetrate these obstructions even at a short distance of a few feet. 

What Happens When Communication is Lost

A common question we receive is what happens to the relay that is energized and communication between the boards is lost.  The relay can remain energized or on until communication is re-established or the relay can de-energize or turn off.  This is done by a simple jumper on the board and setting it to Beacon or Smart mode. 

Multiple MirC Pairs?

Multiple pairs of the MirC Controllers can be used within range of each other.  The boards are paired together using the serial numbers of the wireless modules installed, meaning multiple pairs will not interfere with each other!  Please note: When there are large numbers of devices using the same channels, there will be interference that can cause dropped communications.  There are ways to combat this interference, there are a few things that can be done.  Contact us if you are quoting a large job for more information.

Who’s Qualified to Use the MirC Series?

Anyone!  The MirW Series Controllers are very consumer-friendly devices that are married together through software and only require some wiring by the end user.  Whether an electronics engineer or a home hobbyist, almost anyone is qualified to use the MirW Series controllers. 

Induction Capacitors

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of relay control is proper handling of inductive loads.  Inductive loads are anything with a magnetic coil, such as a motor, solenoid, or a transformer.  Controlling a inductive load using these boards requires induction suppression capacitors to absorb the high voltages generated by inductive loads, blocking them from the contacts of the relay.  Without this capacitor, the lifespan of the relay will be greatly reduced.  Induction can electrically interfere with the microprocessor logic of the boards, causing relay banks to shut down unexpectedly.  If this happens the boards may need to be power cycled to restore communication.  Capacitors are available at checkout, for more information and drawings view our Induction Suppression Page.

MirC Relay

This pair of boards allows you to control a relay using a dry contact (no voltage).  The dry contact can come from a manual switch, a sensor or device that provides a contact closure, or another relay.  As long as the contact closure circuit is closed the relay will remain energized or on.  When the circuit opens the relay will de-energize or turn off.  Meaning the relay will respond to a toggle or momentary connection depending on what type of input you select.  Each MirC pair is ready to stand up to rigorous demands from heat, cold or vibration.  Take it from us, these controllers will hold up!

Status of Remote Relays

Both boards are equipped with LEDs that display the status of the relay on the receiver board.  Status information is verified using 2-way wireless communications.  If communication is lost between the devices, the LED will turn off.  Additionally, every MirC controller is equipped with a Busy/Ready LED.  If the Busy LED flashes, this indicates the other device has successfully received and accepted your contact closure status.  If the Busy LED does not flash, the remote device is out of range.

What Happens When Communication is Lost

A common question we receive is what happens to the relay that is energized when communications between the boards is lost.  The relay can remain energized or on until communication is re-established or the relay can de-energize or turn off.  This is done by a simple jumper on the board and setting it to Beacon or Smart mode.  Regardless of the Mode you choose, if the busy LED flashes, the two devices are communicating properly.  If the Busy LED does not flash at all, the devices are unable to communicate.  See the table below for the differences between Beacon and Smart mode.

Contact Closure Inputs

The inputs on these boards accept a dry contact only - no voltage.  Users must never apply any voltage to an input on either of the MirX Controllers.

Relay Outputs

Relays do NOT provide a voltage output and can be used as a dry contact.  They provide a contact closure output and simply interrupt the power to the device you are switching.  The relays are rated for 240 VAC or 24 VDC.  See the Data Sheets tab above for the specs on relays installed.

SPDT Relay Installed

This device has SPDT relays installed.  SPDT Single Pole Double Throw Relays have three connections - Common, Normally Open, and Normally Closed.  When the relay is off, the common is connected to the normally closed connection of the relay.  When the relay coil is energized, the Common swings to the Normally Open Connection of the Relay.  You can wire the device you are switching to either the Normally Open or the Normally Closed position using screw terminal connections.  The maximum guage wire the terminal can handle is 14 ga but we have used up to 12 ga solid core for several applications with no issues.

2-Million Cycles

MirC series controllers are designed for long life, you should expect to get years of service from your controller and literally 2-million cycles from the relays on board.  With a 5-year warranty and a money back guarantee you have nothing to loose!  Place your order now, while everything is in front of you.

Break-A-Way Tabs for a Smaller Design

The MirC relays have a great feature where space is a premium - Break-A-Way Tabs. The Break-A-Way Tabs allow most boards to fit in an optional undrilled plastic enclosure.  Snap off the Break-A-Way Tabs and you have a controller with a smaller profile when you need to fit in a tight space.

5-Year Warranty/Money Back Guarantee

MirC controllers are guaranteed against manufacturing and functionality defects for a full 5 years!  Not to mention a 30-day money back guarantee!  If for any reason you are not happy with a relay purchased from Relay Pros, simply return it within 30 days and we will give you your money back!  Controllers that are damaged by our customers will not of course be warranted under any circumstances. 

This Board is RoHS Compliant

This board is led free and RoHS Compliant.  If your requirements are for RoHS compliant parts this board is manufactured with RoHS compliant led free parts and solder.

Shipping

The boards sold are brand new units shipped from our office conveniently located in Missouri.  These boards are completely tested before they are released for shipping  With so many boards on our site it is impossible to stock boards, please allow two to three days production time for your order to ship.  If you have any questions please feel free to call our office at 800-960-4287 or e-mail us at sales@relaypros.com.

Contact Closure Relay Is Here!

A more streamlined manufacturing process brings a more durable, reliable and better relay board to the market. Here's a lists of great features:

User Friendly Board Design

• Single Pole Double Throw Relays Installed
    - Wire to Normally Open or Normally Closed Position
    - 12 Guage Solid Core Wire Capacity
• Screw Terminal Contact Closure and Relay Connections
• Break-A-Way Tabs Lets you Decide the Board's Size
• Temperature Rating -40° C to 85° C
• RoHS Compliant

MirC Features

• Control Relay from a Dry Contact (No Voltage)
• Inputs on Sender Board Control Relays on Receiver Board
• Sender Board Displays Status of Remote Relays

Power & More

SPDT Relay Controller Specifications

This table covers all NCD SPDT Relay Controllers.  All ratings assume 12VDC operation at 70°F (21°C).  Please note that most ratings are estimated and may be subject to periodic revision.  Some ratings represent stock controller settings without performance enhancement optimizations.  The estimated processing time can be impacted by background services and choice of commands.  Standby power consumption assume no communications module is installed and no relays are active on the controller.  Please add the power consumption of the activated relays and communications module to obtain a better estimation of power consumption.

SPDT Relay Specs

Specs of NCD SPDT Relay Boards	Minimum	Nominal	Maximum	Notes
Operational Voltages	10VDC	12VDC	15VDC
Standby Power Consumption	35mA	100mA	200mA	No Active Relays, No Com Module
Relay Power Consumption	28mA	35mA	60mA	Consumption of Each Activated Relay
Operational Temperature Range	-40°F (-40°C)	70°F (21°C)	185°F (85°C)	Theoretical Component Limits Shown
Storage Temperature Range	-67°F (-55°C)	70°F (21°C)	185°F (85°C)	Theoretical Component Limits Shown
Operational Ambient Air Humidity	0%	50%	70%	Non-Condensing Humidity Values Shown
Relay Activation Time	4ms	5ms	10ms	Needs Further Validation
Relay Deactivation Time	5mS	10mS	15mS	Needs Further Validation

SPDT Relay Installed

This device has SPDT relays installed.  SPDT Single Pole Double Throw Relays have three connections - Common, Normally Open, and Normally Closed.  When the relay is off, the common is connected to the normally closed connection of the relay.  When the relay coil is energized, the Common swings to the Normally Open Connection of the Relay.  You can wire the device you are switching to either the Normally Open or the Normally Closed position using screw terminal connections.  The maximum guage wire the terminal can handle is 14 ga but we have used up to 12 ga solid core for several applications with no issues.

2-Million Cycles

ProXR series controllers are designed for long life, you should expect to get years of service from your controller and literally 2-million cycles from the relays on board.  With a 5-year warranty and a money back guarantee you have nothing to loose!  Place your order now, while everything is in front of you.

Communication Module Specifications

This table covers all NCD Communication Modules.  While NCD communication modules operate at 3.3VDC, the ratings below highlight the effect they will have on the master controller operating at 12VDC at 70°F (21°C).  Maximum ratings should be used for power budget planning purposes and may reflect short term absolute maximum peak current consumption.  Some ratings are estimated and subject to periodic revision.

Communication Module Power Consumption

Specs of NCD Communication Modules	Minimum	Nominal	Maximum	Notes
Operational Temperature Range	-40°F (-40°C)	70°F (21°C)	185°F (85°C)	Theoretical Component Limits Shown
Storage Temperature Range	-67°F (-55°C)	70°F (21°C)	185°F (85°C)	Theoretical Component Limits Shown
Operational Ambient Air Humidity	0%	50%	70%	Non-Condensing Humidity Values Shown
USB Module Power Consumption	N/A	N/A	N/A	USB Modules are Powered by the USB Port Do Not Consume Device Current
RS-232 Module Power Consumption		10mA	20mA
Ethernet Module Power Consumption	58mA	82mA	100mA
WiFi Bluetooth USB Module Power Consumption	37mA	50mA	100mA	Up to 300 Foot Indoor Wireless Range, Unobstructed. Up to 50 Foot Range Through Walls
900MHz Wireless Module Power Consumption	13mA	30mA	50mA	Up to 1,000 Foot Indoor Wireless Range, up to 2 Mile Outdoor Wireless Range using Included Antennas. Up to 28 Miles Outdoor Wireless Range using High-Gain Antennas.
KFX Wireless Key Fob	11mA	15mA	25mA	Up to 200 Feet Outdoor Wireless Range using 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 Button Key Fobs. Up to 700 Feet Outdoor Wireless Range using 8-Button Remotes

AD8 Analog Input Usage Notice

Analog Inputs should not have a voltage present when powered down.  Use a 220 Ohm current limiting resistor on each input to prevent damage to the controller if voltage will be present on the analog input when this controller is powered down.  Do not exceed 0 to 5VDC on any analog input or the on-board CPU will be damaged.  Most analog inputs include a 10K Pull Up/Down resistor to help keep the inputs quiet when not in use.  This 10K resistor may slightly bias the readings of some sensors.

Relay Logic

Relay Logic Samples

This page demonstrates several simple ways to wire a relay or multiple relays for various applications. We use the example of switching a light but the light can be swapped for a gate control, security system, dry contact output and other devices. These examples show different ways to wire to a relay or multiple relays to produce a desired effect.
Get a printout of this page

SPDT Wiring

SPDT Single Pole Double Throw Relays have three connections - Common, Normally Open, and Normally Closed. When the relay is off, the common is connected to the normally closed connection of the relay. When the relay coil is energized, the Common swings to the Normally Open Connection of the Relay. You can wire the device you are switching to either the Normally Open or the Normally Closed position and we have examples below.

SPST Wiring

SPST Single Pole Single Throw Relays have two connections - Common and Normally Open. The Common (COM) is the moving part of the relay that comes in contact with the Normally Open (NO) when the coil to the relay is energized. The only SPST relay we sell on this site is the 30-Amp relays, The wiring examples below can be used with the 30-Amp relays as long as the example doesn't use the Normally Closed position.

DPDT Wiring

A single DPDT Double Pole Double Throw relay is made up of 2 SPDT switches. Each relay acts as two switches that are activated at the same time. This allows two independent devices to be switched at one time. In effect, there are two independent switches on a single DPDT relay - they will always switch together. There are two connectors with Normally Open, Normally Closed and Common for each relay allowing two separate connections. Wiring using these examples can be the same as any SPDT relay.

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Relay Logic Examples

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Example 1 - Simple Off/On

This example demonstrates how a relay can be used to activate a light bulb. When the relay turns on, the light comes on. Only one power wire is switched with this example using the COM (common) and NO (normally open) connections of a relay. This is the simplest of the examples, switching a light in this example or any device on when the relay is energized.

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Example 2 - Simple On/Off

This example demonstrates how a relay can be used to turn a light bulb OFF.  When the relay is energized the light turns off, when the relay is off the light will be ON.  Only one power wire is switched in this sample using the COM (common) and NC (normally closed) connections of a relay. Not commonly used but great for applications where the device is on most of the time so the relay doesn't have to be energized to to keep the device on. Power cycling a device can be a typical use for this wiring, when the relay turns on the device is powered off.

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Example 3 - 2 Relays to Activate

This example demonstrates how two energized relays are required to activate a light bulb. This is the same as a Logic and function because Relay 1 AND Relay 2 must be on to activate the light. Only one power wire is switched in this example using two relays to turn on the light. This example would be used if you want two parameters to be active before the light will switch on. If you have sensors or need two parameters to be in the correct state before the light turns on. A quick example would be a light sensor will need to show it's dark and a motion sensor showing someone in the room before the light will turn on.

MirC/MirX Users: Two contact closure inputs in the sender board required to control a device. Use this wiring when you require two outputs to close before you switch the relay.

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Example 4 - 3 Relays to Activate

This example demonstrates how three energized relays are required to activate a light bulb. Just like example 3, Logic and function play a roll because Relay 1 AND Relay 2 AND Relay 3 MUST be energized to activate the light. Only one power wire is switched in this example using three relays to turn on the light. Simple wiring from the NO of Relay 1 to the COM of Relay 2 to the NO of Relay 2 to the COM of Relay 3 will require that all three relays would need to be energized to turn on the light. This can be expanded to include as many relays as needed as long as you wire NO of the first relay to COM of the next relay.

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Example 5 - Override Function

This example demonstrates the and/or function. The light bulb will be activated if Relay 1 and Relay 2 are energized OR if Relay 3 is energized. This example is great for applications that may require a logical condition of 2 relays plus an override feature. For instance, if Relay 1 is a night/day sensor, Relay 2 is a moisture sensor. If its dark and the soil is dry, Relays 1 and 2 can activate a pump. If you want to override these conditions with local physical switch using Relay Activator function (see the AD8 Command Set Tab) Relay 3 would override Relays 1 & 2.

MirC/MirX Users: Add a manual button or switch to control the third relay to manually control the light if you have sensors that control the other relays.

Reactor Users: Add a manual button or switch to control the third relay to manually control the light if you have sensors that control the other relays.

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Example 6 - Either Relay Activates

This example demonstrates how either relay can be used to activate a light. Only one power wire is switched in this example using either of two relays to turn on the light. In this sample, only one activated relay is required to activate the light. If both relays are activated, the light will be on. Great for if you have a timer for one of the relays but want to turn the light on when the timer is scheduled off or have two sensors connected and want either of them to control a device.

MirC/MirX Users: Two contact closure inputs in the sender board and either of the inputs can control one light or device.

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Example 7 - 3-Way Switch

This example demonstrates how to create a 3-way light switch to activate a light. A 3-way light switch is where two light switches can be used to activate a single light. This sample is exactly the same as a 3-way light switch, the only difference being each physical switch is replaced by a relay. Operationally, it works the same way. Only one power wire is switched in this example using both relays to turn on the light. Each relay activation will cause the light to toggle. Switching two relays at one time is like flipping 2 switches at once....with the same result. This sample is particularly useful since you can replace one relay (as shown in the diagram) with a physical light switch. This will allow a computer to control a light as well as manual operation of a light. Properly used, this can be one of the most valuable diagrams we offer on this page.

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Example 8 - Motor Control

This example demonstrates how to control the direction of a DC motor using 2 relays. Braking is accomplished by connecting both motor terminals to a common power connection (Faraday's Law). The capacitors shown may not be required for small motors, but if you experience problems with relays shutting themselves off, the induction suppression capacitor will be required. The .1uF capacitor helps suppress electronic noise if the battery were to be used by sensitive devices (such as radios/amplifiers).

• Relay 1 Off Relay 2 Off = Motor Brake to +
• Relay 1 On Relay 2 Off = Motor Forward
• Relay 1 Off Relay 2 On = Motor Backward
• Relay 1 On Relay 2 On = Motor Brake to -
• Induction Capacitor Should Be located by relay
• Filter Capacitor Should be Located Near Motor
• Additional Capacitors May be Desirable for Some Motors

Inductive loads typically require 2-3 times the runtime voltage or amperage when power is first applied to the device. For instance, a motor rate at 5 Amps, 125 VAC will often require 10-15 amps just to get the shaft of the motor in motion. Once in motion, the the motor may consume no more than 5 amps. When driving these types of loads, choose a relay that exceeds the initial requirement of the motor. In this case, a 20-30 Amp relay should be used for best relay life.

Data Sheets & Quick Start Guides

Below are the Data Sheets Quick Start Guides for this board.  These are the guides that will help you communicate and configure this board.