The XR Expansion Port

Add Relays as Your Needs Grow

ProXR Controllers were built with relay expansion in mind.  The XR Expansion Port is used to add banks of external relays to a ProXR or Taralist board equipped with a XR Expansion port.  The ProXR and Taralist boards are fitted with an XR Expansion Port where you can add expansion boards.  Expansion boards can be added until you reach 256 total relays.  As you continue to chain expansion boards onto an XR expansion port, the total number of available relay banks will increase.  Add expansion boards as needed in the future, whenever you require more relays simply order another expansion board.

Linking XR Expansion Boards Together

XR Expansion Boards consist of a XR Input and XR Output Connector.  Simply connect the XR Output of your ProXR Board to the XR Input located on the relay expansion board.  Chaining more relays is easy.  Simply connect the XR Output of your ProXR expansion board to the XR Input of your next expansion board.  Mix and Match different relay types as your application requires.  A 6″ expansion cable is included with the expansion board.  It's important to keep the cabling as short as possible.  Not all users will be able to expand to 256 total relays, as it all depends on the installation, the amount of electrical interference, and the overall cable length.  For best compatibility, the total length of the ProXR controller and all of the expansions and cabling should not exceed 1 or 2 meters.

Will Not Operate Independently

This Expansion Board gets it's commands from the main ProXR or Taralist board and will not operate independently.  This board MUST be plugged into a ProXR or Taralist board to operate and will not function on it's own.

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.

Mix & Match

Expansion boards do not need to be the same relay amperage as the main board or other expansion boards.  Mix &anp; match expansion board to get the exact amperage for your switching needs. 

Essential Power Requirements

This and all expansion boards require 12 VDC to operate.  We offer a wall-wart type power supply at checkout if you need to plug this into a 110 wall outlet.  Applying Good clean power to the board is essential for the operation of the board.  Without good steady clean power from a regulated power supply the board simply will not function correctly.  The PWR12 US power supply is a 120VAC to 12VDC 1.25A 60Hz regulated power supply and it plugs into the barrel connector on the board.  The output connector is a 2.1mm I.D. x 5.5mm O.D. x 9.5mm Female R/A barrel connector.  We also carry an international power supply with interchangeable adapters for international customers. Learn More

Maximum Relay Rating Notes

ProXR is capable of expanding to an absolute maximum of 256 Relays.  In some cases, it may not be possible to control all 256 relays, particularly in applications where high noise levels may be involved.  Experimentation may be required, as it is not possible for us to guarantee all users will be able to utilize all 256 relays in every application.  Noise tends to accumulate when several expansions are connected together.  For best results, the XR expansion cables must be as short as possible.

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.

2-Million Cycles

XR Expansion Boards are designed for long life just as the ProXR boards, you should expect to get years of service from expansion board and literally 2-million cycles from the relays on board.  With a 5-year warranty and a money back guarantee add more relay anytime the need arises!

5-Year Warranty/Money Back Guarantee

ProXR Lite series 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. 

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.
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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.