The Key Fob Interface

Easy Key Fob Control

If your application requires you to control a relay from a wireless remote control, then our Key Fob Relay boards will offer the most powerful solution available on the market today.  Not to be confused with single function low-cost solutions, our Key Fob Relay boards are years ahead!  Configure your Key Fob Buttons to control relays in just about any way you can think of! 

Key Fob Functions

A button push on the key fob can be set for a simple on/off function and so much more!  Most users use the key fob as a toggle or momentary setting.  The toggle command is a push-on push-off command push a button and the relay will remain energized until the button is pushed again to turn it off.  A push and release command can be set for a momentary command, when the button is pushed the relay energizes and when you release the button the relay turns off.  Either of these commands will be set before your board ships.  More complicated commands can be configured as well!  Relay groupings if you want one button to control more than one relay.  Time delays can be set where one button push can control the relay for a prediturmined time and the relay will turn off automatically!

Easy Configuration

This board is equipped with a KFX Module.  The KFX communications module adds key fob capabilities to the board.  Configuring the board is done using Base Station Sofware, a free download.  Point and click configuration using a numerical command set get's the action your looking for for each button push.  We'll even do the setup for you, choose toggle or momentary at checkout above!

Common Commands

Here's a brief list of some of the more common commands used when a button is pushed on the key fob.

• Toggle and Momentary Commands
• Turn Off All Relays Then Turn On a Specific Relay
• Relay Timers: Relay Energized for a Specific Time
• Relay Pulse Commands
• Relay Grouping: Controlling Multiple Relays Together
• Relay Flashing Commands

Key Fob Range

The rated range of the MS series Key Fobs is 750 feet (228 meters). The MS 8-Button Key Fob with an external antenna is rated at 1,000 feet (304 meters).  Key Fob range can depend on many factors.  The maximum ratings are achieved in an outdoor environment with clear line-of-sight and minimal radio interference (in the country). 

Up to 40 Key Fobs

With a single KFX receiver module, users may associate up to 40 key fobs, including 1, 2, 4 and 8-Buttons (available at checkout).  Every Key Fob paired with a KFX Receiver will perform the exact same function as another Key Fob paired with the same KFX Receiver.  It is not possible for each remote to be separately identified and generate different data for.  Put simply, every remote does exactly the same thing when paired with the same KFX Receiver.

ZigMo Configuration Kit

The KFX Receiver Module is configured using Base Station Software (a free download), and must be plugged into the ZIGMO Configuration Board only during configuration.  Only one ZIGMO is needed regardless of the number of KFX Receivers you intend to use.  The ZIGMO acts as an interface between your computer and the KFX Receiver, allowing you to define the Baud Rate, and Data Bytes that are transmitted for each Key Fob button Press.  The ZIGMO is included with the KFX Integration Kit and available at checkout.  Key Fob Configuration

Who’s Qualified to Use the Key Fob Series?

Some computer skills required.  The Key Fob Relays do not require programming, simply configure the module with the included Base Station Software.  While programming is not required and simple functions can be done rather easily with basic computer skills, complex events can be configured which will require some understanding and patience.

Base Station Key Fob Configuration

Key Fob Configuration

The KFX Receiver Module is configured using Base Station Software (a free download), and must be plugged into the ZIGMO Configuration Board only during configuration.  Only one ZIGMO is needed regardless of the number of KFX Receivers you intend to use.  The ZIGMO acts as an interface between your computer and the KFX Receiver, allowing you to define the Baud Rate, and Data Bytes that are transmitted for each Key Fob button Press.  The ZIGMO is included with the KFX Integration Kit and available at checkout.

Free Setup Software

The board will ship with your choice of either a momentary or toggle command at no charge.  If you wish to send different commands to the board they will need to be programmed into the KFX Module.  This is done by connecting the Key Fob Configuration Kit to your computer and using Base Station Software (a free download).  Once you have set the commands, the module will be removed from the configuration Kit and installed into the board.  The KFX Module will now send your commands to the board when the key fob button is pressed.

Module Setup

The Configuration Kit acts as an interface between your computer and the KFX Receiver, allowing you to define the commands that are transmitted for each key fob button press and release.  The KFX Receiver Module is configured using Base Station Software, and will be plugged into the Key Fob Configuration Kit only during configuration.  Only one Configuration Kit is needed regardless of the number of KFX Receivers you intend to use.

Configuring the Buttons

When configuring the button pushes you are really configuring the KFX module with the commands that will be sent to the board.  When the module sees a button push it sends the command it has stored.  You will configure what command is sent using Base Station Software a free download.  It can be a simple toggle command or complex commands including delays.  The KFX Receiver can be configured for button press and button release events. 

Common Commands

Here's a brief list of some of the more common commands used when a button is pushed on the key fob.

• Toggle and Momentary Commands
• Turn Off All Relays Then Turn On a Specific Relay
• Relay Timers: Relay Energized for a Specific Time
• Relay Pulse Commands
• Relay Grouping: Controlling Multiple Relays Together
• Relay Flashing Commands

KFX Module

This board is equipped with a KFX Module.  The KFX communications module adds key fob capabilities to the board.  The KFX module is powered from the board.  The board itself will require 12 volts of power and can be hard wired or you can purchase a "wall wart" type Power Supply at checkout.

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Data Sheets & Quick Start Guides

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Base Station Software

Base Station will assist you in learning how this device functions and is the ultimate reference tool for setting up, testing and controlling this device.  Base Station software supports every feature of this device - no other controller manufacturer even comes close to offering this type of software.  Base Station works by communicating with your controller to identify the model and provides the appropriate graphical user interface for setting up and testing the identified device.  To help you get started and learn this controller Quick Start Guides are available for just about every feature.  As you discover a feature in Base Station a link is provided where you can easily download the Quick Start Guide.

ProXR Relay

We've looked at the interface and the programming now let's take a look at the board design itself.  The ProXR series controllers are manufactured by hand for a highly accurate and reliable design.  Fully tested before they leave the production facility each ProXR controller is ready to stand up to rigorous demands from heat, cold or vibration.  The best test of all is the numerous boards in the field from customers all over the world in all sorts of conditions.  Take it from us, these controllers will hold up!

Not Expandable

This is a ProXR Board that does have an expansion port but because of this being used with a key fob the board should not be expanded.  There are commands to control banks of relays or all on/off functions.  If your application requires this and not individual relay control the board could be expanded.  Key Fobs are only available with a maximum of 8 buttons.

ProXR Enhanced Firmware Installed

This board has ProXR Firmware installed that responds to the full ProXR Command Set.  The ProXR Firmware is the industry leading firmware for controlling relays with more commands and functionality than any other board on the market.  The list of commands and parameters this board is capable of is extensive.  For each button on the key fob press and release commands can be assigned.  Simple toggle commands to more complex timing functions can be configured for each key fob button press.  For some of the most popular commands look for the KFX Quick Start Guide in the Data Sheets tab above.  For the full ProXR Command set look for the ProXR Quick Start Guide in the same Data Sheets Tab.

DPDT Relays Installed

This board has DPDT relays installed.  A single DPDT 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 signals 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.  The picture above shows the 4-channel connectors.  The diagram to the right shows the how the arms of the common connector swing from the Normally Closed to the Normally Open positions when energized.  Wiring to either the NO or NC can produce your desired results.

Essential Power Requirements

Applying Good clean power to the board is essential for the operation of the board.  Not only for the switching of the relays but the firmware that processes the commands.  Without good steady clean power from a regulated power supply the board simply will not function correctly.  All boards on the site require 12 VDC power.  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

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.

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.

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. 

Induction Suppression

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of relay control is proper handling of inductive loads. Inductive loads can best be defined as anything with a magnetic coil, such as a motor, solenoid, or a transformer.  Controlling a inductive load using this relay board requires an induction suppression capacitor for each relay being used.  The purpose of this capacitor is 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 be so severe that it interferes with the logic of the board, causing relay banks to shut down unexpectedly.  For more information view our Induction Suppression Video.

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.

Key Fob DPDT Control 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
• "Wall Wart" or direct power capability
• Relay status light bar
• Easy screw terminal connections
• DPDT Relays with 2 connections per relay

ProXR Features
• Works with the full ProXR Enhanced Command Set
• Highly reliable relay with industry leading command set

Relay Logic

Relay Wiring Samples

This page provides simple examples showing how to wire a single relay - or multiple relays - for common switching applications. We use a light as the example load, but you can substitute a gate controller, security panel input, dry contact device, motor trigger, or most other switched loads. These wiring samples demonstrate different ways to connect relays to achieve the switching behavior you need.

Get a printout of this page

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Relay Types

SPDT Relay

SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw) relays include three terminals: Common (COM), Normally Open (NO), and Normally Closed (NC).

• When the relay is off, COM is connected to NC.
• When the relay is energized, COM switches to NO.

Your load can be wired to either the NO or NC terminal depending on whether you want the device to turn on when the relay activates or when it releases. Examples below demonstrate both wiring methods. The SPDT relays offered on this site are 5-Amp, 10-Amp and 20-Amp models.

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SPST Relay

SPST (Single Pole Single Throw) relays provide two terminals: Common (COM) and Normally Open (NO).

When the relay coil is energized, COM connects to NO to power the load. The only SPST relays offered on this site are our 30-Amp models. All SPST examples shown on this page apply to these relays as long as the example does not require a Normally Closed terminal.

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DPDT Relay

A DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw) relay contains two SPDT switches that operate together.

• Each side includes its own COM, NO, and NC terminals.
• Both internal switches change state at the same time.

This allows you to control two independent circuits with one relay. Wiring for each side of a DPDT relay follows the same rules as an SPDT relay, so the examples on this page apply directly. We offer the DPDT relays in 1-Amp, 3-Amp and 5-Amp models on ProXR boards starting at 8 relays.

Relay Grouping in the ProXR Command Set lets you combine individual relays to function like a DPDT relay using separate channels. This is ideal when you need to control multiple relays simultaneously or exceed the 5-Amp switching limit of our standard DPDT relays.

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Relay Logic Examples

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Example 1 - Simple Off/On Control

This example shows the most basic way to use a relay to switch a device such as a light. When the relay energizes, its NO (Normally Open) contact closes to COM (Common), completing the circuit and turning the light on.

Only a single power wire is switched in this setup, making it the simplest method for controlling a light - or any device - using a relay.

Use this example for switching a light or any device you want to power only when the relay is on.

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Example 2 - Simple On/Off (Using NC Contact)

This wiring method keeps the device on by default. The relay switches a single power wire through the COM (Common) and NC (Normally Closed) terminals.
When the relay is not energized, the NC contact is closed to COM and the light remains on.
When the relay energizes, the NC contact opens, interrupting power and turning the light off.

This approach is ideal for devices that stay on most of the time, reducing relay wear since it doesn't need to remain energized to keep the device powered. It's also a useful method for power-cycling equipment - energizing the relay momentarily will turn the device off.

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Example 3 - AND Logic Using Two Relays

This example shows how two relays can work together so a light turns on only when both relays are energized. This creates an AND Logic condition:
Relay 1 AND Relay 2 must be on for the light to receive power.

A single power wire is switched, but it must pass through both relay contacts before reaching the light. This setup is ideal when two conditions must be met at the same time - such as requiring input from multiple sensors or system parameters.

MirC/MirX Users: This wiring requires two contact closure inputs on the sender board before the receiver's relay activates. Use this approach when two independent outputs must close before turning on the light.

For example, a light could turn on only when:
• A light sensor detects it's dark AND
• A motion sensor detects activity in the room

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Example 4 - AND Logic Using Three Relays

This example expands on the previous AND Logic concept. Here, the light will turn on only when all three relays are energized:

Relay 1 AND Relay 2 AND Relay 3 must be on for power to reach the light.

A single power wire is routed through all three relay contacts. Wiring from the NO (Normally Open) of Relay 1 to the COM (Common) of Relay 2, then from the NO of Relay 2 to the COM of Relay 3, creates a series path that requires every relay to close before the light can activate.

This method can be scaled easily - just continue wiring NO of each relay to the COM of the next relay. Add as many relays as needed to meet your logic or safety requirements.

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Example 5 - AND/OR Logic with Override

This example demonstrates a combined AND/OR logic setup. The light will turn on when:

• Relay 1 AND Relay 2 are both energized
  OR
Relay 3 is energized (override)

This wiring is useful when you need a normal logic condition plus a manual or automatic override option.

For example:
• Relay 1 = night/day sensor
• Relay 2 = motion sensor
• Relay 3 = manual override (local switch)

If it's dark and the motion sensor activates, Relays 1 and 2 energize to turn on the light. But if you want to control the light manually - regardless of sensor conditions - Relay 3 can override the logic and activate the light on its own.

A/D Board Users: The Relay Activator function on any A/D board or ProXR Lite board lets you connect a button or switch to any A/D input. This input can then control the override relay, giving you a convenient local button to manually override the first two relays.

MirC/MirX Users: Add a manual button or switch to trigger the third relay when you need direct control instead of sensor-driven control.

Reactor Users: A local button or switch can be wired to the third relay input to provide a manual override for sensor-based logic.

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Example 6 - OR Logic (Either Relay Activates)

This example demonstrates OR Logic - the light will turn on when either relay is energized. Only one power wire is switched, but it can pass through Relay 1 or Relay 2 to reach the light.

• If Relay 1 activates, the light turns on
• If Relay 2 activates, the light turns on
• If both activate, the light remains on

This setup is ideal when two independent sources should be able to control the same device. Common uses include:

• A timer controlling one relay, with a manual or secondary control for the other.
• Two sensors where either condition (motion detected or low light, for example) should activate the light.

A/D Board Users: The Relay Activator function on any A/D board or ProXR Lite board lets you connect a button or switch to any A/D input. This input can then be used as a manual control of the relay.

MirC/MirX Users: Wire two contact closure inputs into the sender board - either input can trigger the receiver relay to control the light.

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Example 7 - 3-Way Switch (Relay-Based 3-Way Control)

This example shows how to create a 3-way light switch setup using relays. A traditional 3-way circuit allows two switches to control the same light from different locations. In this wiring sample, each physical switch is replaced by a relay - but the operation is the same.

Only one power wire is switched, and the relays toggle the light depending on their current state.

• Activating either relay will toggle the light
• Activating both relays at the same time has the same effect as flipping both switches at once

This wiring method is especially useful because you can replace one of the relays with a physical light switch, giving you both computer control and manual control of the same light. When used correctly, this becomes one of the most flexible and powerful diagrams on the page.

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Example 8 - DC Motor Direction Control

This example demonstrates how to control the direction of a DC motor using two relays. By changing how the motor's leads connect to power, you can run the motor forward, reverse, or place it in a brake state. Braking is achieved by tying both motor terminals to the same power connection, which stops rotation through Faraday's Law.

Relay Operation Summary

• Relay 1 Off / Relay 2 Off → Motor Brake to +
• Relay 1 On / Relay 2 Off → Motor Forward
• Relay 1 Off / Relay 2 On → Motor Reverse
• Relay 1 On / Relay 2 On → Motor Brake to -

The capacitors shown are optional for small motors, but may be required in some situations:

• The induction suppression capacitor prevents the relay from shutting off due to motor back-EMF
• The 0.1µF filter capacitor reduces electrical noise, especially useful when powering sensitive electronics such as radios or amplifiers.

Capacitor Placement
• Place the induction suppression capacitor near the relays
• Place the filter capacitor near the motor
• Additional capacitors may be needed for certain motors

Important Note on Inductive Loads
Motors draw significantly more current at startup than during continuous operation - often 2-3 times their rated running current. For example, a motor rated at 5A (125VAC) may require 10-15A to begin turning. Always select a relay that exceeds the motor's initial inrush current, not just its running current. In this case, a 20-30A relay provides optimal performance and longevity.

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.