This article covers the two different types of relays - powered contacts and dry contacts - and how to correctly connect the wires.
Prominent 51X and Edge 500 Series Controllers have three main ways to connect additional feed equipment: control powered contacts, dry contacts, and digital output. This article will focus on control powered contacts and dry contacts, the two types of connections.
Diagram:
1 - Relay 1
2 - Relay 2
3 - Relay 3*
4 - Relay 4
5 - Relay 5
6 - Power Distribution
Power Distribution
Main power coming into the controller is connected on the power distribution block. Devices needing power can have wires connected on the power distribution block. To insert or remove a wire from the Power Distribution Block, insert a small flathead screwdriver in the tab above the wire slot to allow for the wire to be inserted or removed. Remove the screwdriver to restore tension on the wire.
Input Labels
Labels can be seen underneath the contact blocks indicating what each input does on the controller. Below is what each label stands for:
L- Line Power
N - Neutral
PE - Ground
COM - The common wire connected here is linked to the NO (Normally Open) and NC (Normally Closed) side of the relay depending on the state of the relay (On/Off)
Relay Input/Output (I/O) labels
NO: Normally Open (the relay contact is open if powered off, meaning the controlled device would not receive power if off)
NC: Normally Closed (the relay contact is closed if powered off, meaning the controlled device would receive power if off)
If you are unsure which to use, consult an expert or use NO as most cases call for this type of relay use. The NC side of the relay is used very infrequently.
Relay 1 and 2
Relay 1 and 2 are powered relays with 120v. Powering devices off these relays require no further configuration. These cannot be configured as a dry contact which means they are not simply signal switches and carry power.
Relay 3 - 5
These relays are “dry contacts,” meaning they do not already have power. Dry contacts act as switches and do not supply power to the devices they control. These are used to switch on and off devices that do not need power from the controller. If the device simply needs an On/Off signal supplied, connect the two wires designated by the feed device's manual. Additionally, if needed, these relays can be used to interrupt power to remotely power on or off a device that is not getting its power from the controller.
To interrupt power:
Connect the Line voltage wire to the COM input. Connect the wire that, when connected to line voltage, provides power to the device on the NO input.
Basic Schematic:
However, if a device needs power from the controller, follow the directions below.
How to Power an external device with Relay 3-5
- Ensure the controller is powered off to avoid electrical shock.
- Connect a small jumper wire from “L” on the power distribution block to “COM” on whichever relay is being used.
- Connect the power wire from the external device to “NO” on whichever relay is being used.
- Connect the Ground wire to PE in the power distribution block
- Connect the Neutral wire to N in the power distribution block
*Your relay should look like relay 3 in the first photo above if steps completed correctly
FAQ
Why is my feed device turning on when the relay turns off ?
Check that the wires for this specific relay are not connected on the Normally Closed side of the relay. This would cause the feed device to be on when the relay is off and vice versa.
Why is my feed device constantly on?
Check that the feed device isn't wired to constant power on the power distribution block. If it is, it will need to be connected to the correct relay. If this isn't the issue, the relay may have failed, causing the relay to have constant power regardless of the state of the relay.
Support Contact: 888-702-8486 Support@VivoPoint.com
Note: Electrical systems can be dangerous. If you are unsure or uncomfortable with any part of this process, please consult a professional.