Solid State: A Practical Alternative to Mechanical Relays!

Mechanical Relays have a good home in low-cost control applications.  But for some users, only solid state switching will do.  Solid State Relays are ideal for users who require long term reliability, silent operation, or high induction tolerance.  Many inductive control applications require a solid state relay.  Inductive loads such as Motors, Valves, Pumps, Solenoids, and Large Transformers (including Fluorescent Lighting) benefit from the use of solid state relays because they reduce the chances of the inductive load interfering with the logic of the relay controller.

About USB Communications:

Our New USB Series Relay Controllers make it easier than ever to add computer controlled switching to your most demanding computer control applications.  Simply connect to your computer and this controller mounts as a Virtual COM Port on your PC, allowing easy programming from any language that supports serial communications.

This controller connects to the USB port of your computer and requires a 12VDC Power Supply.  Once powered up, the relay controller waits for a command.  A command consists of a few bytes of data.  Usually between 2 and 6 bytes.  Once the command has been received, the controller processes the command, and sends you back ASCII character code 85 to signal the completion of your command.

Read More About USB Communications

Reactor Relay with Key Fob Control

Customizable Key Fob Control WITHOUT Programming!

If you are looking for a solution to remotely control a Relay from a Wireless Remote control, then our Key Fob Reactor Relay Controllers will offer the most powerful solution available on the market today.  Not to be confused with single function low-cost solutions, our Key Fob Reactor Relay Controllers are years ahead!  Use a button to activate a Relay, use another button to deactivate a relay.  Use another button to toggle a relay.  Use another button as a momentary switch.  Key Fob Reactor Relay Controllers allow you to configure your Key Fob Buttons to control relays in just about any way you can think of.  Use a single button to control 8 relays using a Rotation.  Use a single button to activate a light for a pre-configured time period.  Step the number of active relays up and down using only 2 buttons, or trigger relays in binary sequences for simple 1-button controlled lighting effects.  Add sensors to your Reactor controller to make intelligent decisions!

Key Fob Distance:

The antenna that is included with the board provides between 200 and 300 feet of reliable operation within Line of Sight using 418 MHz RF frequency.  With an optional Long Range Externally Mounted Yagi Antenna that is available on purchase, you can Take Control of your Relays up to 3,000 feet away when used with a Key Fob with an Antenna.  A single Key Fob Remote can control relays on different Key Fob Reactor Relay Controllers.  Configuration is powerful and flexible with included software that can be found on this page with NO PROGRAMMING!  A Key Fob can be selected at checkout.

Autonomous and Computer Control...from Anywhere!

If you need to read a sensor from anywhere in the world, or control a switch from a distant location, the Reactor Series relay controllers will take control while you are away and give you worldwide access using our Free SignalSwitch.com. Ten Reactor Controllers is all you need to completely automate a large house. You don't need to be a programmer any more. Things have changed. There is a new way to bring the power of automation (once reserved for master programmers) to the average person who possesses basic computer skills. The Reactor Series relay controllers represent an entirely new technology, a new step forward, designed for the real world in mind.

How It works:

The Reactor controller must be configured using a computer.  All decisions are made based on your configuration settings.  Configuration settings are created and loaded into the Reactor controller using the NCD Configuration Utility.  The Reactor is usually configured using a USB communications module, but may be configured wirelessly.  Configuration is a simple Point and Click process, setting parameters to activate relays with user-defined limits.  Configuration files can be saved onto your computer or into the controller.  We have created many sample configuration files that can be loaded into the Reactor to help speed the configuration process.

Once configured, the Reactor CPU is constantly monitoring your Key Fob button presses using 8 analog inputs.  You can use all 8 analog input channels for to monitor your Key Fob buttons, or you can trade a few buttons and use  External sensors which may be used for more complex decision making tasks.  Key Fob Buttons and Sensors can be configured to trigger relays, relay timers and relay activation sequences.  Complex events can also be configured without any programming.  Use the Reactor as a Thermostat, a Motion Activated Light with a Programmable Timer, an Automatic Garage Door Closer using sensors.

External Sensors:

The Reactor Controller has Analog Inputs that can read switches, resistance changes, or voltages from 0 to 5VDC.  Higher or lower voltages will damage the Reactor, so care must be taken not to exceed these limits on the Reactor inputs.   We offer many sensors to help get you started, including Motion Detectors, temperature sensors, light sensors, and magnetic proximity sensors.  You can connect your own sensors to the Reactor if we don't offer what you are looking for.  The Reactor configuration will control how the sensor affects the Relay.

Controlling Relays with a Reactor Relay Controller:

Relays are associated with inputs or events depending on your configuration. Using our NCD Configuration Utility, each relay can be associated with just about any event, so it is possible to associate a relay with a Timer, or directly with an input or a counter (we call counters Rotations). A Rotation counter can be increased or decreased in value, and relays can be assigned to these counters to increase and decrease the number of active relays. A computer is an essential tool for configuration. Once configured, the Reactor controller can operate on its own, without a computer. The Reactor will never lose its settings. In fact, the communication module can be removed from the Reactor controller and used to configure another Reactor controller. This helps keep costs down. If you choose to leave the communication module installed on the Reactor, your computer can monitor inputs and relays, even take control of relays, and even use SignalSwitch.com to control the relays from anywhere in the world.

Computer Controlled Relays:

Software developers who need remote access to a Reactor controller will find themselves at home. The Reactor supports a very powerful computer-based command set, so it is possible for a computer to operate the relays and read sensor input. The computer can over-ride the Reactor decision logic, trigger events, and return control of the relays back to the Reactor Logic. Configuration settings are stored in files that can be loaded into the Reactor controller; we have provided a Reactor Sample Library to help get you started using the Reactor Series Relay controllers.

Many Communication Options:

Reactor Series Relay Controllers Offer Many Communications Options, Including USB, XSC Long Range wireless, 802.15.4 Point to Point, Bluetooth, RS-232, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and ZigBee ZB Wireless Mesh Networking with other communication options to come.  A communications module is required for configuration.  Once configured, the Reactor will work on its own or a computer may use the communications module to take control of the Reactor for computer control.