IR controlled by relay switch

I am a level C4 quadriplegic and use a box called a Envicom 10 (Environmental Control Unit) It is used to control electrical appliances, such as a fan or a lamp etc, by use of a single puff switch. It has a row of red lights along the front, with each light representing each appliance, plugged into the back. A tube plugs into a puff switch also on the front panel, the other end of the tube leads over to my bed, so when I am in bed, I can puff into the tube. When I puff once, the first red light flashes on for a few seconds then goes off, then the next light, then the next and so on. There are ten lights and after the last light flashers, it goes back to the first light and it cycles through the lights about 20 times then stops. So I can make the lights cycle by one puff and then I puff when one of the lights is on and that appliance comes on or off. So for example, if I wanted to turn one the reading lamp, I would puff once, the lights move, then when the light gets to the reading lamp, I puff and it comes on. On the back of the unit, there is about 5 places to plug in appliances. Also on the back there are also places to plug in two bared wires, these are simple on/off relays for controlling things like triggering alarms, call buzzers etc. I think they are low voltage relays.

I would like to control my air conditioner, but to turn on the air conditioner, I need to use the Remote Control which came with the aircon. So if I could wire the Envicom unit relay to the on/off button on my remote, I could control my aircon by puffing into the air tube in bed. Is there a gadget which has a relay input and a IR transmitter? I hope this hasn't confused people, but I'm wanting to find a solution. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated, thanks in advance.

Reply to
brizzy bloke
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I found these two with google,

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These Australian units and company look like they can do the job easily, and have been interfaced with an Envicom 10 unit.

Where are you located?

Also someone near you with electronics experience could open up your remote and hook up one of the low voltage on/off relays directly to the on/off button contacts inside the remote control itself. The feasibility of that would depend on if these relay outputs can be momentary on, and if not, how your remote and a/c unit deals with its on/off button being held down for at least a few seconds each time as you activate it on and off.

You could also use a universal learning remote control, hack that one up to the relays and save pulling the original remote apart if that suits.

Is it cooling only? Most modern aircon units have an 'override' switch, usualy a semi-hidden pushbutton under a panel, you may also find that if there is a way to jam or wire this button down, the aircon unit may come on in cooling mode set to ~21 degrees any time it has power.

Anyway there's a few ideas, hope this helps!

-- Cheers,

Marc

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Reply to
Marc Alexander

Try this web site. It is based in Melbourne, so you ought to get a reasonable response. He has a large range of kits, perhaps he will be able suggest a combination of them.

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Regards

Kevin Martin

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Reply to
Kevin Martin

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Have you tried TAD. TAD= technical aid to the disabled qld inc

3216 1733
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Gordon

Reply to
Gordon W

It is possible that Technical Aids for the Disabled

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can assist you. This type of problem may already have a solution. If your group moniker indicates where you live then the Qld branch can be contacted via mailto: snipped-for-privacy@technicalaidqld.org.au

Reply to
Ross Herbert

Sorry Gordon, I just sent off my post before reading your response to the OP, so your advice is duplicated.

Reply to
Ross Herbert

I wrote originally

Thankyou to those who replied to my question, you've been very helpful

Reply to
brizzy bloke

Hi Brizzy Bloke, let us know how you go with the project

Matt

Reply to
Matt H

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