# A simple way to control relay

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336>\
**Category:** Hardware\
**Created:** [29 January 2023 08:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336 "2023-01-29T08:09:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 15\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![magicfire](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/magicfire/32/93420_2.png) [@magicfire](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/magicfire)\
**Post date:** [29 January 2023 08:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/1 "2023-01-29T08:09:52Z")

</div>

When you need to control relays , usually you use a raspberryPi. Mostly the pi works great, however, when you need an all-in-one tool to  
_control realys_  
_communicate with 485 sensors_  
_read data from zigbee sensors_  
What you really need is a mighty netGate [PN6400](http://www.chvda.com/magicfire/products/52426771.html)  
And the Node-red node is simple to use as pictured below.

 ![1674979598315](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/9/b/9b33613873ae6343314ba8b9c23aade5594ebf40.png)

You can easily use MQTT to upload data and remote-control your external devices.  
We chvda company are now helping uers to develop their applications, so it's a good time to use our hardware.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [29 January 2023 10:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/2 "2023-01-29T10:28:35Z")

</div>

The device appears to be based on Ubuntu 16.04 which is no longer supported, unless you pay for ESM support.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [29 January 2023 12:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/3 "2023-01-29T12:19:39Z")

</div>

> [@magicfire](#):
>
> When you need to control relays , usually you use a raspberryPi

Not so at all! The Pi actually isn't a brilliant platform for GPIO in many ways. Most of us use an ESP or Arduino microcontroller.

> [@magicfire](#):
>
> What you really need is a mighty netGate [PN6400](http://www.chvda.com/magicfire/products/52426771.html)

Is this a sales pitch? If so, please mark it clearly as such.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [29 January 2023 13:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/4 "2023-01-29T13:52:21Z")

</div>

> [@TotallyInformation](#):
>
> > [@magicfire](#):
> >
> > What you really need is a mighty netGate [PN6400](http://www.chvda.com/magicfire/products/52426771.html)
> 
> Is this a sales pitch?

It seems to be.

Many of this users posts mention or link to this unit. Even the users avatar is a photo of the device  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/7/d/7d2641a3766a55a5cd144883bb80da30a15b2789.png)

- first post: [Recommendation for remote or wired digital I/O to combine with NR running on Raspberry Pi - #8 by magicfire](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/recommendation-for-remote-or-wired-digital-i-o-to-combine-with-nr-running-on-raspberry-pi/72463/8)
- next post ([OPC UA server giving “TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading ‘indexOf’)” - #3 by magicfire](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/opc-ua-server-giving-typeerror-cannot-read-properties-of-undefined-reading-indexof/73197/3)) is thinly veiled help about OPCUA but links to a doc with the title "畅维通达PN6400网关 ---用Node-RED搭建一个OPC UA服务器+客户端" (ENGLISH: Changwei Tongda PN6400 Gateway --- build an OPC UA server + client with Node-RED)
- Third post is around developing a node specifically for this PN6400 device.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [29 January 2023 16:46 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/5 "2023-01-29T16:46:43Z")

</div>

Well, happy to see people using specific hardware with Node-RED and even to see people promoting their hardware but only if it is clear that's what they are doing and if it is fair and balanced.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![magicfire](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/magicfire/32/93420_2.png) [@magicfire](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/magicfire)\
**Post date:** [30 January 2023 05:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/6 "2023-01-30T05:51:13Z")

</div>

ESM support seems only apply to x86 64bit system?  
In my experience, ubuntu 16.04LTS may widely work in embedded system applications.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![magicfire](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/magicfire/32/93420_2.png) [@magicfire](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/magicfire)\
**Post date:** [30 January 2023 05:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/7 "2023-01-30T05:53:56Z")

</div>

Yes ,an explication here.  
[about our products](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/recommendation-for-remote-or-wired-digital-i-o-to-combine-with-nr-running-on-raspberry-pi/72463/10)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![magicfire](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/magicfire/32/93420_2.png) [@magicfire](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/magicfire)\
**Post date:** [30 January 2023 07:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/8 "2023-01-30T07:39:40Z")

</div>

We have done plenty of work around running Node-RED on ubuntu device aka our netGate.  
Our aim is to introduce the PN6400 series products to users, just like ESP has done.  
At this time, we are looking for professional users to test our products and feedback their experience to us in order to continue improving the product series.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jbudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)\
**Post date:** [30 January 2023 08:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/9 "2023-01-30T08:56:02Z")

</div>

I looked at the site you linked but sadly I am far from fluent in Chinese so I can't tell how much your device costs, nor what it has to offer above a $5 microcontroller or a $15 Raspberry.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![magicfire](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/magicfire/32/93420_2.png) [@magicfire](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/magicfire)\
**Post date:** [30 January 2023 09:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/10 "2023-01-30T09:19:36Z")

</div>

Thanks for viewing.  
The price of PN6400 is US $200.  
Brief data of PN6400:  
cortex-A53 four cores  
1GB DDR3  
8GB eMMC  
ubuntu16.04.7LTS  
support Node-RED  
support Z2M

1 485 uart  
1 232 uart  
1 user-defined LED  
4AI+4DI+4DO+2AO  
2USB  
4G  
Wi-Fi  
ZigBee  
12~24V dc power in

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [30 January 2023 10:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/11 "2023-01-30T10:04:18Z")

</div>

> [@magicfire](#):
>
> In my experience, ubuntu 16.04LTS may widely work in embedded system applications.

Which is actually a problem and will restrict sales into many organisations. For example, in the UK, many organisations require that software and firmware on devices must remain current for the life of the product. That means that it must be possible to update it for the expected usage life, keeping all software at currently supported versions.

This is an area of growing awareness as more and more organisations end up with targeted malware that enters via poorly maintained IoT devices.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![magicfire](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/magicfire/32/93420_2.png) [@magicfire](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/magicfire)\
**Post date:** [30 January 2023 10:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/12 "2023-01-30T10:16:43Z")

</div>

Agree with you , so this is a good start for us to collect feedback from real world .  
Thanks. 😉

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HaroldPetersInskipp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/haroldpetersinskipp/32/42319_2.png) [@HaroldPetersInskipp](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/HaroldPetersInskipp)\
**Post date:** [30 January 2023 10:34 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/13 "2023-01-30T10:34:11Z")

</div>

What kind of testing are you looking for? In the past I've worked testing industrial hardware for "optical automation and modbus" that ran a version of the Android Open Source Project. I looked over the site a bit with a google translate, but couldn't find many details about it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![magicfire](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/magicfire/32/93420_2.png) [@magicfire](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/magicfire)\
**Post date:** [31 January 2023 06:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/14 "2023-01-31T06:07:41Z")

</div>

Such as intelligent agriculture / industry 4.0 application especially based on NR.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [1 April 2023 06:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/a-simple-way-to-control-relay/74336/15 "2023-04-01T06:08:36Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.