Hello everyone. I'm kinda of making a project for my apartment. I will be using ( IZOKEE D1 Mini NodeMcu Lua 4M Bytes WLAN WIFI Internet Development Board Base on ESP8266 ESP-12F for Arduino ) to control some LED strips from my phone through Blynk app. The second thing is : I think to install touch switches for the 230v downlights ( which are going to be just signal ones ) which also to be connected to the D1 mini so I can control from both places. The only thing that I'm not sure is : what type of relays to use for my case to switch the 230v lighs?

 

Welcome to AAC.

Lightning or Lighting?

 

the 230v downlights ( which are going to be just signal ones )

What sort of signals?

 

There are "special purpose" lighting relays. When controlled by an automation system, you likey want them to be latching so they will return to the same state after a power failure.

A "rented" apartment might pose a problem. UPB and Insteon are power line at least in the US. One of these systems combines RF and Power line control. There are serial interfaces to the power line. Not really sure about the openness of those protocols. X-10 is probably less reliable. With a 230 line voltage, your not likely in the US.

Now, in the US, they want a neutral run to the switch. We have split-phase 240 or a 240 V center-tapped service. The center tap is ground/neutral at ONE point. Grounds and Neutrals are kept separate. A normal switch would then have ground (protect a metal box/switch) and a HOT entering the box and thus a switched HOT leaving. You can't draw power from ground hence the need for a neutral.

 

Yes I'm in the UK. So basically with D1 board which is wifi controllable from the app, also I want to control the 230V lights from the switch itself as well ( so is kinda 2 way controllable ) . I've been thinking to use switches which are at maximum 5V but still can't find such one and the load to be connected to other device ( a relay which also I'm not sure which type would work for the 230v lights ). If you guys have any idea or sujest me in what other way I can achieve that and I will order samples to get it working .

 

I want to control the 230V lights from the switch itself as well

That could involve a modification of the apartment wiring. Is your landlord happy with that? You would need to check if having mains voltage and low voltage circuits sharing a back-box complies with the latest IEE Wiring Regulations.

 

That's the thing they building now the flats and I have some time until it comes for the wiring . I have spoken with the builder as I am electrician myself and either I will do the installation or tell them where to leave the cables ( such as positions ). I think to use this type of relay for switching the mains but still don't know what switches to use between the D1 board and the relay. Or if I use 230V switches it might become more complicated and have to oull more wires. As my idea is: the consumer unit will be in the utility room which is a small one. All my electronics and transformers will be placed there. To each LED strip ( for kitchen and living room i will pull cat 5 cables with output of 24v) these will be controlled only by Blynk app through D1 wemos board. Next is the 230v lights from the same utility room I will pull cables to each circuit controlled by the relay and only to the switches I will draw cat 5 cable ( with maximum of 5v as the D1 has output of 5v ). In this case I will have like modern touch switches on/off in the rooms and at the same time controlled by the Blynk app.

 

Link for the relay :
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1ch-5V-L...elf-locking-Trigger-Switch-Board/332677481702

 

They make lighting contactors: e.g. https://www.alliedelec.com/catalog/catalogpages/201112/360.PDF

Commercial lighting panels: https://www.hubbell.com/hubbellcont...cial-Lighting-Control-Panels-System/p/2135912

At this point in the game, you have the ability to do DALI LED lighting and that may be the real way to go.

You run a network like cable that provides the DALI power, not the LED power, I think. It;s a RS-485 network. You cab have local dimmers

Some of the gizmo's have built in batteries fr emergency lighting, It needs some sort of powerfail signal to operate.

If nothing else, pre-wire for DALI. Some URL's to chew on. Then find some more.

https://www.buildings.com/news/industry-news/articleid/1463/title/dali-explained

https://www.mysmart.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MYSCTI-DALI-SmartGuide_email1.pdf
Austrailia has some unique wiring practices.

No means an expert, but modern buildings as they say should be running DALI.

Now convince the contractor to wire the building for DALI.

Some initial places are emergency lighting and occupancy based lighting.

https://www.tridonic.com/com/en/download/Emergency_Lighting_Overview_EN.pdf

https://www.cleverhome.com.au/manuals/Clipsal-Schneider-DALI-Control-overview-installation.pdf

It's my understanding that certain versions of DALI can do self-testing of emergency lighting. There is no need to go around every so often and see if the exit signs work for instance.

 

You may find the SonOff range of devices helpful. very cheap and quite an active hacking community.
ESP8266 based too.
https://sonoff.itead.cc/en/

 

Thank you "KeepItSimpleStupid" and "dendad" for your suggestions and help