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machinon Big Hardware

Atmel Xmega processors

X

2

High accuracy Frequency Input

 1

X

Isolated Digital Inputs configurable as status change report or 32bit counter

16

X

Digital input status LEDs

X

16

Digital Outputs (open drain)

X

16

RS485 interface

 1

X

Push buttons

X

4

Group 3.png

X

LCD graphic dot matrix backlit display

X

Real Time Clock with battery backup

X

Analogue Inputs 0-10Vdc or 4 to 20mA at 14bit resolution with a precision of 0.1%

6

X

Current Transducer / Rogowski coil inputs at 24bit True RMS

16

X

Digital Output status LEDs

X

Generic status LED

with Raspberry Pi 

machinon is an independent Smart Extension board

Combined with the popular Raspberry Pi into an advanced DIY Programable Logic Controller (PLC) & Building Management System (BMS) super controller. All the I/Os have been designed with industrial tolerance in mind, so it lasts many years within the building.

Motion Sensors
Doors and Windows
Amps CTs
Locks
Sensors Temp/Hum
Solar PV
IP Cameras
Energy kWh meters
HVAC control
EVs
Relay control
and monitor
ModBus
Switches
USB Wireless protocols
Flow Meters
Alarm
Custom screen messages
Valves

To simplify the configuration and management of all those I/Os, we have added a smart configuration web UI so you don’t have to worry about setting interrupts, or behaviour status after a power down.

Config forms.png
  • Each Digital input can be setup individually to report status change or as a pulse counter

  • Digital Input reporting interval for the counters can be customised (ie report every minute)

  • Possible to inverse digital input status (ie high when is low and viceversa)

  • Each counter can have its own slope, offset and measure type configured (ie energy)

  • Totaliser counters are stored in non volatile memory, so even if the mains power goes away, you still keep the total counts. 

  • Analogue inputs have a sampling rate of 1Hz with different reporting options or when requested by the Host software

  • Each Analogue input has its own slope, offset, input type and sensor type

  • Each Analogue input can report on XYZ factor change

  • CT inputs can report Power or Current and have their own slope

  • Digital Outputs can be configured to start as ON or OFF after a power cycle

  • RS-485 port available directly to the Raspberry Pi (ie Modbus)

  • LCD display is setup by default as a 7 x 21 alphanumeric display for easy interface using standard MySensors commands. 

So what can I do with use these features?

Imagine you need to wire an alarm system, connect to some energy meters, measure temperature at the return of your Heat Pump and connect some CTs (current transducers) to measure Power on some electrical circuits of the building.

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machinon_photo.png

To do this, before even having any Smart Home software in place, you need to make sure that the I/Os are able to:

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  • Trigger an interrupt every time motion is detected, a door is open or a meter pulse is counted. This interrupt needs to be processed and send to the Raspberry Pi, no software delays.

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  •  In general computers are not great a fast and accurate I/O interrupts, so these need to be captured by the machinon board, count, converted into some sensible data (ie kWh) and backup in ROM energy totalisers in case there’s a power cycle.

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  • The temperature sensor for your Heat Pump, what value do you report? Do you report just one reading, the average? Do you report always the same, or just on change value? If on change of value, what is the threshold? And what about converting the value to something meaningful like temperature. All these options are taken care of with machinon.

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  • The signal from a CT is very small and sensitive and requires a dedicated ADC interface to do it right and accurately. Then, when to report?, what to report?, etc. All taken care of with machinon

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  • Data logging, if for whatever reason there's a reboot and no network connection, your system will still require to know the exact date and time to keep logs in place. machinon comes with built in Real Time Clock

The vision of machinon is to enable all those fantastic Open Source softwares available out there.

 

A great hardware is nothing without great software, so make sure to check the software section!

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