Intellicenter AUX Relay Electronically and Mechanically Switched

[gigi747]

I'm hooking up equipment pad lights and have them wired to an AUX relay so that I can turn them on via the Intellicenter app. Sometimes it is a pain to use the app and a regular old mechanical switch is better.

Is the any reason to not wire in a switch between the line and load terminals of my relay, other than the mechanical switch always having priority over the relay?

 

[ajw22]

Is the any reason to not wire in a switch between the line and load terminals of my relay, other than the mechanical switch always having priority over the relay?

No, although for safety I would put a label in your IntelliCenter about the manual switch bypass and that the pool light can be hot even with the relay off.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

It’s not good to leave a relay in the active state all the time. These are not old electromechanical relays but solid state ones. I won’t get into the underlying semiconductor physics of how they work but they are better left in an OFF state rather than a perpetual ON state with no current flow. They will degrade faster that way.

If using the App makes it more difficult to use the light then simply rewire the light to a dedicated switch and power source (either a breaker if you have a spare or the pull power from the back of the auxiliary outlet on the panel).

 

[ajw22]

Wiring a mechanical switch to bypass the relay will not leave the relay in an active state. I did not read this as activating the relay coil. The mechanical switch closes the light circuit while the relay is off. Only if the switch is off would the relay then control the light.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Wiring a mechanical switch to bypass the relay will not leave the relay in an active state. I did not read this as activating the relay coil. The mechanical switch closes the light circuit while the relay is off. Only if the switch is off would the relay then control the light.

OK. So something like a three-way switch setup with traveler wires ... I suppose that would work as long as all the wires are correctly color coded to avoid someone shocking themselves ...seems really complicated to me ... just put the light on a mechanical switch and be done with it. Honestly, sometimes we "over automate" things in this world ... simpler is very often better ...

 

[ajw22]

I was not even thinking of a 3 way switch which complicates things.

The SPST mechanical switch bypasses and overrides the relay. If the light is on with the mechanical switch the relay cannot override it. With the mechanical switch off the relay can control the light.

KISS.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Sorry ... I need a wiring diagram to look at. My only concern when you have two switches controlling the same object is that you can inadvertently make a neutral go hot. In that case, you endanger anyone who might be working on the wiring. 120V isn't lethal but it's no fun getting zapped either ... I tend to be a bit careful around electronics as I once got zapped by a 10kV x-ray power supply capacitor ... thankfully the amount of current involved was tiny and the only thing the discharge did was cause my arm to lock up and involuntarily throw a screw driver across the room ... thankfully it hit the wall and no one in the room at the time.

 

[ajw22]

My only concern when you have two switches controlling the same object is that you can inadvertently make a neutral go hot. In that case, you endanger anyone who might be working on the wiring.

I agree which is why I recommended the label in the panel.