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apc-power-strip

Sketch to wirelessly control the APC power strip.

Setup

Depending on your platform, you may need to install the FTDI driver to be able to communicate with the XBee. Go to http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm and select the driver appropriate for your platform.

You may need to reboot after installing the driver :-/

The XBee built into the power strip is set to talk with the XBee on Robby O'Connor's XBee explorer. If you are well versed in the ways of the XBee, you may install XCTU-ng and change the settings.

Mind you, XBees are relatively hard to work with, there's a bit of voodoo involved, so really be sure you know what you're doing or you'll brick one or both XBees, or make them unable to talk to each other.

I set the external XBee to be a coordinator, and I'm pretty sure I set the destination address of the power strip XBee to 0/0, so it will always talk to whoever the coordinator is, so setting any XBee S2 up as a coordinator should make it able to talk. If the previous sentence makes no sense to you, don't mess with the settings!

Usage

You can hit 'h' to get help. The help is as follows:

    *** HELP ***
    Commands are followed by one or more numbers indicating the relay to change
        nxx... turn relays on
        fxx... turn relays off
        txx... toggle relays
        c turn off all relays

Where xx is one or more numbers between 0 and 7. For now, 7 corresponds to relay 1, and 0 to relay 8. The sketch in this repository fixes the ordering.

Also, if you don't have local echo set and forget your place or make a mistake, you can hit ESC or x while entering numbers and cancel the current command.

Hacking

The XBee is fairly hard to work with, a bluetooth solution may be better, and/or a Nordic chip. If you want to change the wireless configuration, please create a topic branch named for the technology used, and update the Connecting section of this readme with instructions.

Also, be sure to disconnect the Arduino completely from the power strip circuitry before plugging in the USB cable. Else you'll let out blue smoke.

DANGER

The power strip switches mains voltage. Assume ANY wire inside is carrying 120VAC. Be sure to unplug before opening the power strip. Neither Hack Manhattan nor I am responsible for any electrocutions.