Converting AegisTecPlus Dry Contacts to Signal Contacts
The AegisTecPlus controller is designed with dry contacts (9 and 10), which means the controller does not supply voltage to the terminals. Typically, these dry contacts are used for heaters, which provide their own 24V signal to the control. However, in some applications, you may need to convert these dry contacts into signal contacts to provide a voltage signal. An example of this is controlling an external relay or contactor to swtich a greenhouse applicance. This article will guide you through the process of converting AegisTecPlus dry contacts to signal contacts.
(Note: This article is specifically for the AegisTecPlus controller. There is a separate article for the AegisTec controller.)
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Identify the dry contact terminals.
Locate the dry contact terminals on your AegisTecPlus controller. These terminals are labeled 9 and 10. In this article, we will assume that we are turning both 9 and 10 into signal contacts. See Image 1.1.
2. Connect the 24V DC internal power supply.
Run a wire from a terminal on the normally open bus bar to terminal 9 normally open, then jump to terminal 10 (see Image 1.2 below). Contacts 9 and 10 are now no longer “dry” contacts. When the relay above the contacts engages, 24V DC will be present on 9 and 10. (Note: 24 VDC will only show on a multimeter if the other prong of the multimeter is touching a terminal on the normally closed bus bar.)
3. Connect the contacts to the device.
Usually, turning the dry contacts into signal contacts means a contactor box will be used (e.g., 42-ECO1150, Advancing Alternatives’ Contactor Box). In that case, a common wire will be connected to one of the terminals (1-8) on the normally closed bus bar (see Image 1.3 below). This wire will go to the Common terminal in the Contactor Box.
Next, the signal wires can be run from 9 and 10. These wires will go to the input terminals in the interface box. This completes the wiring within the AegisTecPlus. (See Image 1.4 below.)
4. Test the setup.
Activate the AegisTecPlus controller and verify that the device is being controlled as expected. The dry contact should now function as a signal contact, providing a voltage signal to the connected device when activated.
Please note that if 9 and 10 are wired to an interface box controlling fans, you will want to go to the configuration menu on the controller and make the necessary changes.
By following these steps, you can successfully convert AegisTecPlus dry contacts into signal contacts, allowing you to control devices that require a voltage signal. If you encounter any difficulties or have further questions, please contact our support team for assistance.