IcseCtl

IcseCtl is a library to control the ICStation USB multi channel relay modules (ICSE012A, ICSE013A, ICSE014A).

Initialization

The initialization of the devices is handled by udev. To set up udev:

sudo cp examples/icseudev.py /lib/udev
sudo cp examples/99-icsectl.rules /etc/udev/rules.d
sudo udevadm control --reload-rules

When a device is plugged in the relays are switched on by default. After detection the icsudev.py script switches them off.

Symbolic links /dev/ttyICSE012A, /dev/ttyICSE013A, /devttyICSE014A are created if a respective device is connected. If another PL2303 device is connected a link /dev/ttyPL2303 is created.

Initialization is logged in the system log.

Permissions

Per default, only root is allowed to use devices directly. On Debian and Ubuntu serial USB devices are assigned to group dialout. To allow a user to use the device call:

adduser USER dialout

Usage

The script examples/icsectl can be used to switch individual relays. The status is kept in a file in the user's home directory. If the file does not yet exist, it is assumed that all relays are switched off.

Caveats

The PL2303 driver may try to bind to the relay card. You can blacklist the pl2303 module by creating a file /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-pl2303.conf with:

blacklist pl2303

Links

An overview of udev rules is provided at http://www.reactivated.net/writing_udev_rules.html.

These are links to the devices on the vendor's site

• http://www.icstation.com/icstation-micro-control-channel-relay-module-p-4012.html
• http://www.icstation.com/icstation-micro-control-channel-relay-module-icse013a-p-4013.html
• http://www.icstation.com/icstation-channel-micro-relay-module-icse014a-p-5185.html

License

Copyright (c) 2016, Heinrich Schuchardt <xypron.glpk@gmx.de> All rights reserved.

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:

• Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
• Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.