Hi there, I have electromagents I want to run when the engine is running. ChatGPT lead me down the wrong path and now I no longer trust it. Im trying to use my Orion-smart to trigger a standard automotive 4 pin relay that will then power the magnets. ChatGPT told me to use the H pin of the Orion for triggering the relay, that didnt work. Its now telling me to use the input which seems totally wrong as that gets a constant 12v if engine is on or off. Is there any way to use the Orion to trigger these on?
I have a cerbo gx too, I can use the relays and set automation to? but with only 2 of those, I already have ideas for them, so Id rather use the orion, tho I could sacrifice one relay on the cerbo if needed.
The H/L terminals for the Orion are for remote switching the Orion on and off. That is its only use.
What you could potentially do it use the output of the orion to switch a relay on and off to switch on your magnets if you are really trying to avoid the Cerbo use.
So I probed the screw heads that attach the output wire with a multimeter, and even with the engine not running its reading 13-14v so not sure how that would work either?
They are powered by my 12v “house” system through a 4-pin relay, so that they dont need power from the trigger source, I just need a source for when engine is running. Chatgpt had me thinking this would be way too easy lol.
The magnet is indeed working through the 4-pin relay, cause when I hit the wire coming from pin 86 against a 12v source it switches the relay on, and off when disconnected.
Some time ago i used a relay and two diodes to get close to an engine running signal.
I used the starter signal to activate the relay coil over a diode, this switched the relay on when the starter was engaged. The common of the contact was fed by ignition power, the NO output was fed to the load but also over the second diode to the relay coil again.
This gave me a signal that was enabled upon starter engagement and disabled upon ignition switching off. Its only kind of an engine running since the starter engaging does not guarantee that the engine actually started, but i was happy enough with the result, since in the event of the engine not starting i would very likely not let the ignition on for long.
If the orion is the only one charger for that battery, you can sense the charge current of the orion: turn some windings of the charge wire around an reed relay. This will close when a magnetic field appears. Perhaps you need a small relay as an driver.
Tap into the oil pressure warning switch wire. When the switch grounds (or goes high, depending on the vechile), the engine is running.Use that signal to drive the relay.
I have the 8 way, so pin 2 (engine run) is what I need.
my question is tho, I dont think that just connecting pin 2 to my relay will complete the circuit since its now coming from my van battery and needs a ground. So i think i would have to connect pin 1 (ground) to the relay as well. is it ok to connect the grounds of both my “house” lifepo system and my van battery together at the relay? I know postives would be a NO. i dont want to harm ethier systems.
but there will be from the battery on the oher side