Suggestion for a Relay Shield Variant

[W9TIM]

I have 5 of the LED units working together and using your guide and code it was very simple to implement. The addition of the 'On Air' option was a great improvement.

I would like to suggest a variant that doesn't use LED's but rather activates the Wemos Relay Shield so that a full size "On Air" light could be switched on and off following the state of the ATEM Tally or Streaming status. This would allow us to conserve the 4 Wifi ATEM connections while providing for control of other devices (lights)

I have constructed one using the M5StickC-Plus and the M5Stick Relay module. But I think the Wemos D1 with Relay Shield could implemented for a much lower cost (<$10) and could be incorporated inside many available low voltage "On Air" signs available at a low cost online.

I have the M5StickC running so that it activates the "On Air" sign when a live source & streaming are both active. This allows us to begin our streaming with a countdown screen or bumper clip with the light off and it only comes on when one of our 'live' sources is active in program mode. We use it to alert those conducting our services when they are "live on air". This works very effectively.

[AronHetLam]

Did you Notice the server functionality? You can have one unit act as a server that the other units can connect to, in order to free up connections on the ATEM. That way you can still use ATEM Software control.

The relay shields should be fine to use. I can see it connects to D1 if you use it as a shield, which connects to a blue pin. You can either just have the relay connected to a red pin with a wire, og change the pin numbers in this part of the code https://github.com/AronHetLam/ATEM_tally_light_with_ESP8266/blob/master/ATEM_tally_light%2FATEM_tally_light.cpp#L82-L104 Just make sure not to use the same pin number twice.

I can't really change the pin numbers in a new release, as it would break functionality for others. I hope that makes sense 🙂

[W9TIM]

Yes the prime attraction to this solution is the server functionality keeping as many connections on the ATEM freed up as possible. My suggestion is to create a relay version similar to the way the Tally_Test_Server was developed. This one would not utilize 2 LED’s but rather sacrifice LED’s for Relay functionality. It may be possible to keep one for status or testing – but in the application I described the others would be redundant.

By using the compiler options as you did with the Test Server this should minimize code re-development and continue to support the elegant solution to Arduino compiling that you have already demonstrated using the #define compiler directives and separate .ino files.

I am currently working on such a solution, however I appreciate the elegance and efficiency of your original code model.

W9TIM - Tim

[AronHetLam]

I see where you're going with this. I'd much rather not add any more #ifdef and #ifndef precompiler statements, as it decreases readability by a lot, and already introduced bugs in earlier releases.

As the relay shield uses D1 you should be able to just make a new .ino file where you put the following statements:

#define PIN_RED1 D1
#define PIN_BLUE1 D0

That way the red pin will trigger the relay, and the rest of the pins are not connected, except for ground of cause.

[W9TIM]

Yes, I think we are on the same page now.

There’s even a convenient enclosure .stl that includes the relay shield on Pintables. I appreciate your fine work on this project.

https://www.printables.com/model/41507-enclosure-for-wemos-d1-mini-with-the-relay-shield

[W9TIM]

I worked out a way to test for more complex conditions that make the On Air Light relay option even more flexible. I've attached my .cpp file that contains the modification notes at the top. For my original goal using the 'Relay' version as the primary connection to the switcher and connecting the traditional tally lights to it, I both conserve connections and also provide the 'On Air Sign' functionality I was looking for. - Your comments or further suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

ATEM_tally_light.cpp.zip

[W9TIM]

I found a false on condition possible when booting up and ATEM is not active. That has been addressed in the file attached.

Please note this modified version was constructed to support a RelayHat by re-configuring LED1, however, it can work seamlessly as a source for the basic versions as documented in the DIY guide. To add a relay-controlled light to their existing project or set of tally light modules. This code is only needed for the relay shield module.

ATEM_tally_light_Modified.zip