MaxMon's Actuator-RF is one of our most powerful features, enabling you to switch mains-powered electrical devices on or off at your remote property (like lights, heaters, dehumidifiers or pumps) on a daily schedule, automatically in response to sensor alerts, or via our remote control web application. Here's our step-by-step guide to getting it working.
IMPORTANT: Please do follow these steps as the process of 'training' third-party remote control power sockets to respond to the Actuator-RF is not 100% obvious :)
Pre-requisites
This page assumes you already have a Quatropus unit with external sensors connected to the Android phone and working with the MaxMon app. If not, please return to Getting started.
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You'll also need an Actuator-RF module plugged into the Quatropus and one or more supported remote control power sockets or strips. You can buy remote control power sockets direct from us (see Accessories in our online shop) or purchase them separately. If you buy the sockets from us, at the same time you buy a Quatropus bundle that includes an Actuator-RF and pre-configured phone, we'll pre-configure them to work together out-of-the-box! |
Configuration
Run the MaxMon app and go to "Settings> Actuators". |
However, you can see that the Actuator-RF module is present because the message "Actuators available (MENU to add)" appears at the bottom of the screen. |
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Note that actuators are initially disabled, as shown by the ON|OFF toggle button to the right of the actuator being disabled (grey). |
Press "Save". |
Most remote control sockets don't have special settings, but DO require you to 'train' the socket to recognise MaxMon as its controller (see below). |
Touch the ON|OFF button to toggle its state to ON. |
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So "Disable all" the actuators, enable the to-be-trained actuator from its settings screen, train it and then "Enable all". |
Tap the button beside "Energenie 4-socket - 1" to toggle it ON or OFF. You should hear the corresponding socket on the Energenie power strip switch ON or OFF (the Energenie sockets also have a little status light above the socket). Congratulations! You can now control your power socket from anywhere in the world (see MaxMon remote control), for example switching on a noisy food mixer to startle your dozing cat out of its torpor and back to guard duty. Note: the Quatropus Actuator-RF module repeats its ON|OFF commands every few seconds (in case a command is missed). So if the MaxMon app is showing a socket as being ON, and you switch it OFF at the socket, it will soon switch back on again. |
So you can switch on a light, heater, bilge pump or dehumidifer in response to sensor alerts or scheduled tasks. You can even add actuator actions to sequences, for example switching on a light before taking a photo in response to a motion alert, then switching off the light a little later. You're no longer just monitoring ... you're taking control! |
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Other possibilities
There is more you can do with the Actuator-RF than described. The Actuator-RF emulates the handheld remote control that comes with the remote control power sockets, with each actuator on the "Settings> Actuators" screen emulating an ON|OFF button pair on the handheld remote control. So there is nothing to stop you training a single MaxMon actuator to simultaneously control multiple remote control power sockets. Please consult the documentation that comes with the remote control power socket for details.