IR Kit

IRKit Hardware

I was tired of having to use 2 or 3 remotes to use our TV.   There is a remote for the DVR box which is for channel changing and DVR type functions.   Then there is a TV remote.  Fortunately the DVR remote controls the TV power but if I want to change HDMI channels then I have to dig up the TV remote.   The surround sound uses a Sony amplifier which of course has it's own remote.  In addition, our TV only has 2 HDMI inputs.  This isn't enough since I want to use the DVR on one HDMI, a Chromecast on another HDMI and either a PC computer, Raspberry Pi or a streaming box such as Roku on yet another HDMI.  There are external HDMI switch boxes but an HDMI switch box with additional HDMI channels of course means another remote.

The ultimate solution is to use that universal hand held computer device, the Smartphone.   All Smartphones are able to access WiFi so the ideal remote is a Smartphone communicating with a WiFi to IR bridge.   Customized IR commands such as changing HDMI channels or changing the TV channel or switching on the surround sound would be programmed into a web server.   The Smartphone displays the webpage and the user touches buttons on the page to send commands over WiFi to the WiFi-IR bridge.  The bridge gadget then transmits the appropriate IR command to the device we want to control.  The device receives an ordinary IR signal commanding it to perform the desired function such as changing channels, etc.

The key to this whole scenario is the WiFi to IR bridge.  Ideally the bridge should be Open Source so that future enhancements could easily be added to the device.   An extensive web search revealed several possibilities including DIY versions that require adding components onto a shield of an Arduino and somehow packaging the whole thing into something living room friendly without a bunch of wires hanging out everywhere.  Enter the IRKit.

The IRKit is sold on Amazon and is a consumer nightmare.  There are no instructions except for a piece of paper written in Japanese.  There is a website for the device but literally no  documentation.  The website shows a few command windows with sample Curl commands.  I can't imagine anyone other than an experienced engineer figuring this stuff out.  The engineer would have to be well versed in hardware, firmware, software and networking.

Remove 4 screws to reveal inside the Case

Remove 4 screws to reveal inside the Case

The great news of the day is that the IRKit comes n a beautiful plastic package.   Removing the 4 screws that hold the plastic cover down reveals a single circuit board.   This board contains an Arduino Leonardo clone, a WiFi module, IR Leds, an IR receiver and a micro USB port.  The micro USB supplies power to the board and also serves as a firmware programming interface for the Arduino clone.  When the  micro USB port was attached to my laptop the board was recognized by the Arduino IDE as a Leonardo.   Excellent!   Now I have the hardware basis   for my  own WiFi to IR bridge, just add software.

Installation Complete

After mounting the solar panels, hooking up the wiring and configuring the enphase solar power monitor on the network, I threw the switch and electricity began to flow.  Each solar panel reports it's production numbers onto the internet for viewing with a web browser.  Data is stored on a website for viewing and reporting.

Installed and generating Power!!!

MicroInverters

Under each 300 watt solar panel is a microinverter.   This box accepts the 36Volt DC leads from the panel and converts it to 240 volts AC for use in the house.  Waterproof connectors are used in both the 36 volt panel attachment and the cabling to microinverter 240 volt AC attachment.

One Microinverter ready for a panel over the top

First two panels mounted and plugged into microinverters

Panels bolted to rails with stainless clamps

Wiring

Once the panels were moved to a temporary location on the roof, it came time for wiring using the enphase microinverter cabling system.

The cabling terminates in a waterproof PVC junction box which is attached to waterproof conduit

Waterproof conduit goes to the master disconnect switch

Master disconnect with Midnight Solar surge supressor

Raising Solar Panels

After considering various schemes I decided to hoist the panels up the ladder using a come along.  The come along was fastened to a roof rafter by drilling a hole in the siding and passing a nylon rope through from the outside.

First panel attached to the cable ready for hoisting

The panel is pretty stable at the top of the ladder

A 2x4 nailed to the roof edge serves as a guide to easily slide the panel over the edge

The Renogy 300 watt panels arrived by truck from California.

Delivery of Renogy Solar Panels

The Panels came on a pallette which the driver pulled up the driveway with a hand truck.

Panels stacked in the garage

After unboxing the panels and storing them in the garage, the next job is to figure out how to move them to the roof.  Each panel is 77 inches long, 39 inches wide and weighs 51 pounds.  They are glass with an aluminum frame so care must be exercised in order to not damage them.

Solar Panels

I have been looking at panels, specifications and possible mounting locations for a solar panel installation for over a year.  Last week on July 23 I finally ordered 4 panels from Renogy Solar of 300 watts output each.  I also ordered 4 enphase microinverters, enphase cabling and a mounting rail system from various eBay vendors.  

I went on the roof early at 8 AM before the sun heat up the asphalt which would make it too hot to work with.

First stage was to mount the railing feet under the  asphalt shingles.

Mounting Feet with Mounting Rail Attached

The Mounting feet are screwed into a roof rafter and sealed with silicon sealer. The rails are mounted to the feet with stainlss steel hardware.

Completed Rails Mounted to the Mounting Feet