Z-Wave NOVO curtain motor controller

Approach

I utilized a Z-Uno project module (https://z-uno.z-wave.me) for the Z-Wave controller. According to Novo tech docs, they have a contract wired interface (RJ12), which makes everything really simple: the Z-Uno will supply Z-Wave interface and will control a curtain motor though dry contacts.

Hardware design

The 5v power comes from DC barrel jack (5×2.1mm). Then to control the wires I only needed 4 transistors with 4 base resistors, and an RJ12 socket.

Parts list below:

The PCB is one-sided and very basic because I made with my tiny home CNC. I only used through-hole contacts since they are simpler for me to solder (YMMW).

Controller firmware

I used first generation Z-Uno that are typically programmed with Arduino IDE.

The code is here: https://github.com/avignatenko/novo2zwave.

It maps curtain controls into five buttons, each button to a motor action: continuous open/close, stepped open-close, and stop. The only tricky part is releasing virtual switches. NOVO expects signals to come from real momentary switches, and stay pressed for certain time, like 0.5-1sec in order to trigger the action. That was simulated in the code, only requiring z-wave controller to send one ‘switch on’ signal.

That’s it.

Lessons learned

• No need for a separate DC jack – easier to reuse micro-usb plug
• Use MOSFETs

References

• Gerber files
• Code