Configure Relay Control (Dayforce Touch Clock Only)

This section describes how to configure optional relay control functionality on the Dayforce Touch Clock. You can configure clocks operating in standalone mode to close or open internal relays based on the results of clock entry validations or at scheduled intervals. Clocks operate in standalone mode when, in the <system> section of the clock’s config file, <local_punch_validation> is set to yes.

For example, you can configure the clock to open a relay for two seconds on any successful clock entry, while for any unsuccessful clock entry the clock opens a second relay for three seconds. The relays can be wired to external devices, such as bells, buzzers, or external lights.

Note: This section only describes how you can configure the clock software to support relay control. The clock needs to be in standalone mode and the hardware also needs to be wired to external devices, such as bells, buzzers, or external lights. For more information, contact the clock hardware supplier.

To enable the clock to open or close relays based on clock functions in the config file, specify:

<relay_control>
    <function_based enabled="yes">
      <accepted do1="10000" do2="none" />
      <rejected do1="none" do2="none" />
    </function_based>
    <schedule_based enabled="no"/>
</relay_control>

Replace each do1= and do2= entry with either ="none" to close the relay or the number of milliseconds the clock opens the relay for. In the example above, when clock entries are accepted, the clock opens the do1 relay for 10,000 milliseconds.

Administrators can control which functions trigger the relay control and which don’t by specifying rc="yes" or rc="no" in the <functions> section of the clock program:

<function id="in" key="F1" punchtype="Punch_In" class="com.dayforce.devices.function.Function" rc="yes" icon="shift_start" camera="yes" submit_bio_failure="yes" bio_off="no" />

In this example, the clock in function is configured to trigger the relay control. If the clock entry is accepted, the clock opens or closes the relays as specified in the <accepted> tag. If it rejects it, the clock opens or closes the relays as specified in the <rejected> tag.

Additionally, in the <functions> section, administrators can add a function that solely triggers the relay control by specifying: 

<function id="relay_control" key="F3" punchtype="RC" class="com.dayforce.devices.function.Function" rc="yes" icon="relay_control" bio_off="no" />

When assigned to one of the function buttons (in this example the F3 button), employees at the clock can trigger the relay control by pressing the corresponding function button. This configuration adds a “relay control” clock entry that triggers only the relay control without performing another clock entry (of a different type) at the same time.

Relay Control Schedules

You can also configure clocks to open or close relays based on a schedule. This involves: 

1. Setting up relay control schedules in Dayforce. See Configure Relay Control Schedules.
2. Assigning relay control schedules to clock devices. See Assign Relay Schedules to Clocks.
3. (Optional) Restricting relay control based on your employees’ schedules. See Restrict Relay Control Clock Entries by Employee Schedule.

You also have to update the clock config file to support relay control schedules.

In the clock config file:

1. In the <relay_control> section, set the enabled attribute to "yes" in the <scheduled_based> tag.
2. Save and publish the custom clock configuration.

See Update Custom Clock Configurations.