I am looking for a way to control a DC motor in something like Rule Machine. I want to power the motor in 1 direction run for a given time, then be able to switch polarity and be able to run it in the other direction. I know I could use some momentary switches, but I don't always want it to start and stop in the same place. I will be using this to move an object left or right along a 20ft track. I would think there would be some type of smart switch or relay to do this, but I am not finding anything that looks like it would work. I would greatly appreciate some help figuring this out. thanks
This sounds like you could accomplish this with a curtain or blind controller. Once the min/max points are set on the device (basicly how long the motor spins in either direction) you can set a 0-100 in RM to stop at just about any point in between the 2.
20ft is a long way for a bead chain blind/curtain controller, but something like a moes AM43 “might” work.
i was thinking about something like that, but I had not found anything I was sure would work, and I did not want to just start buying stuff. I did find this though and it looks like it might do what I want. Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Relay ZEN17
Yes, this might work… but i’m pretty sure you’ld have to do the timing in your RM automations to get the position correct. It could have a down side that if the hub is busy for any reason the timing and thus the position could be off.
thanks. I don't think that will be a problem. the position doesn't need to be precise. I just need it to move left or right every so often so it isn't stationary. I am using this to move an owl decoy to keep woodpeckers away from my house. I have strobe lights that flash every 5 mins for 10 seconds from sunrise to sunset, In the summer time I am going to add a water misting sprayer on a timer. i need to move the owl decoy around every so often and that also helps keep them away. it is war...
If the owl can be too far left or too far right then drift over time can be an issue, but you could mitigate that with contact sensors. If the owl is self resetting and can never be too far in either direction then yes the drift will not be an issue.
yeah that is something I was thinking about. I was also considering just have it mechanically auto reversing so have it when it reaches the end it just loops around and comes back. that way I don't have to reverse directions. just trying to do the simplest option that is automated...
For the zen17 or something simular, this would work well and keep things simple by focusing on movement in 1 direction.
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Since you mentioned war, some inspiration to deter them with lasers. In case things… escalate 
Automated Bird Repellent System | Keep Birds Away 24/7
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You can reverse polarity with a two relay Zigbee board, if Zigbee will reach out there. Or any two relay board that has interlock and NO, COM, and NC terminals.
Below is an example circuit given on the Amazon page, but it would be what you need. When one relay is open and the other closed, it will have one polarity, then when they switch states it will have the other polarity. The motor goes to COM on both relays. When the one relay is on, it gives + to COM, and the other closed relay connects - to com. Then you can reverse the states of the relays to switch polarity. The Interlock mode turns the other relay off when one is turned on, so they are never on together. You would need another relay to turn off the motor itself, by switching the + feeding the board, or turn off both relays.
i love it! out of my price range but I love it. now I just need a way to set up something similar with a laser pointer. i am not worried about motion activated, just kicking the laser on and moving it around every so often would be great!
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you did get me thinking again, I wonder if I could get something like this and do something similar.
one of the outdoor laser Christmas light things. not sure how bright they are, but Maybe bright enough so see in the day time. I could add it to a smart plug and turn it on and off through out the day
Not for nothing, good-old flash tape works pretty well. It keeps the birds out of our berries.
We keep the neighbors chickens out of our yard with one of those battery powered motion sensor sprinklers.
As much as I would like to do all this with Hubitat and automations, I just can't see the point when other, simpler, methods work.
The moving owl is a cool idea though.
thanks, I am trying to avoid the streamers and fish tape type things as i would have to hang them all over my 2 story house. it would look pretty bad. I have a destress call that helped a lot, but my wife can not stand hearing it. (it is music to my ears hearing them suffer) I have had to try to come up with another way that doesn't make noise.
I learn something new everyday, i never considered flash tape for that use case.
I agree, IDK if outdoor laser Christmas lights are going to be bright enough to deter birds in the day time, but it’s probably a better idea than mounting lasers to a PZT camera. I feel the lasers would need to have enough power to annoy the FAA but not enough for them to show up at your house. I dont know how many watts that would be 
lol i did consider for a short time about mounting a laser pointer to a ptz camera... 
I really only have 1 problem side on my house and I think I could set something up to only hit the house, but the problem is it is in direct sunlight most of the day. so yeah those Christmas lights probably are not bright enough
