Aux port relay - need to command open and closed - no voltage applied

ArduCopter Copter 4.1
1

I’m configuring a shutter on a Sony camera - using the Sony Multi-Port connection.

I started by duplicating the configuration I had on another copter with a Naked GoPro.

There I followed the doc instructions - assigning channel-7 to camera relay, and setting relay_pin to “55” for the pins at AUX-6 on the carrier board.

This sends about 3 volts on the AUX-6 signal pin, for the specified number of milliseconds. This operates the Naked GoPro shutter perfectly.

This however failed to trigger the Sony shutter.

I discovered that to trigger the shutter, I simply need to momentarily close the circuit between the trigger and ground.

This means I need the carrier board AUX-6 to function as a “switch” only - open and closed - the default being open, closed when I “press the button” by activating channel-7.

I have no idea if this is possible. So far, I’ve seen nothing in the docs that speak to this.

Could someone please offer me some guidance? Many thanks!

Addendum - I suppose I could wire up a low voltage relay to do this - but if it can be done by the Cube and Carrier Board - it would save me the trouble.

2

You need to configure that particular output as relay instead of PWM
https://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/common-relay.html

3

By default, AUX-5 and AUX-6 are both “relays” - but they don’t appear to act as “switches.” From what I’m learning, I need to have the output of AUX-6 command a real relay, to function as a switch.

4

It’s probably all this old gizmo had on it:
Sony Camera Trigger
Here is another one:
Camera trigger

5

Those pins are TTL level relay trigger pins. Unless your autopilot hardware specifically includes relays on board, that’s all they are (any given “relay” pin will provide ground or 3.3/5v depending on the logic level of your board - a binary 0 or 1). The intent is to use them to trigger a relay. If you need relay functionality, add a relay (or MOSFET or transistor).