Expander Station 4: 4 outlet expander station with trigger cable for multiple devices control

What the 4RS-1 Does

The TrolMaster 4RS-1 is a hardwired power expansion module designed to sit between a single Hydro-X device station and up to four load devices simultaneously. A single 120–240V trigger cable connects the 4RS-1 to your existing device or control module. When the Hydro-X activates that module, the 4RS-1 closes each of its four relays in sequence — one outlet every three seconds — rather than throwing all four at once.

That sequential startup is the core engineering benefit: high-draw devices like HPS ballasts, dehumidifiers, CO2 generators, and exhaust fans carry significant inrush current at startup. Firing them in a staggered pattern keeps your circuit from spiking and avoids nuisance breaker trips or relay stress that can shorten equipment life. The module mounts to a hardwired 120/240V circuit rated up to 50 amps at 240VAC, with internal three-wire terminals accepting wire up to #6 AWG.

Who Needs This Module

Any commercial or multi-room operator running a TrolMaster Hydro-X system who needs to control more than one device per zone from a single device station channel. Common scenarios include: running banks of supplemental lighting on a single lighting control channel, grouping multiple CO2 generators or exhaust fans behind one CO2 or fan station output, or managing multiple dehumidifiers in a large flower room from a single humidity station trigger.

The 4RS-1 is also the right answer when you're commissioning a new facility or expanding canopy and need to add device capacity to an existing Hydro-X install without purchasing additional base controllers. Rather than adding controller hardware, you extend the reach of what you already have — one trigger cable out of your existing device station, four controlled receptacles on the wall.

Key Features and Electrical Specs

Each of the four outlets is managed by its own independent power relay rated at 25 amps, giving you individual switching integrity per device rather than a shared relay that de-rates under partial load. The hardwired input accepts a 120/240V supply circuit up to 50 amps at 240VAC. Internal three-wire terminals accommodate wire up to #6 AWG, allowing a robust feed from a sub-panel without the limitations of a standard plug-in connection.

Operating temperature range is 41–140°F with humidity tolerance up to 99% non-condensing — appropriate for the high-moisture environments typical of commercial cultivation rooms. Package dimensions are 275mm × 255mm × 95mm at 1.5 kg shipping weight. The unit is compatible with any TrolMaster plug-in style device module — lighting stations, CO2 stations, humidity stations, fan stations, and similar — without requiring firmware changes or additional adapters.

Fitting the 4RS-1 Into Your Control Architecture

The 4RS-1 slots cleanly into an existing Hydro-X wiring scheme. Your device station continues to receive its signal from the Hydro-X controller as normal. The trigger cable from the device station plugs into the 4RS-1, and the 4RS-1 takes over switching for the physical loads. From the Hydro-X's perspective, nothing changes in programming — schedules, set points, and sensor responses all operate identically.

For operators spec'ing new builds or retrofitting growing zones, the 4RS-1 can consolidate what might otherwise require multiple device stations into a single channel, simplifying wiring and reducing the number of RJ12 ports consumed on the base controller. When combined with TrolMaster's modular ecosystem — CO2 sensors, temp/humidity stations, lighting adapters — the 4RS-1 fills the gap between a single control output and the real-world reality that most commercial grow rooms run multiple identical devices per zone.