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220 volt switching — Parallax Forums

220 volt switching

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2000-08-22 19:53 in General Discussion
Hi group,

I need to control some industrial equipment rated at 220 vac @40ampere.
Normally some heavy duty relays are used to just shut it on and off. I was
wondering if anyone had any experiance switching a heavy load like this.
Should I use a solid state relay? or make one from semiconductors or even go
with a electro-mechanical relay. The switching will only be on and off, and
nothing rapid. I am using a BSII to control it. Any ideas for a practical and
cost effective means?

Thanx

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-08-21 23:09
    Digikey lists a solid state relay that might operate directly from a Stamp,
    (they don't list input current). It is an SCR type rated to 280vac and 50
    amps. Digikey part no CC1045-ND, $34, made by Crydom. Just make sure your
    load doesn't have an inrush current exceeding the 50 amps. Catalog page
    482.

    www.digikey.com

    Ray McArthur

    Original Message
    From: <electronguy@a...>
    To: <basicstamps@egroups.com>
    Sent: Monday, August 21, 2000 5:38 PM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 220 volt switching


    > Hi group,
    >
    > I need to control some industrial equipment rated at 220 vac @40ampere.
    > Normally some heavy duty relays are used to just shut it on and off. I was
    > wondering if anyone had any experiance switching a heavy load like this.
    > Should I use a solid state relay? or make one from semiconductors or even
    go
    > with a electro-mechanical relay. The switching will only be on and off,
    and
    > nothing rapid. I am using a BSII to control it. Any ideas for a practical
    and
    > cost effective means?
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-08-22 02:14
    How about a contactor?

    On Mon, 21 Aug 2000 17:38:27 EDT electronguy@a... writes:
    > Hi group,
    >
    > I need to control some industrial equipment rated at 220 vac
    > @40ampere.
    > Normally some heavy duty relays are used to just shut it on and off.
    > I was
    > wondering if anyone had any experiance switching a heavy load like
    > this.
    > Should I use a solid state relay? or make one from semiconductors or
    > even go
    > with a electro-mechanical relay. The switching will only be on and
    > off, and
    > nothing rapid. I am using a BSII to control it. Any ideas for a
    > practical and
    > cost effective means?
    >
    > Thanx
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-08-22 04:03
    You will need to use Contactors in your application. I am assuming that you
    are talking about a 220VAC SINGLE phase system? Some good contactors are
    put out by Siemens, ABB, GE or Struther's Dunn. You will also need slave
    relays that will actually interface with the BS2 since the BS2 can only
    source a max of 25ma. I suggest connecting your BS2 to a NPN transistor,
    which will inturn switch a ground for a slave relay. The slave relay will
    then pull in the contactor.
    A good 5v slave relay is the LKS series by Aromat. I've used this one
    before and it works well. However, any 5v slave relay will do as long as
    the contact ratings are within the range of the contactors coil rating that
    you pick out

    Hope this helps and good luck.
    Steve Tatum

    Original Message
    From: agarb@j... [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=xI9ZdVdSwUEv7TydGc6fuyaoqWOPgoYqxq65rzPiDZlPl3xartHEMKY5UPrEyIRAdVN2Oed5RGK4]agarb@j...[/url
    Sent: Monday, August 21, 2000 8:15 PM
    To: basicstamps@egroups.com
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 220 volt switching


    How about a contactor?

    On Mon, 21 Aug 2000 17:38:27 EDT electronguy@a... writes:
    > Hi group,
    >
    > I need to control some industrial equipment rated at 220 vac
    > @40ampere.
    > Normally some heavy duty relays are used to just shut it on and off.
    > I was
    > wondering if anyone had any experiance switching a heavy load like
    > this.
    > Should I use a solid state relay? or make one from semiconductors or
    > even go
    > with a electro-mechanical relay. The switching will only be on and
    > off, and
    > nothing rapid. I am using a BSII to control it. Any ideas for a
    > practical and
    > cost effective means?
    >
    > Thanx
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-08-22 19:50
    Hi:

    Are the loads you are switching motors and if so are they 3 phase?

    Normally one would use a standard motor starter contactor ( that is a big
    relay :-) ) with a 110 vac coil and that would be switched using smaller low
    power relays such as octal base or the subminiature cube types which would
    have 5 vdc or 12 vdc or 24 vdc coils in them. This has been a time proven
    cost efficient and very reliable method of controlling higher voltage and
    current loads. Of course one must use the proper RC snubbing network across
    the coils of the motor contactors and a reverse diode on the coils of the dc
    relays.

    Solid state relays would work but would likely not be as reliable nor would
    they be able to switch the 3 phase loads. However if the load is a single
    phase on then the solid state relay would be much more attractive.

    Hope this helps
    Randy
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-08-22 19:53
    Steve:

    Your example works well also for 3 phase applications since you are only
    switching the coils of the contactors. I do that all the time. By the way,
    W.W. Grainger carries the Telemecanique line of motor control devices and
    some are not all that expensive, depending upon the loads of course.

    Hope this helps too.

    Randy A.
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