OT(slightly):Monitoring active circuits
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I monitor the rec.boats.electronics NG. There is a discussion of how to
monitor (with an LED ) if a circuit is active. Most cruising yachts have a
power panel with switchs for such things as the bilge pump or navigation
lights. While one can simply look and see if the switch is on, it would be
nice to be able to monitor the 'on-ness' with a bright LED. These circuits
are typically 12 volt DC or possibly 120 volt AC with current ranging from 1
to 10+ amps. Is there a simple (and inexpensive) way to do this without
rewiring the circuits? Not necessarily looking for a computer based
solution, just a simple solution.
Any enlightenment will be appreciated.
TIA
Vic
________________________________________________________
Victor Fraenckel - The Windman vfraenc1@n...
KC2GUI www.windsway.com
Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite
Read the WIND
"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long
and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival."
- Winston [noparse][[/noparse]Leonard Spencer] Churchill (1874 - 1965)
Dost thou not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?
-Count Oxenstierna (ca 1620)
monitor (with an LED ) if a circuit is active. Most cruising yachts have a
power panel with switchs for such things as the bilge pump or navigation
lights. While one can simply look and see if the switch is on, it would be
nice to be able to monitor the 'on-ness' with a bright LED. These circuits
are typically 12 volt DC or possibly 120 volt AC with current ranging from 1
to 10+ amps. Is there a simple (and inexpensive) way to do this without
rewiring the circuits? Not necessarily looking for a computer based
solution, just a simple solution.
Any enlightenment will be appreciated.
TIA
Vic
________________________________________________________
Victor Fraenckel - The Windman vfraenc1@n...
KC2GUI www.windsway.com
Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite
Read the WIND
"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long
and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival."
- Winston [noparse][[/noparse]Leonard Spencer] Churchill (1874 - 1965)
Dost thou not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?
-Count Oxenstierna (ca 1620)
Comments
running from the switched side of the circuit to ground. AC is a bit
messier - you need a 10k resistor, and the connection has to be from the
switched side of the circuit to the AC neutral (white) wire. But dicking
about with 120 VAC is dangerous.
You might be able to drill small holes in your power panel next to the
switches/breakers, and insert small LEDs (they come in various sizes -
there are some very small ones.
Larry
C&C Corvette 31 "Lady Di"
At 06:50 PM 1/9/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>I monitor the rec.boats.electronics NG. There is a discussion of how to
>monitor (with an LED ) if a circuit is active. Most cruising yachts have a
>power panel with switchs for such things as the bilge pump or navigation
>lights. While one can simply look and see if the switch is on, it would be
>nice to be able to monitor the 'on-ness' with a bright LED. These circuits
>are typically 12 volt DC or possibly 120 volt AC with current ranging from 1
>to 10+ amps. Is there a simple (and inexpensive) way to do this without
>rewiring the circuits? Not necessarily looking for a computer based
>solution, just a simple solution.
>
>Any enlightenment will be appreciated.
>
>TIA
>
>Vic
>________________________________________________________
>
>Victor Fraenckel - The Windman vfraenc1@n...
>KC2GUI www.windsway.com
>
Larry Bradley
Orleans (Ottawa), Ontario, CANADA
the device is working. The only advantage is being able to easily tell at a
glance if something is switched on or off. If you really want to know if
something is on and working, you will need more than an LED.
Original Message
> I monitor the rec.boats.electronics NG. There is a discussion of how to
> monitor (with an LED ) if a circuit is active. Most cruising yachts have a
> power panel with switchs for such things as the bilge pump or navigation
> lights. While one can simply look and see if the switch is on, it would be
> nice to be able to monitor the 'on-ness' with a bright LED. These circuits
> are typically 12 volt DC or possibly 120 volt AC with current ranging from
1
> to 10+ amps. Is there a simple (and inexpensive) way to do this without
> rewiring the circuits? Not necessarily looking for a computer based
> solution, just a simple solution.
|Think about it -- the LED will only tell you if the switch is on, not that
|the device is working. The only advantage is being able to easily tell at a
|glance if something is switched on or off. If you really want to know if
|something is on and working, you will need more than an LED.
I just want to monitor if the switch in on or off - a lighted indicator is
quite useful in the dark or gloom. It might even be nice to have an
indication that the switch was off too.
Vic
________________________________________________________
Victor Fraenckel - The Windman vfraenc1@n...
KC2GUI www.windsway.com
Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite
Read the WIND
"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long
and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival."
- Winston [noparse][[/noparse]Leonard Spencer] Churchill (1874 - 1965)
Dost thou not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?
-Count Oxenstierna (ca 1620)