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simple 110v isolated relay circuit — Parallax Forums

simple 110v isolated relay circuit

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2003-05-22 17:41 in General Discussion
I know this one has been discussed hundreds of times but...I am overloaded
with the different methods of switching on/off a 110v, 10amp load using
TTL. Some use just a simple relay others use many components and SSR's.
Isolation would be preferred. I am just looking for the lowest component
count, stable, elegant, and of course inexpensive method. I need to make
(4) switches and was thinking of using optoisolators and simple relays.
Thanks, Dan

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-20 18:00
    Probably the easiest way to do this would be to use Crydom relays (model
    no.D1210 would work 120vac@10A) and you can drive these with low current, 3
    to 32vdc. This would give you total isolation from the ac and require few
    parts. If I was doing it with a stamp, I would use a darlington transistor
    to switch the relays to cut switching current requirements from the stamp.
    These relays are inexpensive, however, there are safety requirements to
    consider. You may cut the cost by going to a conventional mechanical relay
    and using a transistor to switch it. Check out this web site for wiring
    ideas.
    Jim
    http://www.geocities.com/jimforkin2003/


    Original Message
    From: daniel.d.dangremond@j... [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=gjnYkisgnSarIMQZQhsa2DabAaYdeg9w4Us3PmDFYnZgCTYBNovrJCq7BZx9IvoVu70nxj4nlF1DlOeu6-40IMA]daniel.d.dangremond@j...[/url
    Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 11:52 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] simple 110v isolated relay circuit


    I know this one has been discussed hundreds of times but...I am overloaded
    with the different methods of switching on/off a 110v, 10amp load using
    TTL. Some use just a simple relay others use many components and SSR's.
    Isolation would be preferred. I am just looking for the lowest component
    count, stable, elegant, and of course inexpensive method. I need to make
    (4) switches and was thinking of using optoisolators and simple relays.
    Thanks, Dan


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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-20 18:07
    Use a relay. Very efficient and easy to use. Also, a relay is
    certainly isolated betweeen two circuits. No need to have
    optoisolators if you are using a relay.

    -Dustin

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, daniel.d.dangremond@j... wrote:
    > I know this one has been discussed hundreds of times but...I am
    overloaded
    > with the different methods of switching on/off a 110v, 10amp load
    using
    > TTL. Some use just a simple relay others use many components and
    SSR's.
    > Isolation would be preferred. I am just looking for the lowest
    component
    > count, stable, elegant, and of course inexpensive method. I need
    to make
    > (4) switches and was thinking of using optoisolators and simple
    relays.
    > Thanks, Dan
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-20 21:07
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "dirt939" <stamp@d...> wrote:
    > Use a relay. Very efficient and easy to use. Also, a relay is
    > certainly isolated betweeen two circuits. No need to have
    > optoisolators if you are using a relay.
    >
    > -Dustin

    ditto.

    use a ULN2003 to drive the relay(up to 7 actually). the Darlington
    can handle the back emf when the relay opens as it has an internal
    diode. the darlington will suffice as an isolator, but you really
    don't need anything more than enough power to handle the relay coil.

    As a note, you could use off board relays and let the darlingtons
    swith them.

    but, if you want the lowest part count as the goal, there are solid
    state relays that will operate on 5V so all you need is the relay
    direct to the stamp pin. is one part low enough?

    Dave


    Dave





    >
    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, daniel.d.dangremond@j... wrote:
    > > I know this one has been discussed hundreds of times but...I am
    > overloaded
    > > with the different methods of switching on/off a 110v, 10amp load
    > using
    > > TTL. Some use just a simple relay others use many components and
    > SSR's.
    > > Isolation would be preferred. I am just looking for the lowest
    > component
    > > count, stable, elegant, and of course inexpensive method. I need
    > to make
    > > (4) switches and was thinking of using optoisolators and simple
    > relays.
    > > Thanks, Dan
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-21 16:09
    In [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps], daniel.d.dangremond@j... wrote:
    > I know this one has been discussed hundreds of times
    > but...I am overloaded with the different methods of
    > switching on/off a 110v, 10amp load using TTL.
    > Some use just a simple relay others use many components
    > and SSR's.

    > Isolation would be preferred. I am just looking
    > for the lowest component count, stable, elegant,
    > and of course inexpensive method. I need to make
    > (4) switches and was thinking of using optoisolators
    > and simple relays.
    > Thanks, Dan

    Option 1: SSR

    SSR bricks are definitely the simplest to interface,
    and are optically isolated. One brick, four wires.
    Bolt it to something to act as a heat sink panel,
    and you're done... You can think of the equivalent
    circuit as an LED of the optoisolator on one pair of
    screws (which you drive from the Stamp like any OTHER
    LED), and an SPST switch output on the other, which
    goes in series with the hot lead of your AC load.

    Lots of sources for these, and you can often find them
    cheap by the handful at almost any good sized ham swap.
    One "big" name in SSRs is Opto-22:
    http://www.opto22.com/products/sys_level_hard.asp
    Here's an image of a screw terminal SSR:
    http://www.opto22.com/products/complvl_ssrs.asp
    You can also get little racks and plug in SSRs from them.
    You can also get Omron and other suppliers through about
    any electronics house like Digikey or Jameco...


    Option 2: Roll your own relay driver

    To "roll your own", IMHO the simplest is use an opto
    isolator with enough "oomph" on the output transistor
    to directly drive a low voltage DC 10A relay. No extra
    transistor required. You can get quad isolators from
    Digikey, et al. to reduce package count.
    Remember, you'll need a 1N4001-1N4004 "kickback diode"
    wired "back biased" across each relay's coil to prevent
    the relay from damaging the opto's output transistor
    with spikes as it shuts off. There may be some
    optos available with built-in kickback diodes, too,
    but I personally prefer to use a separate diode to
    make SURE it's done right, and is accessible for replacement.
    The diode is best placed on the PCB to make sure the
    polarity is right, but if using chassis mounted relays
    you can always simply solder the diode right to the
    coil terminals as well.

    I'd advise adding a small fuse to the relay supply
    to help protect your relay driver circuit.

    BTW, if you're rolling your own relay interface,
    you should definitely isolate the relay power from
    the processor's to keep switching glitches from messing
    with the processor. You don't need a second supply though.
    If for instance you decide to use 12V relays and your
    app only needs the Stamp's internal regulator, simply
    use a 1N4001 blocking diode and a filter cap on the Stamp
    side of the diode to create a "local" supply for the
    Stamp from the relay's supply. The cap will "carry the
    Stamp through" the glitch time. If you need more current,
    use a LM7805 regulator circuit to derive a nice clean
    +5V@1A from the relay's 12V supply. The app notes on the
    7805 spec sheet shows the basic regulator circuit.

    Good luck.

    - Keith Mc.
    --
    "Diode: What happens to people that don't die young..."
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-21 16:21
    Adding some power supply filtering does make sense.

    as a note on the lowest parts count, the Darlingoton '03 have the
    internal diode for this purpose. Uln2803 8 out or ULN2003 7 out.

    BS2, one darlington, 4 relays, 6 parts. lowest price
    BS2, 4 SSR's, 5 parts. lot of $$$

    Dave




    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Keith Mc." <acti@P...> wrote:
    > In [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps], daniel.d.dangremond@j... wrote:
    > > I know this one has been discussed hundreds of times
    > > but...I am overloaded with the different methods of
    > > switching on/off a 110v, 10amp load using TTL.
    > > Some use just a simple relay others use many components
    > > and SSR's.
    >
    > > Isolation would be preferred. I am just looking
    > > for the lowest component count, stable, elegant,
    > > and of course inexpensive method. I need to make
    > > (4) switches and was thinking of using optoisolators
    > > and simple relays.
    > > Thanks, Dan
    >
    > Option 1: SSR
    >
    > SSR bricks are definitely the simplest to interface,
    > and are optically isolated. One brick, four wires.
    > Bolt it to something to act as a heat sink panel,
    > and you're done... You can think of the equivalent
    > circuit as an LED of the optoisolator on one pair of
    > screws (which you drive from the Stamp like any OTHER
    > LED), and an SPST switch output on the other, which
    > goes in series with the hot lead of your AC load.
    >
    > Lots of sources for these, and you can often find them
    > cheap by the handful at almost any good sized ham swap.
    > One "big" name in SSRs is Opto-22:
    > http://www.opto22.com/products/sys_level_hard.asp
    > Here's an image of a screw terminal SSR:
    > http://www.opto22.com/products/complvl_ssrs.asp
    > You can also get little racks and plug in SSRs from them.
    > You can also get Omron and other suppliers through about
    > any electronics house like Digikey or Jameco...
    >
    >
    > Option 2: Roll your own relay driver
    >
    > To "roll your own", IMHO the simplest is use an opto
    > isolator with enough "oomph" on the output transistor
    > to directly drive a low voltage DC 10A relay. No extra
    > transistor required. You can get quad isolators from
    > Digikey, et al. to reduce package count.
    > Remember, you'll need a 1N4001-1N4004 "kickback diode"
    > wired "back biased" across each relay's coil to prevent
    > the relay from damaging the opto's output transistor
    > with spikes as it shuts off. There may be some
    > optos available with built-in kickback diodes, too,
    > but I personally prefer to use a separate diode to
    > make SURE it's done right, and is accessible for replacement.
    > The diode is best placed on the PCB to make sure the
    > polarity is right, but if using chassis mounted relays
    > you can always simply solder the diode right to the
    > coil terminals as well.
    >
    > I'd advise adding a small fuse to the relay supply
    > to help protect your relay driver circuit.
    >
    > BTW, if you're rolling your own relay interface,
    > you should definitely isolate the relay power from
    > the processor's to keep switching glitches from messing
    > with the processor. You don't need a second supply though.
    > If for instance you decide to use 12V relays and your
    > app only needs the Stamp's internal regulator, simply
    > use a 1N4001 blocking diode and a filter cap on the Stamp
    > side of the diode to create a "local" supply for the
    > Stamp from the relay's supply. The cap will "carry the
    > Stamp through" the glitch time. If you need more current,
    > use a LM7805 regulator circuit to derive a nice clean
    > +5V@1A from the relay's 12V supply. The app notes on the
    > 7805 spec sheet shows the basic regulator circuit.
    >
    > Good luck.
    >
    > - Keith Mc.
    > --
    > "Diode: What happens to people that don't die young..."
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-21 16:35
    Thanks all for your advice. I'm going to go with the ULN2003 and standard
    relays. There is a ton of information out there on relays, thanks for
    clearing things up. I even see that Dontronics sells a kit that uses the
    2003 and standard relays with a parallel port interface for only $9 without
    relays. It think I'll roll my own just cause its more fun! Thanks again,
    Dan
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-21 16:53
    you have to know exactly what type of load you are
    wanting to switch because your needs are going to be
    different for each if it is inductive such as a motor
    then sure you could use a realy but it will have a
    short life span because of arcing across the realy
    contacts in this case a solid state realy with zero
    crossing makes the most sense zero crossing means it
    turns on when the ac it at zero volts so there is no
    arcing besides inductive loads can be very high start
    current that qwickly goes down but that kick will
    qwickly destroy a regular realy . goodluck


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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-22 17:41
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, kenneth magers
    <kenneth_m_73149@y...> wrote:
    > you have to know exactly what type of load you are
    > wanting to switch because your needs are going to be
    > different for each if it is inductive such as a motor
    > then sure you could use a realy but it will have a
    > short life span because of arcing across the realy
    > contacts in this case a solid state realy with zero
    > crossing makes the most sense zero crossing means it
    > turns on when the ac it at zero volts so there is no
    > arcing besides inductive loads can be very high start
    > current that qwickly goes down but that kick will
    > qwickly destroy a regular realy . goodluck

    checking the spec of the parts is good regardless of the device.

    mechanical and solid state relays have 3 ratings. one for DC amps,
    one for AC amps and one for inductive loads. The inductive load
    rating will usually be in HP more so than amps. kinda misleading
    with all the different type of motors available these days.

    Dave
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