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Solenoid or Servo? — Parallax Forums

Solenoid or Servo?

BullwinkleBullwinkle Posts: 101
edited 2006-01-30 01:05 in BASIC Stamp
I am new to the world of STAMPs. One of my projects I am working towards with the STAMP is an automatic cat flap. The plan is to have some kind of latch that holds the flap closed but can be pulled back by a solenoid or a servo motor to allow it to open.

I have been experimenting with the servo. It certainly has enough range of motion and plenty of torque, but takes nearly a second to move 180degrees. I like the idea of a solenoid, as it would be very fast acting, and combined with a spring return would be fool-proof in the event of a power failure.

Has anyone interfaced a solenoid to a STAMP? Googling for solenoids revealed an entirely new world. I never realised how many varieties there were...

Comments

  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2006-01-30 01:05
    You'll probably have to put a buffer (e.g., transistor) between the solenoid and the BASIC Stamp -- the outputs of the Stamp can handle TTL loads with no problem, but cannot direct control a solenoid or similar inductive load.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
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