Help finding correct relays...

[cyapps]

I am looking for some relays that I want to use to control a standard power outlet and be controlled by a LED Wiz or the like. I will be using this for controlling some rope lights and other things in my room, to give the proper “mood” lighting when I game. I know for this purpose I could just use a simple on/off switch but I want them to be independently controlled by the computer. I will also need some to control my Christmas lights on my house. From what I gather they will need to accept 3-5v dc for control and allow 120v ac for the load. I am not sure how many amps I need, but I would like to have as much as possible on each relay without overloading the house circuit (15amps?).

I know about most of the places online to get electronic components but I was wondering if anyone could provide links to the exact relays I will need to accomplish my goal or at least point me to a place with good prices and I am open to ebay if the price is right.

I am also not sure if solid state relays are best or if other “mechanical” (not entirely sure about the other types of relays) style ones will do just as good for my purposes. The ones in my room will be more or less on or off, but the Christmas lights will be switched on or off more often to music or to loop through certain sequences. I figure the Led Wiz will do fine as the controller as this is basically the same as using it for controlling LEDs but instead sending the power to a relay.

Thanks for whatever information you can provide! And feel free to pm me with any related ebay links.

[paulscade]

Look into X-10.  They make all sorts of control modules (low voltage DC, AC, high current relays, etc.).. and computer interfaces.  I've got my whole house on X-10.  Switches/relay modules can be bought for around $15 each and a computer control module is about $50.

[cyapps]

Look into X-10.  They make all sorts of control modules (low voltage DC, AC, high current relays, etc.).. and computer interfaces.  I've got my whole house on X-10.  Switches/relay modules can be bought for around $15 each and a computer control module is about $50.

Yea I was looking into X-10 for a while but I was wanting to go the DIY route and hopefully save a bit of money while I am at it.

[Ed_McCarron]

A decent solid state relay would probably be more expensive than the X10 modules.

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/SRLY-20/3-AMP-SOLID-STATE-RELAY/-/1.html

Theres a 3A one for $6.50.  At 120v, it'd handle 360 watts.  No dimming.  5v control voltage - I assume a led-wiz can throw 5 volts an an output.  Not sure if these things are designed to be switched at PWM speeds - the led-wiz is probably overkill.  Don't forget to fuse the line side, and be sure to install in an insulated box.

See?  Cheaper to do the X10 thing.

[protokatie]

Did they ever imporve the speed of X10? From what I have seen, it still uses the powerlines in the home to do the control. At something like 100 baud or less... There are other systems that can do multiple protocalls (x10 and various wireless controls)

Just curious from those of you who actually have X10 systems installed.

[MonMotha]

http://www.mpja.com/products.asp?dept=133 has a bunch of reasonably cheap SSRs ranging from "not small" to "pretty big".

You cannot usually PWM an AC SSR as they (almost always) use Triacs.  This means that they cannot be turned off until the AC current crosses zero.  Lamp dimmers work by chopping up the AC waveform: they turn it on partway into the cycle and let it turn off at the zero cross, then repeat.  This is called an AC voltage controller and is why you can't use a light dimmer on e.g. motors.  It is possible to make an AC SSR using MOSFETs or IGBTs hich would allow arbitrary turn on and off, but it gets pretty expensive compared to the triac method, so they are limited to special uses.

It is also possible to buy a SSR without zero cross turn-on functionality (but still zero cross turn-off) and use an AC phase reference to basically build a light dimmer.  This is complicated and NOT SUITABLE FOR MOST HOBBYISTS (note caps) as it involves playing with components directly coupled to the AC line.  Also, if you get it wrong, there are sometimes ways (depending on how you build it) to crowbar the AC line...not good.

[paulscade]

X-10 is still slow.  It wouldn't be a good choice to this:



(cyapps mentioned using it to control Christmas lights among other things)

You're basic on/off/dim works just fine. .... so, I could picture this:

Plug-in the lights of the game room to X10-modules and either:

1) using a computer control module, run a batch file at PC bootup to turn-on/dim the lights to appropriate gaming levels. (that's what I would do).
OR
2) using the <***> module, hook up to a cabinet button so, when pressed, the module will send the X-10 code that turns on the lights.

<***>... I don't remember the name of the module but I believe that they have one that can send an X-10 code based on contact closure.

[cyapps]

X-10 is still slow.  It wouldn't be a good choice to this:

I figured X-10 was to slow for the Christmas lights, I am currently looking at computerchristmas.com to see what others have done might be a more appropriate community to ask. But as you say X-10 should be fine for the game room lights. I believe there is a device called "firecracker" that controls X-10 from a pc com port (seen it originally on Hak.5 episode 1x01).

[MonMotha]

There's the old CP-290 which has been replaced by something else I'm sure.  All it did was send X-10 commands as usual, but it could be controlled via PC.

There are all sorts of modules you can get to do control like this, but if you want to control a bunch christmas lights like this (especially if you don't need to dim them), then building your own will probably be the cheapest option.  Just get a bunch of suitable SSRs and go at it.  You can use a PC with any IO device of your choice or rig up (possibly a network of) microcontroller(s) to handle things.

For things like the christmas light show, you probably don't need dimming, so things are likely pretty easy.  If you want dimming, I'd recommend going with a prebuilt control system unless you feel comfortable dealing with real-time microcontroller programming and directly AC coupled stuff.