Forum - Recent Threads

Solenoid

Haydn66 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:52:36 GMT

Hi i need some help with this solenoid project

I need to press switch to send 12v solenoid to make it go up and when it gets to its full travel it needs to hold for about 10 to 15 seconds then change it's polarity so the solenoid pulls back in to its start position to do it over again

It's for a electric go kart indicator arms like the old ford pop iam making my grandson for Christmas so if anyone can crack this and give me a parts list that will be great

Thanks

Haydn66

I have to purchase DC Power Supply 1. Topward 6303D, 2. Caltron PR 3303SE which one is best

Shahzad1234 — Mon, 15 May 2023 15:14:24 GMT

Hi Dear All,

I have to purchase a used power supply. I have two options,

1. Topward 6303D

2. Caltron PR 3303SE

I have downloaded the operating manual of S. No. 1 but couldn't find that of S. No. 2. I need durable, high quality and easily repairable out of these two options. Price is not an issue.

I will be highly obliged if you guide me to choose the right one.

Thank You.

What Key Lessons Should We Be Learning about Renewable Energy?

rscasny — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 17:13:12 GMT

We just published a new spotlight article called How Do You Make The Most of Renewable energy?

The article covers a variety of things about it, as well as some key points about power switching.

Do you have any lessons you have learned as you try to apply renewable energy in your home and business life?

LED 4-Pin help needed

hafcanadian — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 22:39:15 GMT

I could use some help choosing replacement 4-pin RGB lamps for my In Motion outdoor Xmas sets. I have 20 twelve-lamp “C9” sets on the house, end to end, each with a control module. They manage to stay in synch, so the modules must be absolutely identical electronically. Color combinations and solids rotate in sequence and can be steady or flash, etc. The colors include white, purple, orange, etc., not just RGB, so the controllers apparently mix RGB with varying current I assume.

When new I had sets that acted up, with sections of 3 or 4 lights staying solid white, or occasionally groups of lamps entirely out. The mfr. ultimately sent me more than 20 new sets, so usually now I just replace an entire faulty string with one of those, and later try to fix the original. But that’s a nightmare, and I now have 7 or 8 sets from years past clogging my workbench. Sometimes just juggling lamp positions works, but usually it’s a bugger ferreting out what’s wrong. It’s easy to suspect the controllers, but sometimes just replacing just the right lamp with a spare does the trick. But because there are 4 wires instead of just 2, I have a devil of a time finding the faulty lamp; my yellow LED Xmas gun isn’t useful on controlled 4 pin lamp sets.

Since there only 2 spare lamps in holders with each set (and some sets had no spares), I’d like to get spare 4-pin bulbs. If I just replace lamps one at a time until a set works, since they fail in straight groups of 3, that may be easiest. The pins are too long and often need trimming a bit to fit the holder or they jam going into the sockets. Problem is I’m not sure which lamp to order. Maybe you can assist. The tag on each cord says to replace with 3v fuses, and 4v. 0.25 w lamps. That’s it. In searching online I see options on Amazon (Chanzon), but they are clear lenses and mine are diffused. The ones at Amazon say 3v. More concerning is they come either common anode or common cathode, and I don’t know how to tell which that mine are. They are domed 5mm. I looked at Mouser.com but was still left with uncertainty.

Can you advise? I’d sure like to clear these 7 or 8 sets off my garage workbench, and for once have room for other projects as they come up!

Thanks,

Joel

Clackamas, Oregon

What impact does length of the leads have on an LED.

burtamus — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 22:31:37 GMT

What impact does length of the leads have on an LED. I'm working with a live multi-camera system and want to send two LED's to a remote camera operator (Tally Lights). Yellow for "On Preview" and one red for "On Air". I was thinking of using Cat5 cable at varying lengths. Three leads in total (1 ground and the two +). What do I need to consider?

Sorry i this is in the wrong location. I'm not sure where it would go.

TIA, Burt