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Using triac and optocouplers instead of relays?

Former Member

  Hi there,

 

 

First post, short presentation.

I am mechanical engineer but I have been always interested in electronic. I have been building myself a couple of device, most of the time because I had needs for stuff not yet available or affordable (fast charge nimh, DC-DC Car to 5V 3A, vaccuum regulation...). I have (nearly) never been twaeaking a microcontroler so far, I mean my temperature regulator has been built by a friend!

I think Arduino stuff is brillant and I am looking forward doing some simple stuff to start. It will be mainly to help produce my kite boards (Temperature and vaccuum regulation, but why not a CNC or a laser too?). If I am doing great I also have an old project: build a multy channel accumalator capicator (plotting V over time doing a constant discharge), to check their real capacity, internal resistance pair them and trash the bad ones!

 

 

I am looking for using an Arduino to pilot high voltage device. For exemple a fridge pump (=vaccuum) which draws about 100W or so at 230V. My application would require a lot of shutdown/poweron so I would prefer not to use relays.

I have seen the following online http://powerswitchtail.com/PSTIIU.aspx

Except from learning is there any reason for me to build something similar or should I go directly with that? I mean shipping+ adding the plug I will be under $60 for two switch. Do you any kit with 2 or 4 triac output that could do the same? I do not fancy to much playing with high voltage, so I am asking first.

 

 

I also have another project with high current needed. I will pilot with a classical +5V, and I need high wattage on 12V. I will use 12V car light bulbs to produce... heat (between 200 and 300W), which will be safer I think than using 230V light bulbs or heat wire at the same voltage. I am wondering if turning On/Off a computer power supply is OK? I was thinking of using a refresh rate around 0.2 ou 0.3Hz (3s or 5s).

 

 

Thanks for you support.

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  • Hello,

     

    Actualy you may prefer solid state relay's as opposed to opto coupler and triac.

     

    Opto couplers & triac will switch on the power as soon as it receives the signal, which may not be desirable if the line voltage is at it'peek as this will create some heavy surge current through the load, triac and wiring.

     

    On the other hand solid state relays has build in cuircuitry thet detect the load voltage and wait till it cross the zero threshold. thus avoiding a current surge.

Reply

  • Hello,

     

    Actualy you may prefer solid state relay's as opposed to opto coupler and triac.

     

    Opto couplers & triac will switch on the power as soon as it receives the signal, which may not be desirable if the line voltage is at it'peek as this will create some heavy surge current through the load, triac and wiring.

     

    On the other hand solid state relays has build in cuircuitry thet detect the load voltage and wait till it cross the zero threshold. thus avoiding a current surge.

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