electronics help

[SXRguyinMA]

I picked up this kit (http://apogeekits.com/light_sensitive_switch.htm) from apogeekits.com for a project I'm doing. I got it all assembled, and I hook it up and the relay clicks as it should, but I get nothing out of the relay.

here is a link (http://www.vellemanusa.com/downloads/0/manual_mk125.pdf) to the .pdf of the instructions, along with a schematic.

I checked it with my meter, and I'm getting ~11vdc at the relay's input, but nothing out of the relay.

anyone have any ideas? :?

[Spawn-Inc]

do you have any pictures of the top and bottom of the board?

[SXRguyinMA]

theres a stock top shot here (http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/product/view/?id=351166#)

I'll get a top-down and bottom-up pic tomorrow

[crenn]

Can you show us the wire up for the relay? I know it's not likely, but on the relay switch side, have you got a power source?

[SXRguyinMA]

yes, there is a power in, and 2 outs. one is NC (normally closed) and one is NO (normally open) the third is COM (positive)

pics of my board (don't be hatin on my solder job lol):
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/sportrider12584/SANY0074.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/sportrider12584/SANY0078.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/sportrider12584/SANY0077.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/sportrider12584/SANY0076.jpg

[Spawn-Inc]

so the problem is that there is no power coming from the common?

[SXRguyinMA]

ok huge :facepalm:

I think I figured it out. looking back at the diagram of it all hooked up on the .pdf, the board doesnt supply 12v. it only acts as a switch. I need to supply 12v into the connector. I'll try it when I get home

[slaveofconvention]

You're almost certianly correct - relays don't usually process the power directly, they simply connect or disconnect two points

[Spawn-Inc]

ok huge :facepalm:

I think I figured it out. looking back at the diagram of it all hooked up on the .pdf, the board doesnt supply 12v. it only acts as a switch. I need to supply 12v into the connector. I'll try it when I get home

yup, what i was getting at :)

what you could do if you don't want to add a battery, of course your options would be limited to 12v(limited to what the power supply can put out - the boards demands). would be to get one of those terminal blocks, but a 2 pin one. (like this (http://onlinetps.com/shop/images/Items_Images/2pin_screw%20_terminal.jpg)) solder it in this spot (http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/Spawn-Inc/solder.jpg) on the board.

that way you can take 12v from the power suppling the board.

eg of a simple 12v light.
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/Spawn-Inc/lightbulb.jpg

[Oneslowz28]

Yea just supply 12V at the DC jack or the holes marked sk3 and then attach the light source and battery or 12v source at the terminal block and it should work. It wont work for a LED however.

[SXRguyinMA]

yep, tried it out and it worked perfectly :facepalm:

Huge +rep to you guys for the suggestions

Spawn - thats exactly what I'm going to do with the terminal block. Basically This unit will get waterproofed (hopefully) in a project box and mounted to my roof. It will then control 16 of these strings (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250598126845&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT) of LEDs going up the stairs into my apartment. they're all 12v, so that idea will work perfectly Spawn!

I'll make a small thread on it once the LEDs arrive :D

[Spawn-Inc]

neat idea, i would say make sure the main power feed can handle it, but it's just LED's.

[crenn]

Can you show us the wire up for the relay? I know it's not likely, but on the relay switch side, have you got a power source?


ok huge :facepalm:

I think I figured it out. looking back at the diagram of it all hooked up on the .pdf, the board doesnt supply 12v. it only acts as a switch. I need to supply 12v into the connector. I'll try it when I get home

I called it first ;P

[SXRguyinMA]

neat idea, i would say make sure the main power feed can handle it, but it's just LED's.

yea I'm trying to find a 12v wall wart that puts out about 1.5A. if I calculated right, at 60ma each (specs for SMD LED's say 3x20ma, as there are 3 anodes and 3 cathodes per LED), you've got 15 LEDs per strip, and 16 strips total = 1.44 Amps. This is no issue for the relay, as it will handle up to 5A.


I called it first ;P

yep you did. but with the way the board layout is, its got the positive (COM) lead traced on the board all the way to the other side (input) of the relay, So i figured the +12v went through that trace to provide 12v @ the COM side of the terminal block

[SXRguyinMA]

found this 12v 2A (http://www.12vadapters.com/adapter/power-supply/12v/2-amp-2a.html) adapter for $23.98. but for the same price should I get this 3A version (http://www.12vadapters.com/adapter/power-supply/12v/3-amp-3a.html) just to be safe?

and I'm also thinking about this enclosure (http://apogeekits.com/electronic_enclosure_g203c.htm), as its got a clear top for the light sensor, and its got a seal for weatherproofing

[Spawn-Inc]

relay says it will handle 10amp, but either way your well under 5amps.

i would opt for the 3amp power supply just to be safe.

i would also get a box large enough to put the whole adaptor into it.

[dr.walrus]

I just got gifted a few 10A supplies if you need one. UK plug I'm afraid.

[crenn]

yep you did. but with the way the board layout is, its got the positive (COM) lead traced on the board all the way to the other side (input) of the relay, So i figured the +12v went through that trace to provide 12v @ the COM side of the terminal block
COM doesn't mean positive, COM means common. It's easy to see how you got confused though, but the COM is connected to the internal 'hammer' of the relay.

[SXRguyinMA]

relay says it will handle 10amp, but either way your well under 5amps.

i would opt for the 3amp power supply just to be safe.

i would also get a box large enough to put the whole adaptor into it.

Thats a good idea about having a large enough box, I'd just be worried about the length of the 110v cord. I was planning on plugging it into the garage, then sniping the barrel plug off the end and extending the wiring as needed


I just got gifted a few 10A supplies if you need one. UK plug I'm afraid.

Thanks for the offer, but the UK plug wouldnt do my any good lol


COM doesn't mean positive, COM means common. It's easy to see how you got confused though, but the COM is connected to the internal 'hammer' of the relay.

yea I knew the COM was common, but the illustration showed it as the positive. The COM being connected to the relay is what got me thinking it was powered