Home Automation - Contact closure of 120V power outlet

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Contact closure of 120V power outlet

dennis.benjamin@gmail.com

2005-10-14, 2:21 am

Hey All

This is actually a lab automation question, but it seemed like this
group has knowledgeable people, so here goes.

I have a device (a syringe pump) that runs on 120V. I want to be able
to turn it on and off via a contact closure (on an HPLC) that can only
handle ~1V. I really need to keep this a hard wired solution, so
X10/wireless won't help. Also, I'm a biochemist and would probably burn
down the lab with a soldering iron. So, is anyone aware of a commercial
product that can control a 120V outlet that uses contact closures for
control?

THanks for any help!

pha

2005-10-20, 5:21 pm

dennis.benjamin@gmail.com wrote:
> Hey All
>
> This is actually a lab automation question, but it seemed like this
> group has knowledgeable people, so here goes.
>
> I have a device (a syringe pump) that runs on 120V. I want to be able
> to turn it on and off via a contact closure (on an HPLC) that can only
> handle ~1V. I really need to keep this a hard wired solution, so
> X10/wireless won't help. Also, I'm a biochemist and would probably burn
> down the lab with a soldering iron. So, is anyone aware of a commercial
> product that can control a 120V outlet that uses contact closures for
> control?
>
> THanks for any help!

You might consider a "solid state relay" which can be found on eBay.

Many of these operate by the application of 3 to 30 VDC on the input
and
they switch 120 / 240 on the output. These are optically isolated.

Thus, your relay would switch a small voltage, say 5 VDC to the solid
state
relay, which would in turn switch the 120 VAC.

I usually mount these in a metal electrical box to avoid any chance of
contact with the 120 VAC.

Best wishes.

Peter H Anderson, http://www.phanderson.com
Microchip PICs, BasicX, PICAXE Processors

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