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electronics question

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  • R Rick Shaub

    Correct, but conventional flow (the kind they teach in electrical engineering courses) is from positive to negative, which is the direction of the "arrow" in diode and transstor diagrams. Also, to be even more pedantic, "hole" flow is the flow of positive charge carriers, and so is the flow of positive ions in water.

    P Offline
    P Offline
    peterchen
    wrote on last edited by
    #13

    Clickety[^]

    FILETIME to time_t
    | FoldWithUs! | sighist | WhoIncludes - Analyzing C++ include file hierarchy

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    • R Roger Wright

      FET transistors can replace relays in a dc circuit by properly biasing them. I haven't kept up with current parts, but even 20 years ago they were handling 100A loads. I'm sure they can do better today. The nice thing about FETs is that the gate terminal draws near zero current, so it's easy to set switching thresholds using a simple resistor divider. I can't look too closely at the circuit right now, as my employer actually expects me to work on job related stuff while I'm here, but I'll take another look tonight.

      Will Rogers never met me.

      B Offline
      B Offline
      badprog
      wrote on last edited by
      #14

      Its great having a resident electrical engineer...

      :)

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • P peterchen

        Clickety[^]

        FILETIME to time_t
        | FoldWithUs! | sighist | WhoIncludes - Analyzing C++ include file hierarchy

        H Offline
        H Offline
        hairy_hats
        wrote on last edited by
        #15

        I thought you were going to link to this[^] one.

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • P PJ Arends

          For those who are electronically inclined: http://www3.telus.net/pja/circuit.png[^] I was wondering if there was a way to replace the three internal relays with something else in order to make the circuit solid state. I know that a normally open relay can be replaced with a transistor, but what about a normally closed one? Is there a component that will break a circuit when power is applied to it? Similar to a transistor but with the opposite effect. Also, do I have my diodes in the correct direction? Does DC power flow from positive to negative or the othe other way around? Thanks


          You may be right I may be crazy -- Billy Joel -- Within you lies the power for good - Use it!

          W Offline
          W Offline
          wizardzz
          wrote on last edited by
          #16

          NOT ELECTRONICS ENOUGH!!!

          "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" — Hunter S. Thompson

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          • R Roger Wright

            FET transistors can replace relays in a dc circuit by properly biasing them. I haven't kept up with current parts, but even 20 years ago they were handling 100A loads. I'm sure they can do better today. The nice thing about FETs is that the gate terminal draws near zero current, so it's easy to set switching thresholds using a simple resistor divider. I can't look too closely at the circuit right now, as my employer actually expects me to work on job related stuff while I'm here, but I'll take another look tonight.

            Will Rogers never met me.

            H Offline
            H Offline
            hairy_hats
            wrote on last edited by
            #17

            Roger Wright wrote:

            my employer actually expects me to work on job related stuff while I'm here

            Sounds unreasonable to me.

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • R Rick Shaub

              Correct, but conventional flow (the kind they teach in electrical engineering courses) is from positive to negative, which is the direction of the "arrow" in diode and transstor diagrams. Also, to be even more pedantic, "hole" flow is the flow of positive charge carriers, and so is the flow of positive ions in water.

              L Offline
              L Offline
              Lost User
              wrote on last edited by
              #18

              Yes, the flow of something non existant is how it rationalised. Great stuff electricity, everyone uses it, no one knows how the hell it works! :)

              "If climate has not "tipped" in over 4 billion years it's not going to tip now due to mankind." Richard S. Lindzen, Atmospheric Physicist, IPCC "It does not matter who you are, or how smart you are, or what title you have, or how many of you here are, and certainly not how many papers your side has published, if your prediction is wrong then your hypothesis is wrong. Period." Professor Richard Feynman

              R 1 Reply Last reply
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              • L Lost User

                Yes, the flow of something non existant is how it rationalised. Great stuff electricity, everyone uses it, no one knows how the hell it works! :)

                "If climate has not "tipped" in over 4 billion years it's not going to tip now due to mankind." Richard S. Lindzen, Atmospheric Physicist, IPCC "It does not matter who you are, or how smart you are, or what title you have, or how many of you here are, and certainly not how many papers your side has published, if your prediction is wrong then your hypothesis is wrong. Period." Professor Richard Feynman

                R Offline
                R Offline
                Rick Shaub
                wrote on last edited by
                #19

                It makes more sense if you think of holes as being analogous to bubbles. :)

                L 1 Reply Last reply
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                • R Roger Wright

                  FET transistors can replace relays in a dc circuit by properly biasing them. I haven't kept up with current parts, but even 20 years ago they were handling 100A loads. I'm sure they can do better today. The nice thing about FETs is that the gate terminal draws near zero current, so it's easy to set switching thresholds using a simple resistor divider. I can't look too closely at the circuit right now, as my employer actually expects me to work on job related stuff while I'm here, but I'll take another look tonight.

                  Will Rogers never met me.

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  Ravi Bhavnani
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #20

                  I defer to you, o great one, but would you recommend an SCR for high loads instead? Or are those only for AC? /ravi

                  My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                  • R Rick Shaub

                    It makes more sense if you think of holes as being analogous to bubbles. :)

                    L Offline
                    L Offline
                    Lost User
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #21

                    Its amazing what the brain can come up with to convince itself something impossibly illogical is real. :)

                    "If climate has not "tipped" in over 4 billion years it's not going to tip now due to mankind." Richard S. Lindzen, Atmospheric Physicist, IPCC "It does not matter who you are, or how smart you are, or what title you have, or how many of you here are, and certainly not how many papers your side has published, if your prediction is wrong then your hypothesis is wrong. Period." Professor Richard Feynman

                    C 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • L Lost User

                      Its amazing what the brain can come up with to convince itself something impossibly illogical is real. :)

                      "If climate has not "tipped" in over 4 billion years it's not going to tip now due to mankind." Richard S. Lindzen, Atmospheric Physicist, IPCC "It does not matter who you are, or how smart you are, or what title you have, or how many of you here are, and certainly not how many papers your side has published, if your prediction is wrong then your hypothesis is wrong. Period." Professor Richard Feynman

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                      C Offline
                      Chris Meech
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #22

                      I thought you weren't going to mention that stuff around here. ;P

                      Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra] posting about Crystal Reports here is like discussing gay marriage on a catholic church’s website.[Nishant Sivakumar]

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                      • P PJ Arends

                        For those who are electronically inclined: http://www3.telus.net/pja/circuit.png[^] I was wondering if there was a way to replace the three internal relays with something else in order to make the circuit solid state. I know that a normally open relay can be replaced with a transistor, but what about a normally closed one? Is there a component that will break a circuit when power is applied to it? Similar to a transistor but with the opposite effect. Also, do I have my diodes in the correct direction? Does DC power flow from positive to negative or the othe other way around? Thanks


                        You may be right I may be crazy -- Billy Joel -- Within you lies the power for good - Use it!

                        G Offline
                        G Offline
                        GenJerDan
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #23

                        Triacs?

                        There is water at the bottom of the ocean. My Mu[sic] My Films My Windows Programs, etc.

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • W wizardzz

                          NOT ELECTRONICS ENOUGH!!!

                          "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" — Hunter S. Thompson

                          P Offline
                          P Offline
                          PJ Arends
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #24

                          wizardzz wrote:

                          NOT ELECTRONICS ENOUGH!!!

                          I am so sorry. Can you recommend something much more complicated that will do the same job?


                          You may be right I may be crazy -- Billy Joel -- Within you lies the power for good - Use it!

                          K 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • R Roger Wright

                            FET transistors can replace relays in a dc circuit by properly biasing them. I haven't kept up with current parts, but even 20 years ago they were handling 100A loads. I'm sure they can do better today. The nice thing about FETs is that the gate terminal draws near zero current, so it's easy to set switching thresholds using a simple resistor divider. I can't look too closely at the circuit right now, as my employer actually expects me to work on job related stuff while I'm here, but I'll take another look tonight.

                            Will Rogers never met me.

                            P Offline
                            P Offline
                            PJ Arends
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #25

                            Thanks Roger, I am looking into FET transistors right now. Looks promising, but so far I am not sure how to make them work.

                            Roger Wright wrote:

                            as my employer actually expects me to work on job related stuff while I'm here

                            Dang bosses can be so unreasonable some times, sure glad I do not have one (unless you count the wife :~ )

                            Roger Wright wrote:

                            I'll take another look tonight

                            Thanks


                            You may be right I may be crazy -- Billy Joel -- Within you lies the power for good - Use it!

                            R 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • P PJ Arends

                              wizardzz wrote:

                              NOT ELECTRONICS ENOUGH!!!

                              I am so sorry. Can you recommend something much more complicated that will do the same job?


                              You may be right I may be crazy -- Billy Joel -- Within you lies the power for good - Use it!

                              K Offline
                              K Offline
                              Klaus Werner Konrad
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #26

                              1/6 7404

                              1 Reply Last reply
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                              • R Ravi Bhavnani

                                I defer to you, o great one, but would you recommend an SCR for high loads instead? Or are those only for AC? /ravi

                                My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

                                R Offline
                                R Offline
                                Roger Wright
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #27

                                An SCR relies on a zero-crossing to shut off, so it is best used for ac loads.

                                Will Rogers never met me.

                                R 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • R Roger Wright

                                  An SCR relies on a zero-crossing to shut off, so it is best used for ac loads.

                                  Will Rogers never met me.

                                  R Offline
                                  R Offline
                                  Ravi Bhavnani
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #28

                                  Right!  I remember building (not designing) a circuit that used SCRs to control 60W bulbs to flash in time with an audio signal. /ravi

                                  My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • P PJ Arends

                                    Thanks Roger, I am looking into FET transistors right now. Looks promising, but so far I am not sure how to make them work.

                                    Roger Wright wrote:

                                    as my employer actually expects me to work on job related stuff while I'm here

                                    Dang bosses can be so unreasonable some times, sure glad I do not have one (unless you count the wife :~ )

                                    Roger Wright wrote:

                                    I'll take another look tonight

                                    Thanks


                                    You may be right I may be crazy -- Billy Joel -- Within you lies the power for good - Use it!

                                    R Offline
                                    R Offline
                                    Roger Wright
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #29

                                    PJ Arends wrote:

                                    unless you count the wife :~

                                    Having a wife counts as having two bosses - her whims, and her hormones. ;P

                                    Will Rogers never met me.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • P PJ Arends

                                      For those who are electronically inclined: http://www3.telus.net/pja/circuit.png[^] I was wondering if there was a way to replace the three internal relays with something else in order to make the circuit solid state. I know that a normally open relay can be replaced with a transistor, but what about a normally closed one? Is there a component that will break a circuit when power is applied to it? Similar to a transistor but with the opposite effect. Also, do I have my diodes in the correct direction? Does DC power flow from positive to negative or the othe other way around? Thanks


                                      You may be right I may be crazy -- Billy Joel -- Within you lies the power for good - Use it!

                                      R Offline
                                      R Offline
                                      Roger Wright
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #30

                                      Check my logic before I continue, PJ. And yes, you can use a PNP transistor to break a circuit when the input is positive using a common-emitter configuration. Anyway... I've labelled the three relays as K1, K2, K3, from left to right. I've also designated S1, S2, and SL for obvious reasons. Convention is Kn TRUE when energized, Sn TRUE when closed. Looking over the circuit it seems the following can be said of it: K1 = S2 + K1*S1 + K2*K3*SL (the second term implies that K1 remains TRUE as long as S1 remains TRUE - a latch) K2 = S2 + K2*K3*SL K3 = K1*S1 The loads are energized when: L1 = (not K1)*S1 L2 = K2*K3 Is this what you intended? Or did I misread something? If so, describe what the circuit is supposed to do. If I've got it right, we can easily put together a solid state version of the control logic using cheap low-power transistors and diodes, and drive the output with power FETs (if they're also DC devices). In any case, this can be made simpler, and probably cheaper by going with silicon.

                                      Will Rogers never met me.

                                      P 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • P PJ Arends

                                        For those who are electronically inclined: http://www3.telus.net/pja/circuit.png[^] I was wondering if there was a way to replace the three internal relays with something else in order to make the circuit solid state. I know that a normally open relay can be replaced with a transistor, but what about a normally closed one? Is there a component that will break a circuit when power is applied to it? Similar to a transistor but with the opposite effect. Also, do I have my diodes in the correct direction? Does DC power flow from positive to negative or the othe other way around? Thanks


                                        You may be right I may be crazy -- Billy Joel -- Within you lies the power for good - Use it!

                                        I Offline
                                        I Offline
                                        Indivara
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #31

                                        Solid state relays[^] come in both flavors, normally open and normally closed. What's that, BTW (if it isn't confidential)? A headache generator for electronics students? ;)

                                        P 1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • R Roger Wright

                                          Check my logic before I continue, PJ. And yes, you can use a PNP transistor to break a circuit when the input is positive using a common-emitter configuration. Anyway... I've labelled the three relays as K1, K2, K3, from left to right. I've also designated S1, S2, and SL for obvious reasons. Convention is Kn TRUE when energized, Sn TRUE when closed. Looking over the circuit it seems the following can be said of it: K1 = S2 + K1*S1 + K2*K3*SL (the second term implies that K1 remains TRUE as long as S1 remains TRUE - a latch) K2 = S2 + K2*K3*SL K3 = K1*S1 The loads are energized when: L1 = (not K1)*S1 L2 = K2*K3 Is this what you intended? Or did I misread something? If so, describe what the circuit is supposed to do. If I've got it right, we can easily put together a solid state version of the control logic using cheap low-power transistors and diodes, and drive the output with power FETs (if they're also DC devices). In any case, this can be made simpler, and probably cheaper by going with silicon.

                                          Will Rogers never met me.

                                          P Offline
                                          P Offline
                                          PJ Arends
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #32

                                          Roger, sorry it took me so long to respond, we were out late last night.

                                          Roger Wright wrote:

                                          describe what the circuit is supposed to do

                                          Ok, the purpose of the circuit is to control the hydraulic system of a dump box. Load 1 would be the solenoid[^] that controls the pump that lifts the box. Load 2 would be the electric solenoid actuator[^] that drains the lift cylinder. Currently I have to stand by and hold the switch that lowers the box, and as it is simply a gravity system this can take a while, time that I could be using to do something else. What I want is to press and hold S1 to raise the box. then press and release S2 to start the box lowering. At any point while the box is lowering I want to be able to press S1 to stop it, without starting the pump to raise it. The circuit is what I came up with to do this. At the start of the cycle, all three switches are open; K1 and K2 are open; and K3 is closed(it is an NC relay) Press and hold S1 to raise the box Current runs through K1 to accuate L1 SL closes (goes to TRUE) as the box is lifted off it's trigger Release S1 when box is high enough Press S2 to lower the box Current flows through the coils of K1 and K2 setting both of them to TRUE Current flows through K3 and K2 to accuate L2 - box lowers Current also flows through SL to hold K1 and K2 closed, thus S1 can be released and current will still flow. At this point one of two things can happen: 1 - The box makes it all the way down     This opens SL as the box settles on it's trigger     SL opens, causing K1 and K2 to also open     K2 opening causes L2 to open     We are back at our original starting configuration 2 - I press S1 to stop the box from going down     Because K1 is TRUE, Current flow will hold K1 where it is, and it will also accuate K3     K3 is open, breaking the current that holds K2 closed &nb

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