Will this relay work for an ATO setup?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...A:IT&ih=012
Full Version: DIY ATO Relay question?
Way too fancy for what you need. You can get this relay at Radioshack for less and will do everything you need.
Ok now as far as the power supply, I have a 12VAC power supply, will this work or does it have to be 12VDC? Thanks for the help.
you can use it if youd like but youll need another relay. The one linked is only DC. You can go to radio shack and ask them for a relay with a 12vAC coil, or buy a DC power supply or use an old cell phone charger or anyother walwart, just read the lable and make sure its no more the 12vDC.
Ok and what about the amperage raing on the power supply. Some are 200ma and all the way up to 1000ma. What would be the apropriate size?
all mine ( I have 4 of 'em) are 12VDC 200ma
The coil on the one I linked to was 150mA. As long as you have a power supply bigger than that, you're cool.
So I went to radio shack and picked up a relay. It is similar to the one on the link. Here are the specs:
Rated voltage: 110/120VAC
Coil resistance: 4.430 ohms max.
Pull-in voltage: 9.6VAC max.
Drop-uot voltage: 36VAC min.
Nominal coil current: 8.4/9.2mA
Contact rating: 10A at 110VAC or 24VDC
Maximum operating voltage: 250VAC/ 125VDC
Minimum load: 100mA, 5VDC
Now my question is can I run this relay with a smaller power supply? I have a 6VDC power supply, is that enough?
Rated voltage: 110/120VAC
Coil resistance: 4.430 ohms max.
Pull-in voltage: 9.6VAC max.
Drop-uot voltage: 36VAC min.
Nominal coil current: 8.4/9.2mA
Contact rating: 10A at 110VAC or 24VDC
Maximum operating voltage: 250VAC/ 125VDC
Minimum load: 100mA, 5VDC
Now my question is can I run this relay with a smaller power supply? I have a 6VDC power supply, is that enough?
Take that one back, as you got one that is AC rated, not DC (unless you have an 9v AC transformer somewhere in your house).
The one I linked to earlier is a more robust relay, both physically and electrically. It has nice large tabs to put connectors on that won't break off. It is 12v DC, so get a 12v power supply to work with it. And no, a 6v power supply won't be enough.
The 6v power supply won't be much use for relays, as they are usually 5v or 12v (or higher).
The one I linked to earlier is a more robust relay, both physically and electrically. It has nice large tabs to put connectors on that won't break off. It is 12v DC, so get a 12v power supply to work with it. And no, a 6v power supply won't be enough.
The 6v power supply won't be much use for relays, as they are usually 5v or 12v (or higher).
I do have a 12VAC power supply, will that work with this relay?
Sorry, I miss-read the details. The 12v AC power supply still won't work. The coil is rated for 115VAC (wall voltage). I kept on reading the coil pull-in voltage.
The whole point to using a relay for the ATO is to reduce the voltage and the wear and tear to the contacts in the float switch. Many of them are only rated for DC operation, hence the reason for the 12v DC relay and power supply.
Take it back and get a 12v DC relay and power supply and it will take all the guess work out of things.
The whole point to using a relay for the ATO is to reduce the voltage and the wear and tear to the contacts in the float switch. Many of them are only rated for DC operation, hence the reason for the 12v DC relay and power supply.
Take it back and get a 12v DC relay and power supply and it will take all the guess work out of things.
Alright I picked up a 12VDC relay and I have the power supply and float switches on the way. Project should be completed by next week. Thanks for all the help.
You're welcome. Hope it works out well for you.
I have a similar question involving relays. Is the use really necessary?
The float switch I purchased has a max switching voltage of 130 volts. I was going to go the ghetto route and just wire it in series before the outlet (it'd still be soldered, not that ghetto
).
For my pump I'm using a tiny fountain pump.
My thoughts were 130 max volts is higher than the US 110, but I didn't take into account the root 2 when I bought it (due to sinusoidal nature of alternating current).
110(sqrt(2))=~170 volts, so do I need to use a relay or will the switches I have be fine on their own?
The float switch I purchased has a max switching voltage of 130 volts. I was going to go the ghetto route and just wire it in series before the outlet (it'd still be soldered, not that ghetto
).For my pump I'm using a tiny fountain pump.
My thoughts were 130 max volts is higher than the US 110, but I didn't take into account the root 2 when I bought it (due to sinusoidal nature of alternating current).
110(sqrt(2))=~170 volts, so do I need to use a relay or will the switches I have be fine on their own?
QUOTE (asting @ Nov 7 2009, 02:19 PM) 
I have a similar question involving relays. Is the use really necessary?
The float switch I purchased has a max switching voltage of 130 volts. I was going to go the ghetto route and just wire it in series before the outlet (it'd still be soldered, not that ghetto).
For my pump I'm using a tiny fountain pump.
My thoughts were 130 max volts is higher than the US 110, but I didn't take into account the root 2 when I bought it (due to sinusoidal nature of alternating current).
110(sqrt(2))=~170 volts, so do I need to use a relay or will the switches I have be fine on their own?
The float switch I purchased has a max switching voltage of 130 volts. I was going to go the ghetto route and just wire it in series before the outlet (it'd still be soldered, not that ghetto
).For my pump I'm using a tiny fountain pump.
My thoughts were 130 max volts is higher than the US 110, but I didn't take into account the root 2 when I bought it (due to sinusoidal nature of alternating current).
110(sqrt(2))=~170 volts, so do I need to use a relay or will the switches I have be fine on their own?
the reason float switches can fail
On a side note, I wonder if that applies mostly to rotary pumps, or both those and air pumps.....
Oops I just looked at the order details again. I bought it off fleabay.
It says maximum switching voltage 250 volts, but it is only rated for 50 watts.
The pump I'm using is a 3w fountain pump.
The switch is here
Do i have anything to worry about?
Also, sorry for threadjack, I just didnt feel like making the umpteenth thread about relays and ATO's.
It says maximum switching voltage 250 volts, but it is only rated for 50 watts.
The pump I'm using is a 3w fountain pump.
The switch is here
Do i have anything to worry about?
Also, sorry for threadjack, I just didnt feel like making the umpteenth thread about relays and ATO's.
I did exactly what you want to do asting. I wired a small 5w pump directly to the switch without a relay and figured everything would be okay. After five months of perfect operation, the float switch stuck and flooded my tank with RO water. Moral of the story, USE A RELAY.
These float switches cannot handle the spikes in power and/or the AC current. Over time the reeds in the switch will deform and bad things happen.
I personally wish I had gone with the relay in the first place rather than trying to save $7.
These float switches cannot handle the spikes in power and/or the AC current. Over time the reeds in the switch will deform and bad things happen.
I personally wish I had gone with the relay in the first place rather than trying to save $7.
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