USB Relay Controller

**TechToy** · 04-22-2005, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by Zac

Rough pcb layout. So rough it's just using eagle's auto route.

If it works and it won't affect cost why **** with it eh?

you may want to look at the trace sizes...
they won't be able to support tooo much amperage...
and if someone is gonna use this pcb design to controll a window motor or even power locks... the traces will burn of the board on the 1st trigger...
also what is the specs on the relays you spec'd out for this design..
you may want to do something like mix 2 types of relays... 4 hi-amp rating ones with 4 lower amp ones... i'd go at least 10 amp on the hi-amp ones and 2-5 on the lower amp ones...

just my .02

**Zac** · 04-22-2005, 09:59 PM

I know, I redid the board earlier today. That was the first thing that changed.

I'd be more worried about those little pins for the relays then for the traces now. :P

(Relays: "16a, 24vdc"...not sure if I believe these claims or not but we'll see throughout my testing.)

**pate60** · 04-23-2005, 11:46 AM

Hey im keen to do some delphi coding for this project.

email at naresh@corporatecam.co.nz

**CHUPACABRA** · 04-23-2005, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by kiltjim

No, this is only for relays. You probably want a servo controller card. I know for a fact that there are pre fabbed cards available. And from what I remember, its not that expensive.

Can u provide me with a link? I thought I saw someone saying thay could controle their amp gaines with this board.

**kiltjim** · 04-23-2005, 11:31 PM

Pre-Built Servo Controller: http://www.seetron.com/ssc.htm

Although, if you are looking at controlling an Amps gains, you are looking at a digital pot. Something like a DS1669. That would let you control the resistance by sending a low signal to either the up or down pins. You could do this through the serial port. And come to think of it, you could do it with a very simple program too. I might even have to add that to the program I am working on. The DTS, and RTS lines aren't used by anything I am using right now...

**Zac** · 04-24-2005, 02:37 AM

Dude you don't know how much searching time you just saved me :P
I'm gonna have to take a look at that DS1669 part

**Bullwinkle777** · 04-24-2005, 03:19 AM

I have an air ride setup on my car and was wondering if there was any relay controller (USB or what ever) that I could use to control it? It would be nice if it worked with RR so when I touch the screen it would close the relay and open it as I let off the screen.

**kiltjim** · 04-24-2005, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by Zac

Dude you don't know how much searching time you just saved me :P
I'm gonna have to take a look at that DS1669 part

You should probably search a little more too, though. I just threw that one out there as an example. I don't have the datasheet in front of me, so I don't know the step size of the chip. I do know its used as a digital volume control though.

Originally Posted by Bullwinkle777

I have an air ride setup on my car and was wondering if there was any relay controller (USB or what ever) that I could use to control it? It would be nice if it worked with RR so when I touch the screen it would close the relay and open it as I let off the screen.

That would be pretty cool, but I don't think I've seen any with momentary control through windows. I know there are programs that will do it for a selectable amount of time. I don't really know how fast the program and relay wil respond, so you may not have the control you are lookig for.

**Bullwinkle777** · 04-24-2005, 12:04 PM

Thanx for the info kiltjim! It sucks that there isn't anything out there that will do what I'm wanting, but hopefully someone in the future will make something that will work. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Thanx again!

**kiltjim** · 04-24-2005, 02:36 PM

Like I said, I think the problem is going to be the repsonse time of the software talking to the hardware, then the hardware talking back to the software, etc. I do plan on incorporating a "momentary" option, but it will only be momentary because it will be a rapid on off, at a given interval (say, 1/2 a second, or more) But I don't know how well that would work for what you need it for.