Open Ardbir - Open source platform for brewing process control and automation

[darren996]

The Dark Knight Rises... nice.. looks very tidy

[pob]

+1 Looks good

[Leann ull]

Looks like my ZX81 but probably has more power

[McMelloW]

Built a control box for mine finally out of a black brushed steel box from aliexpress. Also put in some override switches.

Still need some proper wiring, to allow it to be disconnected from the ssrs but looks pretty nice I think.

Looks very nice. Molc. The switches are used to switch the 12V lines to your relay and ssr?

[molc]

Built a control box for mine finally out of a black brushed steel box from aliexpress. Also put in some override switches.

Still need some proper wiring, to allow it to be disconnected from the ssrs but looks pretty nice I think.

Looks very nice. Molc. The switches are used to switch the 12V lines to your relay and ssr?

Yup, switches will trigger the relays for the pumps and also have overrides for each ssr. They are also leds, so can wire them up as status lights as well.
Going to have a network cable from this to a box with ssr s, relays and 240 - 12v adaptor.

[auralabuse]

Did you have to cut the display case for the display?

[molc]

Did you have to cut the display case for the display?

Dad got me a jigsaw for Christmas. It's way more fun than it should be

[auralabuse]

Aha, nice

[darren996]

Hi folks I am using a 12v pump that I have connected straight to the ardbir 12v pump connector and it is working fine.

I see folks are using a pump relay even with 12v pumps. The question is why would you use a pump relay with a 12v pump.

@McMelloW what relay are you using

Thanks folks

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

The contacts on the relay on the board have a max current rating. They can easily switch the small load of a relay coil or ssr but may burn out depending upon the current rating of the pump.

[darren996]

The contacts on the relay on the board have a max current rating. They can easily switch the small load of a relay coil or ssr but may burn out depending upon the current rating of the pump.

Thanks.. so the relay is a good option even for 12v, it will protect the board

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Exactly

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Just as some background, DC voltage is much more severe on relay contacts than AC due to the fact that DC causes more arcing. Therefore when you are buying a relay it will have a lower switch current rating than if it was switching AC. So check the DC contact rating as it can be as low as 50% of the AC rating

[darren996]

Just as some background, DC voltage is much more severe on relay contacts than AC due to the fact that DC causes more arcing. Therefore when you are buying a relay it will have a lower switch current rating than if it was switching AC. So check the DC contact rating as it can be as low as 50% of the AC rating

Thanks for the reply.. this is a bit over my head...
Am I looking for something like this to swithc/power a 12v pump.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/5V-12V-24V-10A-1-Channel-Relay-Module-Optocoupler-H-L-Level-Triger-for-Arduino-/131584267865?var=&hash=item1ea3089659:m:mDBIexHsWx7fhkZecRuGDqQ

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

That'll do fine, the heaviest rated solar pump I can see doing a quick search is rated at (12v) 3 amps, the relay you linked to is rated at 10 amps so plenty of leeway there 👍