Mike Mansheim wrote:
>
> > Have you considered a relay? A "real" relay that
> > is! :o) Simple to drive with your PIC and should
> > work your AC fan load ok since you say it is low
> > power.
>
> Last time I went looking for a relay to run with a pic,
> I ended up using a solid state relay because the
> mechanical relays needed more drive current than the
> pic could do directly.  Of course, I limited my selection
> to whatever was listed in Digikey.
> So, does a solid state relay count as "real"?

No. :o)
Try using a real relay with the coil driven by
a cheap 10 cent transistor like a BC337 or equiv,
and a diode across the relay coil, this can give
advantages over a solid state relay because of
the total isolation of the relay contacts from
the coil and PIC.

Solid state relays are fine in many cases, but
"real" relays have their place, and are good
safe hardware for newbies.
-Roman

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