If they still carry it, go to RadioShack and buy an MOC3010 optoisolator.
It has a triac output.  It doesn't handle the current you need but you use
that to switch a larger triac that will handle your needs.

Back about 20 years ago when I was in school I wanted to build a light
controller to sequence incandent light bulbs.  I asked several of my
teachers and I got either, I don't know, or use relays.  I knew neither of
those were good answers.  I happened to be browsing the blue "276" series at
RadioShack when I saw the MOC3010 and it had a schematic on the back of the
package showing how to connect it up to a triac.  It works great, you can
switch 110 volt 60watt light bulbs on and off with a 5V signal and nothing
to wear out.
Good luck,
Fred


>From: Tony Harris <tony@ELROYNET.COM>
>Reply-To: pic microcontroller discussion list <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
>To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
>Subject: [PIC] [EE]: Using DC to control AC.
>Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2002 23:07:17 -0500
>
>hi,
>
>I'm trying to figure out how to use my PIC to control an AC voltage.
>
>For example:
>
>I have a fountain that las low voltage AC lights, and a set of low voltage
>AC pumps (say 3 lights and 3 pumps, all run off of 12V AC, max all three
>lights and all three pumps would be on.  The pumps are rated at 3.6A).  I
>want to create a program to turn on and off lights and the pumps at my
>will.
>
>Obviously, my PIC circuit is a DC circuit.
>
>So, can anyone suggest what I might be able to do in order to control this
>AC voltage?  I don't need to funnel a lot of power, 60 watts (actually
>43.2,
>but increasing a bit for safety) per "switch".
>
>So, the AC side would be 12V AC, the DC would be 5V DC for the PIC and
>either the LCD or perhaps LED's to indicate what is on and off.
>
>Any resources, sites, small samples would be most appreciated.
>
>-Tony
>
>--
>http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different
>ways.  See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.
>
>




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