New question: I have been looking up triacs, and I see there are MANY to choose from. Most of the ones I have found are rated at 400V, xA, ymA. I assume as long as on the mA side I remain below what my MOC30xx can handle, I'm pretty much good to go. But, I have noticed there is an option for isolated and non-isolated. Can someone tell me what the difference is and which one would be more appropriate? I'm still trying to find more info on the difference between those key types of triacs, but I haven't yet - most docs have just talked about the basic principal of triacs. -Tony ----- Original Message ----- From: "fred jones" To: Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 6:44 AM Subject: Re: [PIC] [EE]: Using DC to control AC. > 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 > >Reply-To: pic microcontroller discussion list > >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. > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: > http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different > ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. > > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.