> From:         Alan Gorham[SMTP:alan@MICROTIMA.CO.UK]
> Sent:         Friday, September 26, 2003 5:54 AM
> To:   PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject:      [EE]: Options for switching ac and dc?

> Is there a single component that could do the following:
>
> 1) Is switched on/off by a PIC pin output,
> 2) Could drive tungsten filament bulbs from 240V ac @1A,
> 3) Could drive an array of LEDs from 18Vdc @ 1A.

The generic name for an isolated power driver like this is a
"Solid State Relay" or SSR. These are modules which contain
the output device (SCR, TRIAC, MOSFET or whatever), with
an isolated input device (optocoupler, etc). The type of output
device, the input voltage needed to switch the output, the
voltage and current ratings, amount of voltage isolation, size,
and other parameters, are available in great variety. They are
made by many manufacturers and would save you the trouble
of making one yourself.

John Power

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