Mike Harrison wrote:
> It really shouldn't be an issue internally - that's  what fuses and earthing are for, plus keeping
> mechanical clearance between mains and any low-voltage stuff. 

That's what I thought. The LV stuff is going to be on a separate PCB 
screwed to the front panel, with a 6-pin Molex KK running to the 
AC/power control board. Everything on that connector is <24V DC.

I'm still not sure if I'm going to use a solid-state relay... the PCB 
design uses a mechanical relay (a Tyco-Schrack XT374L12) at the moment. 
I also have an optocoupler tied in to watch the output of said relay: if 
it sticks on, then the software flags an error condition and starts 
beeping madly.

> Probably a good idea to use something heat resistent though in a toaster - the 3-core flex  they
> sell for connecting up  immersion heaters (stripped down to its seperate cores) is probably the most
> readily available by the metre.

That's a good idea -- the problem being that getting some of that will 
necessitate a trip to B&Q, and that's not likely to happen seeing as 
I've been roped into covering rather a lot of shifts for other folks at 
work :(

Unless Farnell stock something like that, in which case, it can go on 
the order. I don't suppose it has a specific name, does it?

> IEC (10A should  be fine) - techically you should probably use a 'hot condition' type - these have a
> cutout in the mains-lead end and a bump  in the inlet. 

Unfortunately there seems to be basically nothing available "off the 
shelf" in terms of hot-condition IECs. Farnell have a couple of panel 
sockets and "free" (unwired) plugs, but no fused panel sockets or 
pre-wired leads...

What's the difference, besides the lip? Just the higher temperature rating?

Thanks,
-- 
Phil.
piclist@philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/
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