newbie from the UK

[deanno]

Hi everyone,found this site and i just love it. Now i'm going to have a go at this, but i will be using low voltage DC for my lights.. Now instead of using the controller boards could i not use SPSP/SPDT switches. Would these be triggered ok via a serial/parallel feed of the computer. Is there anyone from the Uk on here with a setup. Any help or pointers in the right direction would be great.
Is it true that SSR's will only switch AC voltage.

Thanks Dean

[NanoWit]

I'm not sure what you mean by SPSP/SPDT switches. In the States, a SPDT switch would mean a single pole double throw toggle switch, the kind you have to move with your finger to turn on and off. Are you talking about relays?

It is true that an SSR will only work with AC. Once you turn it on with DC it will stay on until you turn off the source of the current. An SSR should work with low voltage AC though.

[deanno]

Thanks for your reply. You are right in that SPST are manually switched but i'm sure when i googled i found some eletrical switched ones, perhaps they should have been in the relay section.


Why does SSR's only switch on AC. I only want to use 24vDC lights because of the high voltage we have in the UK (240v).


seasons greeting to all



Dean

[P. Short]

Wjohn, one of the members here, has some DC SSR boards available from time to time on a coop basis. You might want to send him a PM.

--

Phil

[NanoWit]

If the SSR is the triac type it will only work with AC. They do make DC SSRs with FETs and transistors that will work with DC but they are more expensive.
The triac type (AC output) which are the most common type will latch up once they are triggered, the reason they work with AC is because the polarity is reversed 60 times a second causing them do unlatch each time the voltage crosses zero volts. So, be sure you are getting the ones that say "DC Output ."