Question about SSRs

[darkforcesjedi]

(Specifically the SSR design in the wiki)

This page has the pinouts for the SSR boards:
http://christmasinshirley.com/wiki/index.php?title=Pinouts

1-Power
2-Channel 1
3-reserved
4-Channel 2
5-reserved
6-Channel 3
7-Ground
8-Channel 4

I want to operate them directly with my parallel port. I assume this can be done. My question is how are each of the channels switched? What signal to Channel 1 turns on the first channel?

Anyone ever connected one of these directly to the parallel port?

I want to connect 2, since the parallel port had 8 data pins (each output +5V or 0V), through the use of a hub. Any information on how to accomplish this would be GREATLY appreciated. :)

[Josh]

if you are talking about the Coop ssr boards they can not be used directly with the parallel port

there was just a thread on this the other day, but its late and i cant remember where

The issue is that parallel send out 5v but the ssr's share 5v and the ground is switched on and off

[pete]

You can drive SSRs directly from the parallel Port. But not the Coop SSR board. That is because directly from the port the positive (+) signal is switch and on the Coop SSR board the negative (-) is switched. Vixen can control up to 8 channels using the 'basic parallel' plugin and up to 12 channels using the 12-Channel Parallel' plug in. A resent thread on running channels directly the parallel port can be found here

http://www.christmasinshirley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1589

I hope you find it useful

Pete

[RavingLunatic]

To use the coop SSR design with your parallel port you could add a ULN2803 inbetween the port and the SSR.

More info here:
http://www.christmasinshirley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=12014#12014