PCI-DIO96 / SSR

[jraucci]

I have a measurment computing PCI-DIO96. Their tech support says the board has a sink/source of 2.5mA at 5v. Will the Sean Bowf SSR work with this low current? If not, do you have a recommendation?
Thanks

[RavingLunatic]

I would say a direct hook-up wouldn't work but if you ran your PCI-DIO96 output thru a ULN2803 then you would be ok.

I believe that is how synnie does it with his NI PCI-DIO 96.

Edit: Here is a post with info from synnie on how he handles his NI PCI-DIOs
http://www.christmasinshirley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=407&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[synnie]

Hi again, thrown a quick drawing of how ive done my ULN's with the NI DIO96. The ULNs use power from the DIO card to switch the neutral or negative side of the SSR's which with the SSROZ is the way they have been set up.Didnt have any problems with the switching , is also how i controlled my LED strings (remove the SSR from drawing and insert LED strings) which had 140mA on each pin.
Cheers Synnie

[jraucci]

Thanks for the info and drawing. So the 5v is an external power supply with a higher amp rating than required by the ssr's and the uln2300 can be triggered by the 2.5 mA of the PCI-DIO96. Does this need any sort of buffer to prevent damage to the card?
This board is great for the novice, like me.
Thanks again for your help.

[synnie]

Hi again, yep the power supply is an external one,i bought one of ebay, 5vdc at 6amp, since my ssr's were 20mA opto's it is capable of switching on 300 channels at once. I had diodes on one of my ULN buffer cards, (48 channels per card )and the other 3 cards didnt. I didnt have a problem.Come to think of it the 2 cards i had set up to switch the SSR's didnt have any buffers between the PCI DIO96 and the ULN's. No problems with power going back to the PCI DIO96, but i did short a couple of ULN's out, rebuilding it all again for this years display and using sockets to mount the ULN's. 96 channels were switching 24vdc, other 96 channels switching 5vdc, all via the ULN2803

[jraucci]

Where do you recommend buying perf board with pads? Is there somewhere that sells large pieces that can be cut down?
Thanks

[synnie]

I bought protoboards from Futurlec, have different types, mine were $1.50US each and i used them to make ssr's and also the circuits for the uln's