Converter? A electrical component question... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

LeviticusMky · 10-08-2004, 11:20 PM

Here's the thing... I am making something.

I have taken apart an old dancing cactus that responds to sound. I want to use the sound sensor and the circut board (3volts) to run a 9volt motor and two 110volt appliances. I can't use a 9volt bnattery to run the board, as it would undoubtedly fry it. (or would it?)

I have the second half of the thing set up, relays, wiring, the whole bit. It all works perfectly when switched with a 9volt battery. The problem is that the activation signal has to come from the circut board, which runs of 2 AA batteries, 3volts, whereas all of the relays that I can find need a minimum of 9volts to operate the electromagnetic coil.

So here's my question...

Can I buy a 3volt to 9volt converter? or are there 3vot relays out there? If so, where?!?!?! I've been looking all over the web for this stuff, I think the problem is that I just don't know where to look. I've been to my local RadioShack a number of times, and they've hooked me up with all the other stuff I need, but they don't deal with 3volt doo-hickeys!

Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree...

Oh well. thanks in advance.

merkerguitars · 10-09-2004, 12:34 AM

GO HERE FOR RELAYS there are pretty fair priced

once you set up one small relay to trigger the 9 volt motor you can then use that relay to trigger a bigger 12v actuated relay (they will operate on as low as 9 volts) that really can switch a 110v motor or two..depending on size...

LeviticusMky · 10-09-2004, 08:56 AM

Okay, thanks a bunch!

That site gave me a couple of options, ordering now...

SinisterMotives · 10-09-2004, 09:46 AM

You can use resistors to tap different DC voltages from one DC source (i.e., the battery).

goddfather40 · 10-11-2004, 08:19 PM

www.digikey.com is your friend. Type in relays into the search function, pick what kind of relay you need, and then it'll set up a parametric search function. Go from there.

If you want to know how to bump up a voltage from 3 volts to something bigger, you can but together a boost switching power supply circuit, but then again that may be too advanced for you. I did a Google search on boost voltage regulators and here's the
link for that, if you are so inclined to want to learn more.

exploreyourself · 10-13-2004, 05:11 PM

It looks like you got the help you need, but for future reference:

1. You can use a resistor network to lower the voltage of a source. However, you need to be careful of the amount of current that you need at the lower voltage.

2. You can also buy DC-DC converters that can either step up or step down a DC voltage.

3. Instead of a relay, you may also be able to use a transistor. They can switch large amounts of current with a low input voltage and very low input current.

10-08-2004, 11:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
LeviticusMky Crazy Location: Minnesota	Converter? A electrical component question... Here's the thing... I am making something. I have taken apart an old dancing cactus that responds to sound. I want to use the sound sensor and the circut board (3volts) to run a 9volt motor and two 110volt appliances. I can't use a 9volt bnattery to run the board, as it would undoubtedly fry it. (or would it?) I have the second half of the thing set up, relays, wiring, the whole bit. It all works perfectly when switched with a 9volt battery. The problem is that the activation signal has to come from the circut board, which runs of 2 AA batteries, 3volts, whereas all of the relays that I can find need a minimum of 9volts to operate the electromagnetic coil. So here's my question... Can I buy a 3volt to 9volt converter? or are there 3vot relays out there? If so, where?!?!?! I've been looking all over the web for this stuff, I think the problem is that I just don't know where to look. I've been to my local RadioShack a number of times, and they've hooked me up with all the other stuff I need, but they don't deal with 3volt doo-hickeys! Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree... Oh well. thanks in advance.

10-09-2004, 12:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	GO HERE FOR RELAYS there are pretty fair priced once you set up one small relay to trigger the 9 volt motor you can then use that relay to trigger a bigger 12v actuated relay (they will operate on as low as 9 volts) that really can switch a 110v motor or two..depending on size... __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

10-11-2004, 08:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
goddfather40 Llama Location: Cali-for-nye-a	www.digikey.com is your friend. Type in relays into the search function, pick what kind of relay you need, and then it'll set up a parametric search function. Go from there. If you want to know how to bump up a voltage from 3 volts to something bigger, you can but together a boost switching power supply circuit, but then again that may be too advanced for you. I did a Google search on boost voltage regulators and here's the link for that, if you are so inclined to want to learn more. __________________ My name is goddfather40 and I approved this message. I got ho's and I got bitches, In C++ I branch with switches -MC Plus+

10-09-2004, 08:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
LeviticusMky Crazy Location: Minnesota	Okay, thanks a bunch! That site gave me a couple of options, ordering now...

10-09-2004, 09:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
SinisterMotives Junkie	You can use resistors to tap different DC voltages from one DC source (i.e., the battery).

10-13-2004, 05:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
exploreyourself Upright	It looks like you got the help you need, but for future reference: 1. You can use a resistor network to lower the voltage of a source. However, you need to be careful of the amount of current that you need at the lower voltage. 2. You can also buy DC-DC converters that can either step up or step down a DC voltage. 3. Instead of a relay, you may also be able to use a transistor. They can switch large amounts of current with a low input voltage and very low input current.