Hello all! My first post here, so hopefully I'll be doing this right.
I have a setup I'm trying to build and I'm having trouble with a particular bit with a power relay. I have a Bobuino 2 board that I've hooked up to a 5V relay. Basically it's this one:
Only, the actual relay on the board is a 5V model (SLA-05VDC-SL-C).
(Here's an Amazon link, for more reference: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R7TTSMI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 )
The purpose of all this is to be able to control a 120V GFCI outlet and turn the power to it on or off via the relay. I'm (loosely) following the instructions found here:
https://www.circuitbasics.com/build-an-arduino-controlled-power-outlet/
Only instead of a humidity sensor, I just have a simple program (for now) that turns power on and off every 5 seconds.
The problem is that this website, and every other example I've found, gives instructions for hooking up a relay board to the arduino that has three control pins: VCC (i.e. +5V), GND and IN. This relay board I bought only has two pins: VCC and GND.
Before I realized the difference, I tried hooking up VCC to D10 on the Bobuino board (and GND to GND). The board's LED lights up as expected to show the signal is coming through, but the relay never actually triggers (I've verified that the NC pole is always live, and the NO pole is never live). So I know I at least am commanding the right pin through my Sketch. From what I've seen, the D10 pin should be putting out enough voltage to trigger the relay, but since this relay only has two control pins instead of three, I'm guessing I need something more. The problem is: what? What am I missing? Do I just need to toss this relay and purchase a different one?
Apologies if this has been addressed on the forums already, but I tried searching both this forums and elsewhere all day and could not find a specific answer to this.
Thanks in advance for any help!