I'm working on a special effect that will be used on stage. It will have a Neopixal strip that will be programmed with a Fire effect, and I'm using a Vape Pen and Aquarium Mini-Pump to create a randomized smoke effect (Random On/Off - Random Duration). All this will be set down inside of a Terracotta Jar. The Wireless remote will turn ON/OFF the entire system when the effect is needed. I'm checking first my schematic to check if the plan is correct, then I will be looking for some guidance for the random smoke Sketch. Thanks!!
There is no power supply for the relay load.
The LEDstrip/relay/radio needs an external 5V power supply.
Place a kickback diode across the air pump.
Gotcha, I see what you are saying. Is it bad to run everything from the Internal USB off the Arduino Nano, Or does the Smoke Machine absolutely need to be externally powered? I know a NeoPixal can be powered from the internal USB off the Nano. Would this work?
Is this "instead of" a relay? I'm not familiar with what this does.
No!!!!!!!
Yes!!!!!
As well as.
The smoke device and air motor (high currents ? ) really should have their own power supply.
The relay could be replaced by a MOSFET ?
Yes, as long as the strip has no more than about 15-20 LEDs on it. And nothing else is using any of the usb power (like motors or relays, for example).
USB can usually provide about 500mA. The Nano may use around 30mA for itself. A neopixel strip will need around 50~60mA per led on full brightness white, but perhaps only a third to a half of that when running a "fire" style pattern.
A relay will probably need around 80mA when activated. The motor/pump... Hard to say without more information. Probably more than the relay even for a small one. And when it first starts up, probably 5 times as much as when it is running.
Thank you for your very helpful answer. I really appreciate it! I will do some more learning! Thanks!!!
Ah, Now I understand. Thanks also for your helpful answer! I really appreciate it!
This is the specs for the pump
Rated voltage: DC 6V; Working Current: 460MA; Operating Voltage Range: DC3-6V
So the pump will draw almost all the available USB current by itself. With the relay activated also, you are already over the limit, which will probably cause the voltage to drop enough to make the Nano reset itself. And, as mentioned, the pump will draw maybe 5 times as much current for a fraction of a second when it starts up.
Thanks! That's helpful! I appreceate it!
The 1k can be 10k.
The IRF540 is not a logic level MOSFET.
See:
https://aws1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/3X/7/2/7253db9f14a32e3568824488ca7d3ba8cae7aea6.pdf
I got that from this Instructable... So, this won't work?
Use a logic level MOSFET.
OK. Any suggestion from the PDF you sent? IRL3705N? IRL540?
Will FQP30N06L work? I can get those quick
I've never vaped but it's surprising how much vapor I see coming out of those things. But, I'm pretty sure it takes lots of power... Do you know how many "good puffs" you can get out of one charge?
Can you get vape fluid without the nicotine? Or do you care? It's probably the same as theatrical fog juice, which I believe is water and glycerin. ...Regular steam from boiling water dissipates too quickly and it looks like steam.
The smallest fog machines are 400 Watts which is a LOT more than you can get from a little battery in a vape pen.
You can also get ultrasonic misters but the mist dissipates and falls to the ground too quickly. I tried to make a fog machine with on (because it uses a lot less power than a fog machine) and it worked great when I tried it in a bathtub. Contained by the bathtub, the mist/fog was nice and thick and you couldn't see the water. But uncontained in a room it just "disappears".