Arduino Uno Relay Shield or MOSFET4

Projects General Guidance
1

Hey all,

I have some questions about a build that I plan to follow. The build is using electromagnetic switches that are home built and controlled by an Arduino Uno. The builder is using the Uno to control a MOSFET4 which can handle the 12 volts required to operate the magnet on the switch. In part of the video the builder shows the completed wiring but states that he has a shield on the Uno.

Questions:

  1. Why use a shield and the MOSFET4?
  2. Why use the MOSFET and not the relay shield that Arduino produces?

Video: Magnetic Switches - for $20 each! - YouTube
Time stamp: 14:00

Thanks for the help. Trying to learn how this all works.

2

Easier to provide 5V and GND to multiple pins on the mosfet board.

Size and power consumption come to my mind.

3

Thanks for the response.

What shield is he using? I figured the Arduino board had plenty of outs to provide the power and ground.

That makes sense. The MOSFET is quiet compared to the relays on the Arduino which I guess could be a reason as well.

4

I have no idea; looks like a prototyping shield. We can't see the bottom but I'm quite sure there is a lot of wiring underneath.

No, it only has one 5V output and two or three grounds. It has plenty of GPIO pins but they ain't suitable for serious power.

5

Interesting. Man, I got a ton to learn. I have no clue what a GPIO is. That's gonna be my next google question.

Couldn't the Uno still control the MOSFET which controls the 12 volts to the magnet without a shield?

6

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7

General Purpose Input Output; on the Uno pins 0 - 13 and A0 to A5.

Maybe I should have called it IO insrtead of GPIO.

8

That's what google told me!

I know there are digital and analog ones, still need to learn more about them. Couldn't these control the MOSFET? I looked more into the proto board. It's essentially a bread board that you have to solder which is cool since it can essentially become anything.

Thanks!

9

In the bottom left corner you see the Arduino IO pins that go to the circuit examples.

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10

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