So, I'm not really ready for any advanced projects in Arduino yet, but, out of curiosity, is there any way to control power flow through an AC plug via an arduino?
For example, one could turn something that was plugged into a standard american outlet via arduino. I suppose it would it would be an electronically controlled switch that could handle a lot of power flow.
Any products that could do this, or ways that one could go about it?
A Relay is what your looking for. Relay's are like switches you have at your house that you flip with your hand except they use a very small voltage and current ( 5v from arduino for example ) to decide whether a larger current is connected for not ( aka if the switch is in the off or on position ).
The two are not inter connected however, because ac current ( especially the amount running through your walls ) would fry the arduino. Now understand if you play with relays and connecting them to large currents and voltages like the ones running through your walls, you can get electrocuted and die very easily! Learn ALOT before attempting to do anything, and ALWAYS make sure the ac power your playing with or working with is OFF when tampering with electrical components! Always use safety!! Hope this helped! All other info about relays is available online with some googleing...
Don't worry, I'm not planning on doing anything that advanced yet, just kind of wondering what one could potentially do with this small circuit i have just received.
Hopefully I'll be returning with some cool projects eventually.