I want to use EL wire for some illumination, and Arduino should be used for switching the wire(s) on and off. The problem here is, that Arduino uses 5/3,3V DC and the EL wire needs AC about 100V.
To get this done a relay would do the job, but I've read about the new PhotoMOS.
Could anyone suggest a scheme and a product to get it working?
Kind redards...
Just switch the power to the inverter that drives the EL wire. Then you're switching a nice low voltage DC power for the inverter. That's how I do it...
Most of those EL wire inverters warn you not to run them without the wires connected. And if you disconnected the EL wire with a relay, that's what you're doing, and (if the warnings are to be believed) that could damage the inverter.
Got a link to a "PhotoMOS" that you have in mind?
I don't believe that those inverters get killed when powered without load connected to it. They are very simple in construction really. Just a power transformer to get from low voltage DC 100V AC with 1000 to 2000 Hz.
Specifications EL Wire
PhotoMOS are really cool electronic parts I have not heard before but they work nearly as a relay but without the disadvantages coils could do some harm to arduinos...
So, the PhotoMOS I have in mind...
It would be possible to switch the input power for the inverter with this 'relay' or the AC power itself for the EL wire.
Thanks for your suggestion, I think that is the better solution, otherwise the transformer will unload the battery - for nothing.
Most EL wire inverters I've seen specify that they must be connected to EL wire when powered, otherwise the inverter can be damaged.
References:
Your EL wire inverters are powered by AC? That's unusual - Almost all the ones I've seen use 3 to 12v DC input, which you can switch with just a normal MOSFET.
The photoMOS looks like a couple of MOSFETs and an IR led, combined in one package like an opto coupler.