I am in need of some assistance in how to wire a device that has two 115 V - 15 AMP lights and then a 5V Arduino board. To start with I am struggling finding an Power Distribution Block. I have thought of using a terminal block with jumpers but not even sure how to go about that. In my mind I though it would be easy to find a PDB that had two inputs where I plug in my hot and neutral and 6 outputs each with having a hot and a neutral. This alone seems to be a challenge to find. The next I believe will be to find a step down converter to decrease the voltage for the Arduino outputs. Any suggestions?
I am a retired electrician as well as a computer professional, and I have no idea what a Power distribution block is. 115V 15A LIGHTS!!!! Are you sure? That is a lot of power.
The first thing you need to do is describe the problem you have then maybe someone can point you in the right direction.
Step-down converters are for DC, NOT AC. Voltage for Arduino outputs makes no sense, but inputs may.
Wow! That is 30 amps. Your normal house circuit is rated at 15 amps with a 15 amp circuit breaker. Even a high power home circuit is only rated at 20 amps and a 20 amp breaker. Where are you going to get the 30 amps? That would require a wire size of about #8.
That’s one big light bulb requiring over 1,700 watts! Do these devices have a plug? Please post a simple sketch of how you plan to put this together.
The "115V - 15 AMP" sounds more like a circuit capacity than the actual load. What is the real load? And what exactly is this setup for?
Well the way I got this was by googling what is the power in amps and voltage for an outlet in your home and that came back with 115 to 120 Volts on a 15AMP breaker. The two 120 Volt bulbs I need wired use 4.5 Watts and 25 Watts. The Arduino block that plugs into the wall and has a USB cable connection says it takes 5V and 2amps.
Googles definition: A power distribution block (PDB) is a device that provides a central point for distributing electrical power from a single source to multiple devices or circuits. It acts as a terminal block, allowing you to easily connect multiple wires without the need for individual splices, thus simplifying wiring and improving safety.
You are right that is circuit capacity the bulbs are actually 25 watts and 4.5 watts.
So 4.5W means (using Ohm's law) 4.5 = 120V * I. Using HS math, I = 4.5 / 120 or 0.0375A, and the 25 watts is 25/120 or 0.21A.
PDB, otherwise known as a power bar.
So, what is the Arduino-related question?
The question I trying to solve is how to power the two bulbs and the Arduino with one set of input wires coming from a outlet going to an enclosure and PDB or power bar and then stepping down the power to an Arduino card.
Just plug a phone charger type wall wart into the mains and connect the USB cable between the arduino and the wall wart. Sorry I didn't realize it was something that simple.
Back up one step further. Do your two bulbs have standard sockets or did you solder wires to the bulbs? If sockets, do the sockets have wires or will you need to add the wires? If your bulbs are incandescent, are they held away from heating and burning something?
Got the amperage wrong, not sure etc. Actually I'm not sure about this whole idea, you're dealing with mains! Get a certified electrician to wire this for you.
The lamps I bought on line one is an Candelabra (E12) Base lamp the other is an E17 Base lamp. Both come with wires. The 25Watt bulb is incandescent the 4.5 watt bulb is led.
Power distribution unit:
Maybe need to find the right kind for your country.
Andy I think you have two open issues:
- How to control the high voltage lights lights from the low voltage Arduino outputs.
- How to wire and enclose everything so it's safe.
This solves both of those issues for you safely.
Or you might attempt to build something yourself, then this video could help.
