I have a simple circuit. A VAC transformer is drawing power from a wall socket. I have the voltage stepped down to 5-6v ac. Right now the negative runs to an SSR which is controlled by a computer. The end of the circuit is two stripped wires (positive coming directly off the VAC, negative coming from the SSR).
The goal of this circuit is to mildly electrify water. This is for biological research (e.g., affects of a mild aversive on fish behavior).
The problem is the SSR leaks current. I detect ~2.5v when the VAC is dialed to 5v. I'm not what the amperage of the leaking volatge is. I could use any advice or suggestions - I'm sure it's clear but I am not an engineer or electrician. This stuff might as well be magic to me.
rvadog:
I have a simple circuit. A VAC transformer is drawing power from a wall socket. I have the voltage stepped down to 5-6v ac. Right now the negative runs to an SSR which is controlled by a computer. The end of the circuit is two stripped wires (positive coming directly off the VAC, negative coming from the SSR).
The goal of this circuit is to mildly electrify water. This is for biological research (e.g., affects of a mild aversive on fish behavior).
The problem is the SSR leaks current. I detect ~2.5v when the VAC is dialed to 5v. I'm not what the amperage of the leaking volatge is. I could use any advice or suggestions - I'm sure it's clear but I am not an engineer or electrician. This stuff might as well be magic to me.
Your description makes no sense at all! Please draw out a schematic or at least a block diagram showing what you have and how it is all connected.
An AC transformer does not have negative, it has AC output when there is AC input. Please supply the specifications or link to a data sheet for the SSR. Is it a DC or and AC SSR?
What is a VAC transformer? Never heard of that terminology during 65 years. Al transformers work with AC.
"mildly electrify water? What is that?
Please attach a schematic. Your Shakespeare type of descripton leaves questions to be answered.
This is greek to You… Why did You put Your head into this? Why not chooses something being a little bit familiar?
Internet pages asking me to accept "this or that" are rejected. No help.
I'm not sure I understand the attitude. I'm a biologist - sometimes research requires methods which take you out of you subject matter expertise. I'm not asking you to wire my entire research method, I have a single component with an issue.
Paul_KD7HB:
An AC transformer does not have negative, it has AC output when there is AC input. Please supply the specifications or link to a data sheet for the SSR. Is it a DC or and AC SSR?
Paul
The AC transformer has one wire coming from it connecting to the SSR with a wire leading from the relay to the water. There is second wire leading from the AC transformer directly to the water.
rvadog:
The AC transformer has one wire coming from it connecting to the SSR with a wire leading from the relay to the water. There is second wire leading from the AC transformer directly to the water.
This does not make it clear. Diagram, please. Link to SSR....
How often is the relay (SSR) switched. How much current flows through the relay? What switches the relay on and off? An Arduino? These are some questions that need answering (as well as the others) that need answers.
My first thought is a mechanical relay. AC output SSRs that I have seen are made to switch, on the order of, 24 to 220VAC. They may not work right with 5-6VAC. A mechanical relay will switch the low voltage and pesent very low resistance.
Could be a variable autotransformer.
Means that the output wires are directly connected to mains power.
Could be very dangerous to experiment with.
Leo..
Wawa:
Could be a variable autotransformer.
Means that one of the output wires is directly connected to mains power.
Could be very dangerous to experiment with.
Leo..
Just what I'm afraid of. Greate difference between a 4 termial conventional transformer and a 3 terminal one.
Regarding the experience showed soo faar this project should be terminated. It's way too dangerous, too riscy.
I'm a biologist - sometimes research requires methods which take you out of you subject matter expertise.
The sensible and professional approach is to collaborate with a researcher who has the needed expertise, rather than post on a randomly chosen forum.
How do you imagine publishing research, when the technical details are buried in anonymous forum posts, and might be wrong?
If you are working at a university or other institution, does this experiment meet the requirements of the applicable animal care and human safety regulations?
jremington:
The sensible and professional approach is to collaborate with a researcher who has the needed expertise, rather than post on a randomly chosen forum.
How do you imagine publishing research, when the technical details are buried in anonymous forum posts, and might be wrong?
If you are working at a university or other institution, does this experiment meet the requirements of the applicable animal care and human safety regulations?
While I appreciate the concern, I think you might be surprised by how much methods development is reading papers, googling to fill in blanks, testing the results, and doing it over. And believe it or not, this level of detail is not published in these types of papers.
Okey. Do You have some idea about how much current You need to send through the water to obtain Your experiment, and do You know the conductivity of the water? I could think about a pulse width modulated DC solution but the question is how much voltage will be needed.
