Hello
I am artist using telecommunication. We are working on this artwork called CONTACT:
"Two copper plates, located in two countries. One in Antarctica and the other in Europe.
When one is touching the plate of one country, the other plate warms up."
We have several problems:
1- Pd-0.39.2-extended-test5 is not lauching on a MAC OS 10.3.2
2 - we do not know how to operate an electronic relay with ARDUINO interface.
3 - we would be very happy to have an electronician drawing us a electronic map (circuit) to warm and cool a resistance threw this system (and not burn the users : -)
On page 40 of this pdf there is the schematics for connecting a relay to the arduino.
If your project involves Antarctica you could use a peltier element to create a cold or hot metal plate on demand. A peltier element creates heat on one side and gets cold on the other when electricity is applied.
The easiest way to heat a metal plate is probably placing a light bulb behind it, but that will only allow slow heating of the plate.
Or you could circulate ice water and warm water behind the metal plates, switching between the two with an electrically operated (solenoid) valve. I prefer the warm/cold water idea due to its instantaneous response.
Peltier devices, also known as thermoelectric (TE) modules, are small
solid-state devices that function as heat pumps. A "typical" unit is a few
millimeters thick by a few millimeters to a few centimeters square. It is
a sandwich formed by two ceramic plates with an array of small Bismuth
Telluride cubes ("couples") in between. When a DC current is applied heat
is moved from one side of the device to the other - where it must be removed
with a heatsink. The "cold" side is commonly used to cool an electronic
device such as a microprocessor or a photodetector. If the current is reversed the device makes an excellent heater.
As with any device, TE modules work best when applied properly. They are not
meant to serve as room air conditioners. They are best suited to smaller
cooling applications, although they are used in applications as large as
portable picnic-type coolers. They can be stacked to achieve lower
temperatures, although reaching cryogenic temperatures would require great care.
They are not very "efficient" and can draw amps of power. This disadvantage is
more than offset by the advantages of no moving parts, no Freon refrigerant, no
noise, no vibration, very small size, long life, capability of precision
temperature control, etc.