I’m relatively new to Arduino and I’m working on a project where i need to heat up 6 nichrome wires at different times. I’m connecting them with alligator clips and jumper wires but don’t know the best method of connecting all 6 to a single Arduino without overheating anything or using to many wires. Does anyone have any tips?
I’ve been looking at breadboards, transistors, mosfets, motor drivers etc. and there’s a lot of potential ways to do this. I’m just trying to find the most efficient and clean way to
Please provide technical data for the wires and the intended power supply.
1, unless you know how and have tools to silver solder/braze nichrome wires, they are always connected by compression connectors or screw connectors to copper wire.
- You will always need a current source for the wires, not a voltage source, so design in either MOSFET or transistors to produce the current and they are controlled by your Arduino pin. One MOSFET and one pin and one nichrome wire. Use a DC power supply large enough for you heater requirements.
Brazed onto copper wire using silver solder is THE solution = perfect connection.
The not exactly inexpensive silver brazing alloy is available with a flux coating, and a simple gas torch without oxygen support is typically sufficient.
What is the voltage applied to each wire?
What is the current or wattage of each wire?
Use the controller to open/close 6 logic level power transistors as switches for power supply to the 6 heater wires.
The Field Effect Transistors (FETs) need to be fully ON or OFF to run efficiently (not hot) so use pulses to heat less than 100%, PWM or bit-bang heat control, maybe get sensors into it?
I would try screw type "euro" strips like this, terminal strips, they come in different sizes for different current capacities and can be cut into singles.
What makes the clips bad?
Wait by controller do you mean motor controller or arduino?
All the wires are powered by the same 12V power supply and they each have about 4 olms of resistance.
Is this a good enough transistor to use
6 pieces of 1.5 28g nichrome wire all powered by the same 12V power supply. Each wire has a resistance of 4.1-4.7 olms per foot
Can You show the calculations regarding currents and post schematics for the build?
My knowledge about those wires is not good enough.
Check the datasheet.
12V / 4 Ohms = 3 Amps, S8050 is rated only 1.5A, I would use a logic level MOSFET like IRLZ44N. How long is each wire?
https://www.onsemi.com/pdf/datasheet/ss8050-d.pdf
Which Arduino?
About 1.5 feet long and they’re run through an uno
So, about 6.6 Ohms, 1.8 Amps and 22 Watts, still too much for SS8050 and the wire may get too hot for the connectors I suggested, might melt the nylon insulation.
Arduino or other microcontroller.