Hi,
I need an I/O board with some relays for switching low power devices and some inputs to get feedback of some sensors to a PC by Arduino. I searched and I found just this. I need the shield be ready to use (I don't want to make boards for my product). It should be affordable and not too much large. Moreover, I don't want to use different pieces just all in one solution. Any advice please?
Bests,
Have a look at the "Relay Board with '1284, RS232, USB, directly driven relays."
Whether that is affordable and not too large, you decide.
Two things forget that relays exisit - use transistors and tell us what you are really trying to do!
What does "switching low power devices and some inputs " mean?
Mark
The product is laser cutter (by laser diode 3W maximum). I have a LED strip and one camera. I have 6 end switches (proximity sensors) and these end switches are for defining the limitation of travel of stepper motors in this CNC machine. I control whole of the system by a pc.
So why are you looking for relays?
Did you have a look at the RAMPS stuff from http://www.reprap.org/?
Edit: better link Ramps1.4plus - RepRap
Availabe quite cheap through amazon/ebay
Whandall, I control steppers by another Arduino and gShield. The mentioned Arduino of this topic is my controller of system. I have to control the system in another software thread to keep everything under control and safe. My structure is my own architecture and I know reprap stuffs they don't help me. I can design this board by myself but I want to see is there anything ready to use because the base of this controller is Arduino. Thanks for the link but it is for controlling the steppers. I have already the stepper control mechanism.
PS: I know well the project RUMBA RUMBA - RepRap (even there are similar) but it is not useful because of the reason I said.
What do you need the relays for?
I would try to control a laser by a FET.
FET means heatsink (in my case heatsinks) moreover I have some spikes on laser on/off relay is much better for this case. I have different power currents for laser one is as point mode (low power controlling of laser) and cut and engrave mode. With FET my works becomes complected. FET in some designs is perfect but for some usages old fashion relay is more robust and straightforward. When I say spike they are current spikes that need to be control lazy and modify by capacitor not fast like FET ( I have one circuit for this). It is hard a little to explain but I control main power and safety watch dog of laser by relay and the laser power by current and PWM.
Thanks for the explanation.
I found! Here you go:
And
http://www.dfrobot.com/wiki/index.php/Relay_Shield_for_Arduino_V2.1_(SKU:DFR0144)
If someone has better idea please let me know. Now I can sleep relax, in Australia is midnight.