I have some relays here, and I want to test them, but I can't figure out what configuration to set up the arduino to make them click. If my understanding is correct, it clicks if I have it connected to a 5V rail and ground, and it does (yay).
Now how do I put a transistor in line to allow a pin out to control that 5v? or am i doing this a dumb way?>
I've found a lot of schematics for how to control a relay with arduino, basically, i breadboard it up and it simply doesn't work.
Here's the spec sheet for the relay i want to use
What is the very simplest way of using it? So far i cant figure out what i am doing wrong at all.
I'm thinking my relays must be bad, because i can run 5V to ground across it's coil connections and hear it click on/off, but if i have a led on the other pins coming from 5V to ground it doesn't light up or flicker.
The very simplest way is just to connect the coil up to 5V and gnd and see if it clicks which you say it does.
Then you need to see if the contacts are switching do that by measuring the continuity with a meter or wire up an LED and resistor.
Finally to switch the relay from the arduino you need a transistor as the relay will take 160mA, this is too much for the Arduino alone.
If as you say it is not working it is because you have something wrong but what you are trying to do is OK.
Try and post a schematic of what you think you have or a photo and people will see if they can find fault with it.
Try this circuit..
The diode is there to protect the transistor from the transient spike that are generate while the coil is turn off.
http://rapidshare.com/files/181124618/Drawing1-Model.pdf
Is that YOUR web page? It's AWESOME.
No it's a free file downloader service,
the file stays there for at least 90 days.
if no body download it, it will be remove.
Rapidshare is annoying to use, especially for only a 3KB file. There's lots of free and cheap web hosting out there that would be easier to use.