Electronic Construction Project Portable Photo RelayRelay applies 120VAC power to load when dark.
Figure 1Schematic
Parts for Figure 1
Digikey Mouser Electronics All Electronics Construction StartedAll parts are secured to the case with silicone rubber sealant (RTV). Circuit Board CompletedMost of the small components for the project are mounted on the board. Circuit Board Mounted in CaseWiredOutput RecepticalInstalled in CaseInput Line Cord and Transformer Primary Wiring InstalledPolarity Check PartsTip jack (this will be the grounding terminal), 150k resistor, LED mounting sleave, NE-2. Neon Lamp and Ground Terminal Installedin an ocean of RTV. Completed Project - InternalCompleted Project - ExternalYes, that's a bottle cap. It protects the LDR and gives it directionality. Close-up of LDRPhoto Relay in ServiceThis is an outside location protected from the weather under an eve. - Safety Considerations -This circuit, when constructed using the certified, hi-pot tested devices specified in the parts list (transformer and SS relay) is capable of very high electrical isolation. However, the Photo Relay shown constructed on this page is a self-contained portable (temporary) version. As such, several things should be kept in mind when using it:
Variation #1: Build a 240VAC VersionSingle-Pole: The photo relay can be constructed as a 240VAC single-pole version by substituting a 240-volt transformer for the transformer shown in the Figure 1 parts list above and deleting the 150k resistor and neon lamp. No other changes are required. The single-pole version is appropriate for portable (temporary) service only if the relay will be connected to a 240-volt fully floating and balanced branch circuit protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
Two-Pole: A two-pole version is shown in Figure 2. Use this configuration if the photo relay will be connected to a non-GFCI protected 240-volt branch circuit (or if the circuit breaker type is unknown). Figure 2Schematic - 240VAC, 2-Pole Version
Parts for Figure 2
Variation #2: Build a Remote/Weather-Proof VersionThe light sensor (LDR) can be remoted with low-voltage wiring to make a "weather-proof" version of the circuit as shown in Figure 3. Encapsulate the LDR in a transparent or translucent water-tight outside enclosure; install the remainder of the circuit at a weather-protected inside location. Figure 3Remote LDR Variation #3: Build a High-Current VersionFor higher current applications, the solid-state G3MC series relay/s and 390-ohm resistor/s specified can be replaced with a high-current solid-state relay (or relays) such as the Omron G3NA-2xxB-DC5-24 series (up to 90 amps) or Crydom H12WD series (up to 125 amps). Replace the 390-ohm resistor/s with a short. Alternately, the Figure 1 circuit can be used to drive (pilot) a 120/240VAC electromechanical relay or contactor, as shown in Figure 4. Figure 4Photo relay drives elecromechanical relay. Installed ExampleThe electromechanical relay is in the gray box. Variation #4: Build a Off-When-Dark VersionThe relay circuit can be modified to de-energize the load when it gets dark. The circuit remains the same in all respects except that the wiring of the SS relay and its associated 390-ohm resistor are changed as shown in Figure 5. Note that operation of the BIAS control changes. Figure 5Schematic - Off-When-Dark Modification.
Addendum: Solid-State Relay LoadsMinimum Load
Unlike an electromechanical relay, a solid state relay will not completely switch to the "OFF" state into a high resistance (i.e., low wattage) load or open circuit. The maximum resistance the Omron SS relay can tolerate is about 1200 ohms, equivalent to 12 watts of non-incandescent resistive load (0.1 amp) at 120 volts. For an incandescent load, minimum equivalent load is about two watts (the cold resistance of a 2-watt incandescent lamp is less than 1200 ohms). Interestingly, for a magnetic load (motor, relay, transformer, etc.), the minimum load is virtually zero watts, since AC magnetic devices register very low resistance when de-energized. In other words, the minimum load depends on the type of load:
Special Case - LED Loads An interesting effect can be seen when the relay is connected to a string of LED decorative lights. These srings consist of a rectifier and 35 or so LEDs connected in series (70 LEDs for 240-volt strings). Since LEDs are high-speed non-linear devices, they switch off each time the drive voltage drops below a threshold of 2-3 volts per LED. This occurs in normal operation twice during each AC cycle. The LEDs appear to be glowing continuously but in fact are flashing at twice the frequency of the AC power line. The minimum load/maximum resistance requirement comes into play when the SS relay switches to the "OFF" state. Each time the string voltage drops below the LEDs' threshold voltage, the string looks like an open circuit to the relay. The relay tries to supply current to the LED string and the string voltage rises to the threshold. The result is a series of clipped-at-the-threshold pulses being fed to the LEDs at 2x the line frequency. The visible result is, instead of going dark, the string glows dimly. This occurs regardless of the number of LED strings connected to the relay. If this is not acceptable, the remedy is simple: Provide at least 2 watts of incandescent load in addition to the LED load. A single 2-watt (or larger) 120-volt lamp (4-watt at 240 volts), or string of lamps, connected in parallel with the LED string, will completely eliminate the effect. Alternately, some sort of magnetic load can be used, a doorbell transformer or transformer-powered (non-switcher) wall wart power adapter, for example. (It's not necessary to connect the wall wart to its load.) If your only concern is to eliminate the dim glow of the LEDs when the Photo Relay is off, a relatively high-value resistor can be used. While this will not allow the SS relay to completely switch to the "OFF" state, it will lower the output voltage enough to extinguish the LED string. Probably the most practical place for this resistor is across the terminals of the Photo Relay's output load receptical, as shown in Figure 6. The presence of this resistor will not affect operation of the relay with other load types. Figure 6Optional load resistor when Relay is to be used with LED strings. (use 100k, 1w for 240VAC) Special Case - Surge Current and Switching Power Supplies The specified SS relay has a surge current rating of 30 amps. While this is perfectly adequate for most load situations, including fluorescent lamps and motors, there is one type of load where it may not be: non-power factor corrected (PFC) switching power supplies. These supplies typically operate directly from the AC line with a full-wave rectifier followed by a large-value ripple filtering capacitor. This capacitor represents a virtual short-circuit to the line at the moment power is applied and 100 amps or more may flow during the first cycle or two after turn-on, greatly exceeding the SS relay's surge rating. A well-designed switching supply will include power factor correction or an inrush current limiter, also known as a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor, which prevents this happening. If you are unsure of your switching power supply you may want to include one in the Photo Relay as a precaution. The current limiter is connected, as in the above example, at the rear of the load receptical. The inrush current limiter should be connected between the SS relay and the load as shown in Figure 7. The current limiter specified will limit the inrush current to well below the SS relay's surge current rating. The current limiter will run warm during normal loaded operation. Figure 7Optional inrush current limiter, needed only when the AC load is a non-PFC switching power supply. *Mouser 527-CL80 Schematics produced with DCCAD. Related ProjectLED Illuminated Star |