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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 6:54 am    Post subject: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				At 11:14 AM 8/23/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "jonlaury" <jonlaury(at)impulse.net>
 
  Joe and Charlie,
 
  The switch controls an electronic lamp ballast driving two 75W UVC producing. I don't know if that is inductive or resistive  load. Steady state amperage is 800ma
 
  And found this white paper(excerpt) on electronic ballasts. :
 
  "Design Considerations for Electronic Ballasts
 
  Inrush currents at turn-on, produced from some electronic 
  ballasts can cause premature relay contact failures. 
  These inrush currents can be much higher than those 
  experienced with traditional tungsten or magnetic ballast 
  loads because many electronic ballasts employ large 
  energy storage capacitors. Such capacitors can charge up 
  to 400V for a 277V line voltage, and will briefly draw high 
  current from the line to achieve this voltage. 
  As mentioned above, these typically short inrush currents 
  can climb as high as 100 times the nominal operating 
  levels.  | 	  
    ALL devices with metallic contacts have
    difficulties with capacitive loads.
    The majority of my experiences with 
    premature contact failures involved
    capacitive loads.
 
    Consider adding inrush limiting to the
    switched pathway
 
   http://tinyurl.com/yacaagsp
 
    These are negative temperature coefficient
    resistors with substantial room temperature
    resistance that falls to insignificant
    resistance after being allowed to warm up
    under the steady state load. 
 
    I've only had occasion to use these once
    on an airplane (P-180). The techs working
    the experimental airplane came to my desk
    complaining that the things kept 'blowing
    up'.  Turns out they had mounted the device
    to adjacent lamp housing such that internal
    heating was transferred to the housing.
    The devices were not being allowed to warm up,
    internal dissipation remained high and they
    went into self destruction.
 
    So be sure to mount these such that free air
    is the only heat sink.
 
    It may take a bit of fiddling to get the
    optimum part . . . but this one seems
    a likely starting point for your quest.
 
   http://tinyurl.com/y92bs8ba
 
  
 
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		jonlaury
 
 
  Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 336
 
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				 Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 10:41 am    Post subject: Re: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				Thanks Bob,
 Although suspicion has risen that my step-down power supply is the culprit (40a inrush), I appreciate learning about inrush current limiters for their small form and small price compared to clunky hi amperage/price relays, mechanical or solid state.
 
 John
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 5:59 am    Post subject: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				At 01:36 PM 8/24/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "jonlaury" <jonlaury(at)impulse.net>
 
  After further investigation, suspicion has grown about the inrush current to the power supply that I'm using. 
 
  The ballast mfgr says any inrush to the ballast is not a problem for the garden-variety installation. The thing that is different about my install is the inclusion of a step-down power supply that specs 40A inrush current...8x the switch spec of 5A. 
 
  Stay tuned
  John | 	  
    Okay, I've lost my mental image of the
    configuration. Can you sketch and scan
    a schematic of the major components along
    with location of the switch?
 
  
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		jonlaury
 
 
  Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 336
 
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				 Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:00 am    Post subject: Re: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				Bob,
 Here's the schematic, and late breaking...the ballast mfgr engineer informed me that the max inrush for the ballast is 101 A. Combined with the Pwr Supply's 40A inrush, rough duty for a 5A switch.
 
 Thanks for looking at this,
 John
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 4:38 pm    Post subject: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				At 12:00 PM 8/26/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "jonlaury" <jonlaury(at)impulse.net>
 
  Bob,
  Here's the schematic, and late breaking...the ballast mfgr engineer informed me that the max inrush for the ballast is 101 A. Combined with the Pwr Supply's 40A inrush, rough duty for a 5A switch.
 
  Thanks for looking at this,
  John
 
   | 	  
    Okay, let's talk about 'inrush' currents.
 
  [img]cid:.0[/img]
 
   Here's a simple model of an inrush-energy study that will
   suffice for this discussion. In reality, the model is
   much more complex with features (inductances and capacitances)
   combined with dynamics of the power source and timing . . .
   if you close a switch at the exact instant the AC voltage
   is at its peak, then MAXIMUM inrush currents can be expected.
   On the other hand, if you can somehow close the switch while
   the incoming voltage is zero . . . then inrush effects on
   the switch will be . . . uh . . . almost zero.
 
   I show two resistances, Rs which is the source resistance.
   This component sets the maximum current that can flow if a
   dead short is placed across the source. It also set the
   requirements for 'interrupt current ratings' on circuit
   breakers and fuses.
 
   Then I've show a load resistance Rl which is controlled
   by the configuration of your products input components,
   in this case . . . a combined ballast and power supply.
 
   The ballast mfgr has quoted a rather impressive inrush
   current number . . . which is only partly significant.
   Consider a range CAPACITORS sized from picofarads
   to farads.  The exact instant that your switch contacts
   close, the inrush current will be  V(applied)/Rs+Rl and
   may very well be on the order of 100 amps . . . which
   says NOTHING about the size of the capacitor, only that
   V is applied over the total resitance for some period of
   time after contact closure.
 
   If C is picofarads, the DURATION of the inrush event is
   very short, perhaps measured in picoseconds. If C is
   Farads (like some of those capacitors favored by
   installers of mobile gray-matter mashers) then the
   duration of inrush event is orders of magnitude more
   severe.
 
   The ability of a switch to manage that event has roots
   in contact mass, spring rates of closing forces and
   velocity of the moving contact mass as it crashes into it's
   stationary mate.
 
   Contact bounce is an inevitable feature of ALL mechanical
   switches. Further, the severity of bounce is only loosely
   related to the switches pedigree. Here's a study I did
   on a system with mil-spec, sealed relays that were GOING
   to stick irrespective of how well the device was
   built.
 
   http://tinyurl.com/pstsggm
 
   As you can see in this article, the sticking
   wasn't even a high energy event. The relays were being
   used in a situation well inside their catalog ratings . . .
   but a combination of capacitance and PROPAGATION delay
   down and back over a crude coaxial feed line stacked
   up to offer the 'perfect low energy relay welder'. 
 
   The 100A inrush value offered by your supplier simply
   acknowledges that there is some capacitive component
   across the input to their product . . . but no help
   for how large it might be.
 
   Obviously, the COMBINATION of that inrush energy event
   and contact bounce on your switch of choice has produced
   a condition prone to sticking.
 
   What kind of switch are we talking about? How long does
   it take to produce a failure event? Have you been able to
   duplicate the sticking even in a laboratory environment?
   Are there a lot of fielded devices that may need
   upgrading? One sure bet for fixing the problem and staying
   with your existing switch is to add some electronics behind
   the panel . . . perhaps a solid state relay with ZERO CROSSING
   detection that reduces inrush to a minimum.
 
   http://tinyurl.com/y7rst4a6
 
   http://tinyurl.com/y8g8zyj9
 
   Another possibility is to change the switch. Just a
   difference in brand for the same physical switch
   can make a big difference. Adding to Rl in the
   inrush loop, either inrush limiter or perhaps just
   a 3 ohm, 5 watt resistor (1A running current across
   three ohms is 3 volts drop, 3W dissipated . . . but
   a reduction in inrush MAGNITUDE by a factor of 3
   or more . . . with an insignificant change in
   over all performance.
 
   Making the elegant decision demands more data. Perhaps
   'scope traces on the inrush event. A study of bounce
   characteristics of the switch. Better data on exactly
   what the inputs to your loads look like will help.
 
   But it seems likely that a change in brand/style
   of switch is the shortest path and perhaps even
   doable as a field retrofit. The elegant equation
   demands a lot more 'numbers' 
 
   
   
 
  
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		jonlaury
 
 
  Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 336
 
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				 Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:14 am    Post subject: Re: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				Bob,
 A thousand thanks!
 
 And I found your explorations and findings about the relay failures on rolll trim control boards fascinating, if for no other reason than the failure symptoms are almost identical to what I'm seeing with my product.
 
 My switch failures are beginning to occur after about 30-60 cycles. Thinking that the sticking was purely mechanical, and acknowledging the problem to users, I suggested unplugging the machine, squirting WD40 into the pushbutton recess and cycling the switch until they got a blister on their finger, to erode/smooth the imagined rough edges of the switch internals. It either worked or customers just didn't want to talk to a crazy person any more, because very few reported a continuing problem. I even rigged up a reciprocating saw with a 'boxing glove' to wear-in the switch, as a misguided, pre-conditioning preventative.
 
 Your analysis, with remedies, is a crescendo of angelic voices, coincident with brilliant, golden light, illuminating the path out of blasphemous tinkering to electronic righteousness. I feel cleansed.   
 
 One more impertinent question:
 In the zero-crossing relay suggested, the load side spec is 250vac (at) 2a. The steady-state ballast load is 800ma and the motor draws about 2a. Will the relay take it? or am I missing something here?
 
 Thanks again,
 John
 
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		user9253
 
 
  Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 1944 Location: Riley TWP Michigan
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				 Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 5:10 am    Post subject: Re: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				What if a solid state relay and a mechanical relay are connected in parallel?  The solid state relay will turn on a fraction of a second prior to the mechanical contacts closing and will conduct while the mechanical contacts are bouncing.  Once the mechanical contacts have stopped bouncing, then they will carry the full load.
   Or use only a solid state relay rated for the current.
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 5:29 am    Post subject: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				At 11:14 AM 8/28/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "jonlaury" <jonlaury(at)impulse.net>
 
  Bob,
  A thousand thanks!
 
  And I found your explorations and findings about the relay failures on rolll trim control boards fascinating, if for no other reason than the failure symptoms are almost identical to what I'm seeing with my product.
 
  My switch failures are beginning to occur after about 30-60 cycles. Thinking that the sticking was purely mechanical, and acknowledging the problem to users, I suggested unplugging the machine, squirting WD40 into the pushbutton recess and cycling the switch until they got a blister on their finger, to erode/smooth the imagined rough edges of the switch internals. It either worked or customers just didn't want to talk to a crazy person any more, because very few reported a continuing problem. I even rigged up a reciprocating saw with a 'boxing glove' to wear-in the switch, as a misguided, pre-conditioning preventative. | 	  
    Yup, been there . . . or at least some of
    my compadres have. There was a chronic difficulty
    with nuisance tripping the ov system on the
    A36/B55 series aircraft . . .that stuck its
    head up several times over a span of some
    30 years. One attempt at a fix included taking
    brand new alternators and running them at load
    on a drive stand for 20 hours or so before putting
    them on the airplane . . . seems the problems were
    mitigated with service time.
 
    The operative theory at the time was that QC issues
    with slip ring/brush interface was root cause of
    the problem. A break-in operation seemed to help.
    As it turns out, the brush/slip ring interface
    was a NORMAL condition that was only a trigger
    for root cause.
 
    Got to watch that same problem pop up about every
    5-10 years or so. But it wasn't until my very last
    service offered to the then newly amalgamated Textron, 
    I suggested again, that it wasn't the alternator's
    fault . . . but that of the ov regulators ov
    protection system.
 
    We started a stone simple fix before my
    contract ran out. At least I didn't have to
    endure the machinations and pretzel twisting
    it took to get one set of guts lifted out of
    a regulator with a decades long, stellar track
    record and installed inside the regulator enclosure for
    the Beech products. i.e. a presto-changeo
    creation of a form-fit-function replacement
    for a regulator that had NEVER been subjected to
    DO-160 study for suitability to task. A task
    that we would have accomplished in mere
    days back in the day . . . took nearly a year
    under the 'new order'.
 
  
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  Your analysis, with remedies, is a crescendo of angelic voices, coincident with brilliant, golden light, illuminating the path out of blasphemous tinkering to electronic righteousness. I feel cleansed.    | 	  
    You're too kind . . . but you appreciate the
    the kind of thought processes and experiments
    that have to be conducted to (1) eliminate that
    which does not work, (2) identify that which
    does work and (3) sift all the options in quest of
    the elegant solution.
 
    That relay study on roll trim cards took about
    two years as the activities had to be interleaved
    with more pressing matters. And I was the only
    one working on it. A 'tiger team' of similarly
    thoughtful and motivated students of the physical
    arts would have been very helpful. Same story with pitch
    trim motor failures that plagued Beech to the tune
    of $millions$ in warranty claims and lost
    customer confidence.
 
    Maybe I'll publish that paper one day . . . it's
    a real zinger . . . and like the roll trim relay
    studies, it took years of looking for the answers
    to 'what if' and 'how about this'. Sorta like
    technological whack-a-mole. Then one day, one
    of the heads that popped up was the Eureka mole.
 
  
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  One more impertinent question:
  In the zero-crossing relay suggested, the load side spec is 250vac (at) 2a. The steady-state ballast load is 800ma and the motor draws about 2a. Will the relay take it? or am I missing something here? | 	  
    Good eye. Yeah, if THAT option is attractive, you'll
    need a beefier device. Maybe something like this.
 
   http://tinyurl.com/y8bfqm5o
 
    While on a patient transfer from Wichita today I
    had a brain-fart that might be the simplest
    solution.  You could craft your own buffer
    circuit for the switch from a triac and a couple
    resistors like this. 
 
  
  [img]cid:.0[/img]
 
    This could be nothing more than two resistors
    soldered together with the triac, lead wires
    attached and then coated in some  insulating
    encapsulant . . . maybe RTV, E6000 or thixotropic
    epoxy. In technical terms this is known as a
    "Kludge".
 
    This would reduce stresses on your switch to mere
    tens of milliamps and then only for tens of
    microseconds at each re-triggering event just
    after the ac wave form zero-crossing. Even if the
    switch were close at the top of the wave form,
    current through the switch and its series resistor
    would be limited to an amp or so and again, for
    tens of microseconds.
 
    This buffer for your switch contacts raises
    potential for a new failure mode. . .  corrosion
    over time on switch contacts causing them
    to STOP conducting . . . not enough 'cleansing
    current' flowing during each switch closure
    to keep them free of oxides. But that risk
    is generally years out into the future. 
 
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		Eric Page
 
 
  Joined: 15 Feb 2017 Posts: 260
 
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				 Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 7:36 am    Post subject: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				 	  | Quote: | 	 		   	  | Quote: | 	 		  | --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "jonlaury" <jonlaury(at)impulse.net (jonlaury(at)impulse.net)> In the zero-crossing relay suggested, the load side spec is 250vac (at) 2a. The steady-state ballast load is 800ma and the motor draws about 2a. Will the relay take it? or am I missing something here? | 	 
  | 	  
 
 On Aug 29, 2017, at 6:29 AM, Robert L. Nuckolls, III <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)> wrote: 	  | Quote: | 	 		  Good eye. Yeah, if THAT option is attractive, you'll need a beefier device. Maybe something like this.
 
   http://tinyurl.com/y8bfqm5o
  | 	  
 Careful...  the linked SSR is a DC-DC device.  It's basically an opto-isolated MOSFET or Darlington.  It might work as a rectifier, but only briefly!
 
 For this application the output side has got to be labeled for AC, then it'll contain a triac or souce-connected N-MOSFETs.
 
 If Jon isn't hesitant to use offshore sources for his parts, he might try these...
 
 http://www.ebay.com/itm/112021093981
 
 I've used a couple in mains-powered projects and had no trouble with them.  They're not a brand anyone has ever heard of, but they seem to work, the price is right, and the screw terminals lend themselves to a field retrofit better than a PCB-mounted SIP package.
 
 If heat sinking or a safety cover are desired, see...
 
 http://www.ebay.com/itm/112159075071
 and...
 http://www.ebay.com/itm/112266161948
 
 Keep in mind also that anything from China with a $0.99 price tag and a name brand like OMRON printed on it is going to be a case of blatant IP theft.
 
 Eric
 [Edited to correct spelling of Jon's name, and for formatting.]
 
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		Eric Page
 
 
  Joined: 15 Feb 2017 Posts: 260
 
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				 Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 10:41 am    Post subject: Re: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				Upon reflection, the SSR that I linked to won't work without some redesign of the machine's circuitry, as it needs a DC input.  The easiest retrofit for Jon to do would be to use an AC-AC SSR and control it with the existing switch that's already in the machine.
 
 Here's an eBay search for parts that will work: http://preview.tinyurl.com/ybqcog6g
 
 These SSRs are available from 10A to 100A; just change the eBay search term.
 
 If using a known-source part is an issue, here's a Digi-Key search for AC-AC zero-cross SSRs, 5A or greater, sorted by price: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yamzd5vc
 
 Connect as shown in the attached diagram.
 
 Eric
 
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		jonlaury
 
 
  Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 336
 
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				 Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2017 8:20 am    Post subject: Re: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				[quote="Eric Page"] 	  | Quote: | 	 		  
 
 Keep in mind also that anything from China with a $0.99 price tag and a name brand like OMRON printed on it is going to be a case of blatant IP theft. | 	  
 
 Hi Eric
 Thanks for your suggestion and I did buy a lot of 3 "Omron" AC-AC SSR's from Ebay. They're labelled with Omron's logo and Made in China, $25. Probably not Omron product, right?
 The question that looms large in my mind is, are they truly zero-crossing relays? Is there a way to test that function without a lot of expensive equipment? Or who would have the needed equipment so that I could have them tested?
 
 John
 
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		Eric Page
 
 
  Joined: 15 Feb 2017 Posts: 260
 
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				 Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2017 9:43 am    Post subject: Re: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				 	  | jonlaury wrote: | 	 		  
 Hi Eric
 Thanks for your suggestion and I did buy a lot of 3 "Omron" AC-AC SSR's from Ebay. They're labelled with Omron's logo and Made in China, $25. Probably not Omron product, right?
 The question that looms large in my mind is, are they truly zero-crossing relays? Is there a way to test that function without a lot of expensive equipment? Or who would have the needed equipment so that I could have them tested?
 
 John | 	  
 There's probably no way to know for sure if they're genuine unless you have a known-good example to compare against.  Chinese knock-off products frequently have noticeable errors or differences in printing quality or method in the part markings (i.e. the real part may be laser-etched while the knock-off is screen printed).  Even this comparison isn't foolproof, as the manufacturer may produce differences between lots or between factories.
 
 OMRON is a Japanese company, but like everyone else, they probably run -- or contract with -- factories in China.
 
 Anyone with an oscilloscope should be able to determine if they're zero-cross SSRs by viewing the output waveform at switch-on.  There is potential to destroy an oscilloscope when measuring mains voltages, so be sure that whoever does this for you knows what they're doing WRT test setup, isolation and high voltage measurement.  It goes without saying that you touch ONLY the low voltage control side of the circuit during the test.
 
 Knock-off or not, if they're marked as zero-cross SSRs, I'd be very surprised if they're not.  It's a pretty trivial thing to accomplish.
 
 If you find that they're not, the AC-AC Fotek brand parts on eBay that I linked to in my last post look like they are...
 
 http://www.fotek.com.hk/solid/SSR-2.htm
 
 ...and anything you get from Digi-Key, Newark, Mouser, Allied, Jameco, etc. will be genuine and function as specified.
 
 Eric
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2017 10:40 am    Post subject: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				At 11:20 AM 9/3/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "jonlaury" <jonlaury(at)impulse.net>
 
  [quote="Eric Page"]
  > 
  > 
  > Keep in mind also that anything from China with a $0.99 price tag and a name brand like OMRON printed on it is going to be a case of blatant IP theft.
 
  
  Hi Eric
  Thanks for your suggestion and I did buy a lot of 3 "Omron" AC-AC SSR's from Ebay. They're labelled with Omron's logo and Made in China, $25. Probably not Omron product, right?
  The question that looms large in my mind is, are they truly zero-crossing relays? Is there a way to test that function without a lot of expensive equipment? Or who would have the needed equipment so that I could have them tested? | 	  
     The SSR contains a triac (bi-directional, triggered
     switch). It's the same critter I sugeseted in my po'
     boy's SSR Kludge a fews posts back.
 
     By nature, ANY AC solid state relay will be
     as close to a 'zero crossing' controller as
     you can get.  On the upswing of each half of
     an AC waveform, a network of components are arranged
     to bias the TRIAC gate to the threshold of trigger.
     After that time, the TRIAC becomes almost a dead
     short (about 1.5v drop) and the switch can be
     deemed to be "ON".
 
     Here's a rudimentary lamp dimmer schematic:
 
     
 
    Notice one of the devices in the trigger network
    is called a DIAC . . . this is a voltage sensitive
    two terminal device that 'triggers' above some
    specified voltage. DIMMING is accomplished
    by adjusting the resistance in the R/C network
    to control DELAY in rise of the trigger volage.
    The more resistance, the longer the delay.  A
    longer delay moves the TRIAC trigger further away
    from zero crossing thus REDUCING energy fed to the
    load.
 
    Here's a rudimentary solid state AC "relay"
 
  
 
     
 
    Here we see a little different trigger network for the
    TRIAC. In this case, an LED is optically coupled to a
    light sensitive DIAC such that if the LED is illuminated,
    the DIAC will fire and trigger the TRIAC at the lowest
    practical amplitude in the upward excursion of each
    half of the AC waveform.
 
    So technically, this relay does not close at the true
    zero crossing . . . but it's very close. Within 10 volts
    or so. Good enough for most applications.
 
    These relays will work to mitigate your switch failure
    issues as the current flowing in the LED loop is on the
    order of 30mA or less. But you DO need a DC source of
    power to energize the LED. It's only a few volts but it
    does add to system complexity.  You could rig a bridge
    rectifier, a capacitor and a couple resistors to provide
    the low energy source of DC.
 
    But if you need to fabricate something anyhow, perhaps
    the Kludge I offered earlier is the more elegant configuration. 
 
    The short answer is: You don't need to test these relays
    for their zero-crossing qualities since chief complaint
    is switch failure. The relays will take care of the switch
    problem after you figure out how to integrate the SSR
    into your design. 
 
    There are AC/AC SSR's . . . they feature TWO opto couplers
    back to back so that an LED source of either polarity
    will turn the SSR ON. 
     
 
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		jonlaury
 
 
  Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 336
 
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				 Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 11:30 am    Post subject: Re: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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 DNA
 
 What I absolutely love about AEL.
 
 Thanks to both of you, Bob and Eric, for piquing my curiosity, making me stretch to expand my knowledge and skill set. The forum is in every way the embodiment of the adage, "Give a man a fish and he eats tonight. Teach him to fish...he and his family eat for a lifetime" 
 
 I've got some 47 Ω, 3A NTC thermistors I'm going to try, with the idea that I could, inexpensively, make up a bunch of low tech field-repair devices that can be installed with two wire nuts by users. For unshipped units henceforth, I plan to use the AC/AC SSR's until I can find a suitable, beefier power switch. 
 
 All good things,
 John
 
 [[/b]
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2017 3:09 pm    Post subject: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				At 02:30 PM 9/4/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "jonlaury" <jonlaury(at)impulse.net>
 
  
  DNA
 
  What I absolutely love about AEL.
 
  Thanks to both of you, Bob and Eric, for piquing my curiosity, making me stretch to expand my knowledge and skill set. The forum is in every way the embodiment of the adage, "Give a man a fish and he eats tonight. Teach him to fish...he and his family eat for a lifetime" 
 
  I've got some 47 Ω, 3A NTC thermistors I'm going to try, with the idea that I could, inexpensively, make up a bunch of low tech field-repair devices that can be installed with two wire nuts by users. For unshipped units henceforth, I plan to use the AC/AC SSR's until I can find a suitable, beefier power switch.  | 	  
   3A?  Try to pick an NTC with (1) operating current
   close to your measured running loads and (2) max
   applied voltage of 120vac or greater. See
   this for the nitty-gritty guidelines . . .
 
   http://tinyurl.com/yahtoncs
 
  
 
  
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		jonlaury
 
 
  Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 336
 
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				 Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 12:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				In the first section of the article re selecting the right ICL, I'm asked for Capacitance. But neither the ballast nor the power supply list that info on their product cut-sheets.
 Is there away to deduce the capacitance from other supplied info? E.G., inrush current on PS is 40A (at) 250vac. Ballast is 100A (at) 120vac
 
 Power Supply and Ballast data sheets attached.
 
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		jonlaury
 
 
  Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 336
 
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				 Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 12:27 pm    Post subject: Re: Non-aero app: 120/240 AC through   24vdc switch? | 
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				"3A?"
 
 The steady state load is about 1A, to keep the ballast happy. There's a user selected load of 1.5A that has a 25 second cycle to open circuit. Often the selection is repeated multiple times in quick succession. So the 3A was to allow a little headroom for motor surge (Does a PM motor have a surge?) and 2.5 steady state. I installed the 3A ICL yesterday and everything seems to work fine with the ICL temp settling at about 145 deg F on my meat thermometer held on with a clothes pin.
 
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