Hi,
I'm looking for a relay for a test rig I want to set up (to help me learn) basically I want to Switch some floodlights on when a domestic Alram is triggered, so I'm thinking ill need a relay with a 12v coil to be capable of switching 230v 6A. Any brands or cheap relays you can recommend?

Louis, December 2013

and if any good looking ladies out there feel free to call !and no alarm guy ,that mean you,even if you dress up!!!!!!!!

gts, December 2013

not a prob alarm guy I only sleep 4 hours a night,and,i can return the call :-)

gts, December 2013

So gonna spam call you at 3 AM

Alarm, December 2013

tex me ur addy my number
07763229681

gts, December 2013

don't know if they will allow it on here but here it is
nah,they wont allow it

gts, December 2013

Will do, and yes I would really appreciate the unit if its not to much hassle! have you got an email account so i could disclose an address

Louis, December 2013

what we are saying Louis,is try the low voltage stuff out,try latching relays circuits,try ultra sonics,try pir units,proximity detectors,all low voltage units help you understand and at no risk to yourself.and you will gain confidence in your abilities,we have all been where you are now Louis,so have fun

gts, December 2013

and its got the said diode fitted !!!!!!!:-) so you got a ready made test rig,!

gts, December 2013

we really are here to help you mate,not make fun of you,just want you to be safe ,am sorry I lost my temper with you,if you want the light interface unit I will send it to you,as I said free of charge its a good bit of kit

gts, December 2013

Thanks e manno, you even gave me the type if diode ill need! and yes gts your probably right to stick with 12v for the time being so I can have more flexibility to try different set ups untill I know what I'm doing, I understand what your saying alarm electrics isn't really anything to be messing round with.
Thanks

Louis, December 2013

hey e manno,you been looking up fings on the net again ?????? (joke my friend ) :-)happy xmas when it comes

gts, December 2013

Oh and by the way the diode fitted across the coil as gts mentioned is for suppressing the voltage spike from the coil when the relay is de-energised. Alarm panels not always designed to drive inductive loads and may not have the components necessary to cope with an inductive ( coil ) load.

Use a diode type 1N4001 or similar with the Anode ( the end marked with a band ) to the positive Pos(+) and cathode to negative Neg(-)

e manno, December 2013

As mentioned we do ( Try not to ) attack.
However we have no idea of your skill set and any can say on here they hold C & G 5482398505 +34 or whatever.
We would rather not give info that might kill another. But we are also somewhat "self" obliged to give correct information. Which has been given.

How would you feel about giving information about what you do understand, and the possibility of another not understanding ?

Now does our dilemma seem more realistic?

By all means ask and advance.
We will always assist.

Alarm, December 2013

we never attack anyone who asks our help Louis,we try to help best we can,as e manno has said,we must try make sure that people who asks our help are safe in what they are doing,our advice is sound,thats why I suggested you using low voltage gear till you get more aquainted with circuits,you can have just as much fun switching 12 volts gear then move up when you feel confident to work on mains voltage,just be very careful and as e manno said,keep safe

gts, December 2013

Ok I apologise, I went off one because I felt I was being attacked because I was humble enough to ask the question, and yes what might be basic knowledge to you isnt to me. Anyway consider the issue closed, don't want to piss anyone else off because I find this site helpful,
Regards

Louis, December 2013

Yes you did...... but you must understand that we all share a duty of care policy toward posters regarding mains voltages,your wording suggests you are not competent at switching interface circuit design and build.

Elmdene,CQR,Honeywell and many more all do 240vac interfaces with low voltage norm/pulse triggers.

CPC farnel sell the relays and bases and so do many other suppliers if you search the net.

Another thing,we have all been down that 16th edition route and are familiar with outstanding IEC/CENELEC level regulations and their pending amendments.

Most of the guys on here who answer your post are NAPIT/ELECSA or NICEIC registered and most have quantum physics degree not to mention our NACOSS/ NSI gold registrations,so for your friend to say "you are asking the wrong people" I find an insult.

I will also remind you this is a DIY forum where folk post with limited skills, some needing component level advice like your self which we answer but bare in mind the safety factors and risks associated.

Ok so you say " your not going to blow yourself up" but how we know that for sure?,16th ed mate your still a puppy and have a lot to learn, either buy the proper thing designed for the job or play with low voltage switching circuits as gts has mentioned then
progress when you have better understanding,because if you did at this stage then you would know what components to use.

Be safe.

e manno, December 2013

I told you on an earlier post i want to switch 240v I'm not trying to annoy you GTS don't take
Anything I've said as sarcasm, but ask a question ill give
You an answer ( to the
Best of my knowledge)
but you did make a completly blind assumption, Why dont you tell me why do the manufatcurers reel 100m of 2.5 T&E in 1.5 CPC
why Dont you explain the ins
And outs if the adiabtic, im not here to question your knowledge of 7671, so why are you asking me basic cable calcs?? I asked someone else about the very same question tonight and he said, 'your asking the right questions but to
The wrong people ' how on earth am I showing ignorance by asking a question?

Louis, December 2013

this guys ignorance makes me angry and annoyed
I bow out guys,will leave it to you,

gts, December 2013

if you want our advice,then do you think it would be prudent to give us all the facts ?i.e.low voltage lights,or 240 volts,?if you carry on with your train of thought,i don't think you have much of a future in this trade .

gts, December 2013

tell you what smart arse,dont take our advice,the guys on this site only have 150 years between us,what do we know ,

gts, December 2013

You didn't really give me much time to reply GTS, i really appeticate the offer but your adivce had been has been plently, Thankyou, in answer to your question, 500w would
Draw approx 2.25 amps at 240v bearing in mind ambient temperature, grouping factors etc, beside the
Point your assuming halogen I'll
Be using LED 50w max for each fitting, any way aren't you guys meant be be the experts I'm looking
For a practical quick solution, I'm not going
To blow myself up,

Louis, December 2013

no reply,thats grand,go buy this unit then,cost you £150.00 .as the dragons would say,am out !offer with drawen

gts, December 2013

tell you what Louis,give me an address and I will send you a safe unit for you to work with,its in metal box got diode fitted and terminal blocks marked out so you can work safe,dont give home address on here but a place where I can send the interface unit ,and its free of charge

gts, December 2013

question,how many amps does 500 watts draw ???
(a starndard security light )

gts, December 2013

my advice to you for what its worth is to start with low voltage gear till you prove your theory then move onto 240volts and then be very careful

gts, December 2013

Yes 6 Amps is just the size of the MCB I would use, the total load would probably be far less than that. From the comments posted ill take the hint an do/get some more research/ experience, and yes I'm just coming out my time so I'm still learning. Still going to set this up either way, best way to learn, ;)

Louis, December 2013

Where does the 6amps come from?
Because it says so on the breaker?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Alarm, December 2013

I would send it to this guy but I think he would end up killing himself with it !

gts, December 2013

I just love the manufactures e manno,they out on case,wait for it,"signal processing unit lighting interface relay "with nice triangle warning sticker,
and label that say isolate mains before removing cover,:-)

gts, December 2013

I have an interface unit here boxed up with relay for mains switching from 12 volt input,had it for yonks,
cant remember why I got it !!!!!!

gts, December 2013

I know he does not e manno,he sounds like a kid

gts, December 2013

Gts he no nothing about coil diode or series diode,that's why he should buy one in abs unit with big warning sticker on it.

Get one with prog timer something like 2 to 40 mins is cool .

e manno, December 2013

look up why you need put a diode across the coil of the relay friend,and you will see what alarm means ,I cant be bothered to explain such a basic thing,

mm, December 2013

You obviously have no idea about coils. The switching and effects on them.
There are other methods, some........................
Give up and stick to your day job.

Alarm, December 2013

Why would i need a diode? What would be the use? Well i would just need a double pole relay I guess for line and neutral

Louis, December 2013

be very careful when working with mains power,even 9 volts can kill,you have been warned

mm, December 2013

they are fairly cheap,try get one with a base so you can screw it on a board ,you need to know how many poles you want,and you need to put a diode across the coil

mm, December 2013