Posted by Jonathan Stanley on 11, 2000 at 7:27 PM:
In Reply to: Running a 12V light or strobe on my cabinet... posted by Jonathan Stanley on 8, 2000 at 3:31 AM:
After thinking more about my idea I decided a relay should definetely work. I just need a relay that would be energized by 5VDC (the keyboard voltage) and would handle my 12V light.
What I found at my local Radio Shack was part number 275-240A "SPDT Micromini 5V DC Relay". In theory it should work - the coil is rated to be energized at 5VDC, pick-up voltage is 3.5VDC. But when I hooked it up the coil won't energize even though I am measuring 4.96VDC at the coil connections.
I took a 4.8V AC/DC adapter I had and hooked it up and the coil energizes fine. I'm wondering if the keyboard voltage isn't sending out enough current to cause the coil to energize? If so perhaps I just need a more sensitive relay? The relay says "Nominal Current 89.3mA" but I don't know if that is important or what value I should be looking for.
Thanks for any advice!
Jonathan