Recent content by KeepItSimpleStupid

The correct term is tactile switches.

I worked on an X-ray difractometer and it kept blowing the RS232 chips. The manufactuer recomended replacingthe chips (socketed). I went a step futher and added an external isolation module and the problem went away. <$100 many years ago.

I too am planiing a Metlund Demand system.  Been planning for years and have most of the parts.  That system places a pump at the furthest fixture that bridges the hot and cold lines.  It runs on a push button event.  However, the fixture method wonn't be used.  It will be below the fixture in...

I know I'm a little late for this thread, but I saw the word "pool" and also 30' away. Does 30' mean a detached structure? A pool is a very strange entity to Earth properly. To make the explanation extremely simple, there is usually one reference for the house and that is where neutral and...

About 20+ years ago, I put an exhaust fan in, with a delay on break timer. You turned the fan on and 15-20 minutes later, the fan turns off. Currently, the timer is flakey, because it is in the attic, but 20 years is a long life. Switches are designed for specific flow rates, but there...

You can go the electrochroic window route I suppose: http://www.sage-ec.com/

If you have access to the opposite side of the switch, the issue is easy. In that case, i generally use an OPTO FET. The Vactac VTL5C1 optoisolator uses leads on both ends. For a large item, you can place one of these across the contacts, add a diode and a current limiter and you can use any...

This whole post is confusing. O.C. basically means a solid state switch to ground. Contact closeures to ground have been a great way of communicating on and off signals. If this were a relay, one would have to worry about: a) operate time B) release time c) max voltage d) wetting current e)...

My $.02 In reality, you need to be able to caclulate superheat and subcooling. See: http://www.ehow.com/how_5410905_calculate-subcooling.html for the sub-cooling calculations. For quick and dirty checks, you need to look at the temperature and humidity of the air before the evaporator and...

Odd problem. How about, modifying the TV. Take something like a UPB low voltage I/O module and detect whether or not it's on via a current sensor, or whatever. Figure out a way to disable the TV. The IR sensor should be easy to disable, the on/off switch harder. The later might be...

At the very least, make sure the switches have 3 wire feeds for the wall switches so the neutrals are there. For lighting, you could go complete with home runs from the light fixture to a lighting controller, but somehow I see some imparacticalness in a home controller. One of the problems is...

You mentioned serial. Is this Rs232? I had a X-ray diffraction set at work that was retrofitted with a stepper drive. It kept taking out the RS232 Receiver/Driver chips. It might be worth seeing what interface chips are being used. It might not be too difficult to fix.

The 7812 series is a poor choice. You need a 3V differential for it to work. www.national.com has products and evaluation boards for switching regulators. There is also software on the site to design your own and receive a kit of parts. 12V switching regulators are commonplace...

Just a note guys. It appears that the SAM interface has commands that should be documented but aren't. If you look at the documentation for the Skytel version you'll note that the Skytel interface can determine that state of the water sensors. There is no command documented in SAM that says...

I had a problem anytime the fan ran. In other words the the Electronic Commutated Motor was causing the problem.