Phidgets 3051 User manual

Product Manual
3051 - Dual Relay Board

Phidgets 3051 - Product Manual
For Board Revision 1
© Phidgets Inc. 2009

Contents
4 Product Features
4 Connections
5 Getting Started
5 Checking the Contents
5 Connecting all the pieces
5 Testing Using Windows 2000/XP/Vista
6 Testing Using Mac OS X
7 Programming a Phidget
7 Code Samples
7 Coding for your Relay
8 Technical Information
8 Relays
8 Using a Digital Output Relay
8 Using Relays as an H-Bridge to implement Forward / Reverse
9 Wetting Current
9 Load Noise
9 Analog Input Cable Connectors
10 DeviceSpecications
10 Product History
10 Support

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3051_1_Product_Manual - November 1, 2010
Designed to connect to a:
1018 - PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8•
1019 - PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 w/6 Port Hub•
1070 - PhidgetSBC•
1203 - PhidgetTextLCD•
Product Features
The Dual Relay Board allows digital outputs of the 1018 - PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8, the 1202 - PhidgetTextLCD•
or the 1203 - PhidgetTextLCD to control larger loads and devices like AC or DC motors, electromagnets,
solenoids, and incandescent light bulbs.
The 3051 contains 2 relays for switching AC or DC power.•
The relays are Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT)•
The relays can switch up to 240 V AC at 10 Amps and 100 V DC at 5 Amps.•
Connections

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3051_1_Product_Manual - November 1, 2010
Connect the black/negative(-) wire from battery1.
connector to one of the bulb wire.
Connect the red/positive (+) wire from the2.
battery connector to the 1C (Common) connector
on the Dual Relay Board.
Connect the other bulb wire to the NO (Normally3.
Open) connector on the Dual Relay Board.
Connect the Dual Relay Board to the InterfaceKit4.
8/8/8 using the sensor cable.
Connect Control 1 on the Dual Relay Board to5.
Digital Output 6 on the InterfaceKit 8/8/8 using a
piece of wire.
Connect the 1018 - PhidgetInterfacekit to your6.
PC using the USB cable.
Getting Started
Checking the Contents
In order to test your new Phidget you will also
need:
A PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 or a PhidgetTextLCD•
A USB Cable•
A 9V battery, a battery connector•
A piece of wire•
An incandescent bulb•
You should have received:
A Dual Relay Board•
A Sensor Cable•
Connecting all the pieces
Testing Using Windows 2000/XP/Vista
Downloading the Phidgets drivers
Make sure that you have the current version of the Phidget library installed on your PC. If you don’t, do the
following:
Go to www.phidgets.com >> Drivers
Download and run Phidget21 Installer (32-bit, or 64-bit, depending on your PC)
You should see the icon on the right hand corner of the Task Bar.
Running Phidgets Sample Program
Double clicking on the icon loads the Phidget Control Panel; we will use this program to make sure that your
new Phidget works properly. Since the sensor is connected to a 1018, the computer will see only the 1018. The
sensor is providing data through the Analog input it is connected to.
The source code for the InterfaceKit-full sample program can be found under C# by clicking on www.phidgets.com
>> Programming.
1
2
3
4
5
6

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3051_1_Product_Manual - November 1, 2010
Double Click on1. Phidget
InterfaceKit 8/8/8 in the
Phidget Control Panel to bring up
InterfaceKit-full and check that the
box labelled Attached contains the
word True.
Click on the Digital Out box. A tick2.
mark appears in the box and the
bulb lights up. Click on the box
again. The tick mark goes away and
light goes out. If you unplug the
Dual Relay Board while the light is
on, it will go off. Move the bulb wire
from NO to NC (Normally Closed).
Now the light is on when there is no
tick mark and off when there is. If
you unplug the Dual Relay Board when the light is on, it will stay on.
The bottom row of the digital out shows the status of the request, while the top row displays the status of the3.
digital output as reported by the 3051 Relay.
1
3
2
Double Click on the icon to activate the
Phidget Control Panel and make sure that the
Phidget InterfaceKit 8/8/8 is properly
attached to your PC.
Testing Using Mac OS X
Click on System Preferences >> Phidgets (under Other) to activate the Preference Pane•
Make sure that the Phidget InterfaceKit 8/8/8 is properly attached.•
Double Click on Phidget InterfaceKit 8/8/8 in the Phidget Preference Pane to bring up the InterfaceKit-Full•
example. This example will function in a similar way as the Windows version, but note that it does not include an
Advanced Sensor Display.

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3051_1_Product_Manual - November 1, 2010
Programming a Phidget
Phidgets’ philosophy is that you do not have to be an electrical engineer in order to do projects that use devices
like sensors, motors, motor controllers, and interface boards. All you need to know is how to program. We have
developed a complete set of Application Programming Interfaces (API) that are supported for Windows, Mac OS X,
and Linux. When it comes to languages, we support VB6, VB.NET, C#.NET, C, C++, Flash 9, Flex, Java, LabVIEW,
Python, Max/MSP, and Cocoa.
Code Samples
We have written sample programs to illustrate how the APIs are used.
Due to the large number of languages and devices we support, we cannot provide examples in every language for
every Phidget. Some of the examples are very minimal, and other examples will have a full-featured GUI allowing
all the functionality of the device to be explored. Most developers start by modifying existing examples until they
have an understanding of the architecture.
Go to www.phidgets.com >> Programming to see if there are code samples written for your device. Find the
language you want to use and click on the magnifying glass besides “Code Sample”. You will get a list of all the
devices for which we wrote code samples in that language.
IfthisisyourrsttimewritingaprogramtocontrolaPhidget,youshouldreadtheGettingStartedGuideforthe
language you are planning to use.
Coding for your Relay
Relays do not have their own API, but instead they are controlled by a digital output on a PhidgetInterfaceKit. The
PhidgetInterfaceKit API is used to set the state of the digital output. It is not possible to programmatically identify if
a relay is attached to the digital output.
See your PhidgetInterfaceKit product manual for an overview of its API and a description of our architecture.

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3051_1_Product_Manual - November 1, 2010
Technical Information
Relays
A relay is an electrically-controlled switch. Although many
types of electrical switches exist, a relay’s mechanical nature
gives it the advantage of reliability and current-switching
capacity. The main disadvantage to using mechanical relays
is their limited life-span, as opposed to solid state relays
who do not suffer from this drawback.
Using a Digital Output Relay
Relays have a connection scheme determined by the
arrangement of contacts within the relay. Because relays
areatypeofswitch,theyaredenedinthesamewayother
electromechanicalswitchesaredened.
In switch schemes, the number of poles represents the number of common terminals a switch has, and the number
of throws represents the number of switchable terminals that exist for each pole. The relays used in the Dual Relay
Board are SPDT relays: single pole, double throw. The internal construction of this type of relay is depicted in the
diagram above. Many other types of relays exist: SPST, DPDT, and DPST, to name a few.
In an SPDT relay, one of the throw terminals is labelled Normally Closed (NC), and the other is labelled Normally
Open (NO). As the name indicates, the normally closed terminal is the terminal connected to common when the
relaycoilisnotpowered.Whentherelaycoilisenergizedbytherelaycontrolcircuit,theelectromagneticeldof
the coil forces the switch element inside the relay to break its contact with the normally closed terminal and make
contact with the normally open terminal. The switch element would then connect the normally open terminal and
the common terminal.
Using Relays as an H-Bridge to implement Forward / Reverse
Connect the load to the COM terminals, in this
case the wires of a DC motor. The Normally-
Open (NO) terminals are connected to the
power supply (VCC), and the Normally-Closed
(NC) terminals are connected to the ground
(GND) of the power supply. Connect the
Control pins to a digital output. You can toggle
the corresponding output to switch the relays.
Looking at the diagram, when LeftCtrl is
enabled and RightCtrl is disabled, the current
willowfromtheNOterminalofrelayK1
through the motor and into the NC terminal of
relay K2. This will cause the motor to rotate in
one direction. Similarily, if LeftCtrl is disabled
andRightCtrlisenabled,thecurrentwillow
from the NO terminal of relay K2 through the
motor and into the NC terminal of relay K1.
This will cause the motor to rotate in the opposite direction. When both LeftCtrl and RightCtrl are disabled, both
endsofthemotorwillbeshortedtogroundandnocurrentwillow.WhenbothleftCtrlandRightCtrlareenabled,
bothendsofthemotorwillbeshortedtoVCCandagain,nocurrentwillow.
NC
NO
CNORMALLY
CLOSED
NORMALLY
OPEN
COMMON

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3051_1_Product_Manual - November 1, 2010
Wetting Current
When a relay is in one switch position for a period of time, oxidation of the open contact(s) can occur. Depending
upontheinternalcoatingmaterialofthecontacts,oxidelmsofvaryingdensitywillbedisplaceduponthesurface
ofopencontacts;thislmactsasaninsulatortocurrentow.Whentherelayisswitched,acertainamountof
currentowingthroughthecontacts,knownasthewettingcurrent,isrequiredtoremovethelmofoxidesand
ensure proper conduction. Because of this requirement, these relays are not reliable for signal switching. See the
devicespecicationonpage10fordetailedrequirements.
Load Noise
If highly inductive loads are used with the Dual Relay Board, it is recommended that a noise limiting component be
used to prevent damage to the device. An MOV, TVS diode, or kickback diode (for DC applications) shunted across
the load will assist in dissipating voltage transients.
Analog Input Cable Connectors
Each Analog Input uses a 3-pin, 0.100 inch pitch locking connector.
Pictured here is a plug with the connections labeled. The connectors
are commonly available - refer to the Table below for manufacturer part
numbers.
Cable Connectors
Manufacturer Part Number Description
Molex 50-57-9403 3 Position Cable Connector
Molex 16-02-0102 Wire Crimp Insert for Cable Connector
Molex 70543-0002 3 Position Vertical PCB Connector
Molex 70553-0002 3 Position Right-Angle PCB Connector (Gold)
Molex 70553-0037 3 Position Right-Angle PCB Connector (Tin)
Molex 15-91-2035 3 Position Right-Angle PCB Connector - Surface Mount
Note: Most of the above components can be bought at www.digikey.com

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3051_1_Product_Manual - November 1, 2010
Device Specications
Characteristic Value
Contact Resistance (max) 0.1 ohms
Minimum Switching Current (Wetting Current) 100 mA @ 5 V DC
Maximum DC Switching Voltage 100 V DC
Maximum DC Switching Current 5 A
Maximum AC Switching Voltage 240 V AC
Maximum AC Switching Current 10 A
Minimum Switching Current (Wetting Current) 100 mA @ 5 V DC
Typical current consumption per relay engaged 72mA
Minimum Control Voltage 3.3V
Maximum Control Voltage 12V
Maximum Operating Speed (Contacts Per Minute) 20 cpm
Operate time 10 ms
Recommended Terminal Wire Size 12 - 24 AWG
Terminal Wire Strip Length 5 - 6mm (0.196” - 0.236”)
Product History
Date Board Revision Comment
October 2007 0 Product Release
September 2008 1 Bigger connectors, Bigger board
Support
Call the support desk at 1.403.282.7335 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mountain Time (US & Canada) - GMT-07:00
or
E-mail us at: [email protected]