phidgets Dual Relay Board

[BANE]

two questions:
does anyone recommend this phidget Dual Relay Board http://www.solarbotics.com/products/33045/?  Ive never used anything from phidget but it looks ok.

Also, it looks like there are two standard servo-like connectors (ground,5+,signal);i hook these right to the axon and operate it by making the signal wire "high".  I know these are stupid obvious questions but i just want a second opinion before buying .

data sheet:http://www.phidgets.com/documentation/Phidgets/3051.pdf

thnx in advance

[Soeren]

Hi,

does anyone recommend this phidget Dual Relay Board

A bit pricey for 2 relays with a contact resistance of 0.1 Ohm and drivers I think.
I'd assume you could get a similar board for around half - or you could make one yourself).

Also, it looks like there are two standard servo-like connectors (ground,5+,signal);i hook these right to the axon and operate it by making the signal wire "high".

Yes - it's strange that they claim it should go to an analog input, but I guess they were just sleepy when they wrote the docs.

[BANE]

Yes - it's strange that they claim it should go to an analog input,

this was the primary reason i posted this 

Also, just to verify, the board is only powered by the 5+ right? 

Another thing i just noticed was the the 1/0 terminal block besides the two stacked servo connectors.  Im guessing there are two ways to control this?

A bit pricey for 2 relays with a contact resistance of 0.1 Ohm and drivers I think.
I'd assume you could get a similar board for around half - or you could make one yourself).

very true.  however, for me, it costs $4.99 for an equivalent relay, $2.49 for PBC (pre made one with array of hole), $1.99 for two terminals, and i have two npn transistors laying around.  So im $15 in and have some work to do.  Dont get me wrong, radioshack is a rapist but there is one just down the street from me .

[Soeren]

Hi,

Also, just to verify, the board is only powered by the 5+ right? 

I'd think so. The relays on the board says "Spule: 5V" plus the sign for pulsating DC and "spule" is German for "coil", meaning that the coil is 5V.

Looking at it a bit further, I think that the 3-pin connector is just for the supply and th terminal block saying "Control" is for controlling each relay (relay 0 and relay 1) with a signal of +5V referred to 0V.
But... I have no way of verifying this, so better drop an email to sales(at)solarbotics(dot)com to get any question cleared up.

Another thing i just noticed was the the 1/0 terminal block besides the two stacked servo connectors.  Im guessing there are two ways to control this?

As just mentioned, I think the 3-pin connectors signal line is either not used, or is sending a coded signal (an address) to the board - one of the SOT-23-6 packets might be a controller - but do send them an email.

very true.  however, for me, it costs $4.99 for an equivalent relay, $2.49 for PBC (pre made one with array of hole), $1.99 for two terminals, and i have two npn transistors laying around.  So im $15 in and have some work to do.  Dont get me wrong, radioshack is a rapist but there is one just down the street from me .

Yeah, my local pusher is expensive to a degree that makes the RatShack look cheap, but for small amounts, things that is needed "yesterday" and such, I still shop there (and sometimes they even have what I need) - shipment costs can be murder on small orders as well.
However, at eg. Digikey a 5V/10A relay is $1.62
http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/748154-relay-pwr-10a-5vdc-sealed-pcb-js1a-5v-f.html
and I wouldn't be too surprised to find them even cheaper.

Relays like those, I'd foam tape to the chassis (or a plate that bolts to same) solder the diodes directly at their terminals and connect them to the drivers (on a small piece of matrix board) with wires.

It's not that I want to tell you how you should proceed, but I just remember the days where each penny saved would mean more components to play with - and sometimes it's just for the challenge - I drilled out some PCB material for an 8 pin pogo block (for programming) a couple of hours ago, made springs for it a couple of days ago and the pins themselves are all ready and I just need to make a single piece of PCB for the top cover.
Do I have to - not at all, but this one is gonna last a lifetime (try that with puny pogo pins) and when it's done, I'll put it on the web for others to copy, as I have noticed a certain lack of such devices in the DIY form.

Now if only I could find a local* supply of Piano wire below 0.3 mm, as such "heavy" wire does make the springs a bit hard for the purpose.
(* as shipping from overseas would raise the price 20..30 times if not more).

But I digress...

[BANE]

but do send them an email.

will do