I use mechanical relays to switch AC power for pumps and similar AC motor loads ... | Hacker News

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karlkatzke on Feb 2, 2017 | parent | context | favorite | on: Circuit building: stop using antique parts (2014)

I use mechanical relays to switch AC power for pumps and similar AC motor loads using DC signals from Arduinos and similar.

I have very very little experience with electrical engineering (I'm in the Lego mindset of I plug things in according to things I find online until they work), but is there something I should be using instead with 120V ~3-5 A loads?

guyzero on Feb 2, 2017 | [–]

You could use an opto-coupled triac but honestly for a hobby project a relay is a lot simpler.

http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/blog/optocoupler.html

smileysteve on Feb 3, 2017 | [–]

IGBTs. Solid state, 0 crossover, lower voltage to drive. Similar failure mode, but many more switches.

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