Johnnybib
Canada
Asked
— Edited
Resolved by WBS00001!
Hello!
I am wondering if it is possible to control an electromagnet with an ez-b. All I would need is to turn it on and off. The electromagnet I would use would just be a simple iron nail wrapped in insulated copper wire. How would I go about connecting this to the ez-b so I can control it?
Thanks!
Use the EZB(4) to operate a relay. The relay would close a contact to connect the battery to the wire wound nail circuit.
You will want to power it seperatly from the EZ-B and have the EZ-B act as a switch. You can make a simple and cheap TIP 120 transistor switch, or probably handle a little more voltage with a relay depending on how powerful you want your magnet to be. As a kid I made the type you are describing with 6v lantern batteries that would pick up washers and other small metal bits.
For a simple TIP 120 circuit, see this thread https://synthiam.com/Community/Questions/3050 unfortunately there is a lot of nonsense from a now banned former member polluting the discussion, just read the posts by Rich.
Several users utilize this relay, which is comparable in price to the parts you would need for a TIP 120 and is plug and play: http://www.robotshop.com/en/electronic-brick-5v-relay.html
Alan
Thanks @Robot-Doc and @thetechguru, I'll try those out! Could I use the 7.4V LiPo battery that would power the ez-b to power the electromagnet as well or would I have to use a separate battery?
I would strongly recommend using a separate battery for the electromagnet . Using same battery would cause noise and interference to the EZB.
OK, so I think I'm going to use the Electronic Brick 5V Relay that Alan suggested. I quickly drew out a circuit diagram of how I'm going to hook this thing up. I've only done one class in circuits, so I'm not sure if this is right. The shaded part is the Relay board.
Also would a 9V battery work here? It would be nice to use a 9V since they have those connectors.
Alright, thanks EDIT: I do not know how this got below my previous post with the circuit diagram.
That will work. EZ-B connects to the Relay board - Ground to Ground, Vcc to Vcc, Signal to Data.
When enabled the relay will close across COM and NO which will complete the circuit. When disabled it will open across COM and NO which will break the circuit.
Provided the electro magnet doesn't require any resistors etc. and works fine with the supply given there will be no problems.
A TIP circuit would also work (as Alan suggested) but if you have no or little experience and don't have many components the relay board probably works out cheaper and better.
I don't think 9v batteries provide enough amps for anything but a weak magnet, and if they do, it won't last long. Not my area of expertise, the last one I made I was maybe 12 years old (an embarrassingly long time ago), but their should be plenty of info on the Internet. Get the magnet working first, then wire in the relay to have EZ-B control it.
Alan