I'm very frustrated at this point. First I'm hardly educated in electronic circuit design so that doesn't help, second I've been searching for several hours without any luck so I've decided to post.
I have a 555 circuit I'm working on which will take a 1/2 second input 12V pulse and turn on 4 lights for 1/2 second as well. The draw from these 4 lights is 8 amps for about 1/2 of a second.
My pin 3 output obviously cannot handle 8A load, so I've discovered I need a transistor or pMOSFET on the output of pin 3 to trigger something (acting like a relay) that will provide 12V and can handle 8A draw. Radio shack does not carry a pFET, and I want to get this going immediately so I read that a transistor will do the same thing. But what kind of transistor? There are so many.
simplified:
555 pin 3 send it's little 200ma 12V signal to (insert what I need here) to open a circuit that sends 12V to 4 incandescent lights that draw 8A. The 555 is only "on" for 1/2 of a second from it's own trigger and will turn off after the initial pulse (except to discharge the 1/2 output)
An N mosfet won't work because I can't turn on lights with a ground. I need a +12V signal.
Thank you all, hope to get to radio shack soon.
I have a 555 circuit I'm working on which will take a 1/2 second input 12V pulse and turn on 4 lights for 1/2 second as well. The draw from these 4 lights is 8 amps for about 1/2 of a second.
My pin 3 output obviously cannot handle 8A load, so I've discovered I need a transistor or pMOSFET on the output of pin 3 to trigger something (acting like a relay) that will provide 12V and can handle 8A draw. Radio shack does not carry a pFET, and I want to get this going immediately so I read that a transistor will do the same thing. But what kind of transistor? There are so many.
simplified:
555 pin 3 send it's little 200ma 12V signal to (insert what I need here) to open a circuit that sends 12V to 4 incandescent lights that draw 8A. The 555 is only "on" for 1/2 of a second from it's own trigger and will turn off after the initial pulse (except to discharge the 1/2 output)
An N mosfet won't work because I can't turn on lights with a ground. I need a +12V signal.
Thank you all, hope to get to radio shack soon.