dont get it...

by mains switch you are referring to the external relays that will control 230V signal to the amp psu box?

YES!! I used the word "Mains" to describe the external AC power source used in any particular locality, provided by a utility service organization. "Mains" means the externally generated power power distributed to multiple buildings.
Thus "mains switch" means the switch that first controls power to something.
In this particular discussion it means it would be the power switching relay for the system referenced by the TS.

AND, if you "dont get it", you may not have understood the previous 70+ posts. OR maybe you did not read them???

 

AND, if you "dont get it", you may not have understood the previous 70+ posts. OR maybe you did not read them???

i do read them but as i am not expert ... still confusion is here.

 

i have one more device - DAC / headphones amp. Is it also possible to say if that can be power on by its switch permanently and controlled via relay on mains?

thanks

 

Those certainly can be controlled by an external power switch, with the power switch shown in the photo always left switched on. That is quite common in some kinds of installations. It works very well.

AND, when ever I use the term "Mains", that always is in reference to the external AC power commonly distributed by utility companies. Usually either 120 volts, 60 Hz, or 220 colts, 50 Hz.

 

@MisterBill2 thanks for confirmation and explanation.

Now question would be how to design such a module that can switch on/off mains, what relays to use. Do you mind to help here?

i think
@prairiemystic shared some design here: https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/...y-audiophile-hifi-system.207798/#post-1997542
but i am not sure as this is using SSR which were not recommended.

Thanks

 

I will need to do a bit of digging to locate a post of what I am talking about. Certainly using a remote blue tooth AC switcher to control the power to the switching relay coil will be the way to go, because creating a wireless remote pair is a challenge, even for those able and equipped to do it.

 

I will need to do a bit of digging to locate a post of what I am talking about. Certainly using a remote blue tooth AC switcher to control the power to the switching relay coil will be the way to go, because creating a wireless remote pair is a challenge, even for those able and equipped to do it.

i think that controlling mechanism ie bluetooth/wifi could be easily replaced by ESP32?

thanks

 

i think that controlling mechanism ie bluetooth/wifi could be easily replaced by ESP32?

thanks

The major difference would be the coil voltage for the switching relay, since I am not aware of a simple convenient way to directly control 120 volt, or 220volt power directly with an ESP32. So the interface would need to use a 12 volt coil power control relay, and a mosfet transistor to switch the coil . so suddenly it gets a lot more complex. AND some code would need to be written.power.

 

@MisterBill2
you can turn on/off the coil voltage for the switching relay with the ESP32 module which include another relay?

 

@MisterBill2
you can turn on/off the coil voltage for the switching relay with the ESP32 module which include another relay?

You will need a more highly rated relay to switch the power to the music system on and off. and if there is a relay on the ESP32 module it is a small one, that could control the coil of the big relay.

 

so just to confirm
do i have to use Mechanical or SSR relays?

thanks

 

I suggest an adequately rated mechanical relay because the switching action is more positive, the isolation from the control circuit is greater, and ti will not produce any waveform distortion at any load. Also, there is no leakage current when it is swiitched off.

 

I suggest an adequately rated mechanical relay because the switching action is more positive, the isolation from the control circuit is greater, and ti will not produce any waveform distortion at any load. Also, there is no leakage current when it is swiitched off.

@MisterBill2
the relay has to switch on/off only Live or also Neutral?

 

That is certainly a valid question! Switching only one side of the line will certainly put all of the connected devices in the "Powr Off" mode. And the price of a single pole relay will be a dollar or two less. No question about that.
HOWEVER, opening both sides of the power feed connection will leave the system completely isolated from spikes traveling down the power line from a lightning strike or other high voltage mishap in the area. That does not happen very often, it has only damaged equipment of mine twice in many years.
BUT that is what took out FOUR expensive three-phase compressors in the air conditioning system of a church I was a member of a while back. The manufacturer cur costs and only switched two of the three poles of the power feed to the compressors. So the high voltage arced from the motor winding to the motor frame and caused a shorted circuit, which burned out the motors in the sealed unit compressors. The final repair cost was a whole lot. And it saved the manufacturer about ten dollars on the cost of a unit that sells for about $27,000 .
So I see some actual value in breaking both sides of the power feed circuit.The difference in the price of the two pole relay will be just a couple of dollars, only once. I am sure a few folks will say "it can't happen here." save a dollar.

 

So I see some actual value in breaking both sides of the power feed circuit.The difference in the price of the two pole relay will be just a couple of dollars, only once. I am sure a few folks will say "it can't happen here." save a dollar.

thanks.
is it possible to recommend such a relay? omron brand or? thx

 

thanks.
is it possible to recommend such a relay? omron brand or? thx

Certainly OMRON is an OK brand. What is unknown at this point is the total current required by your "Audiophile" sound system. Most pieces of equipment have a label that states the power required, most often in WATTS. Amps would be more convenient but listing the watts is quite adequate for this purpose. The system mains voltage also matters, it will be either 120 volts or 220 volts, unless you are in Japan, where it would be 100 volts.
Many relay models are rated for 250 volts, so they would be OK for either.
So the remaining required information is the total of the watts.

 

@MisterBill2
here is the amp spec

https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/...my-audiophile-hifi-system.207798/post-1998391
Power consumption 1200W
Power requirements 100/115/230V AC 50/60Hz (Factory preset)



as i am based in EU - its 230V

thanks

 

OK, for a relay to switch that power level at 230 volts, I suggest contacts rated for 15 amps at greater than 250 volts AC. That could still be within the classification of "control relays" rather than power contactors, because it will not cycle frequently. A simple alternative could be to split the total load into two or three separate sections, all switched at the same time, but the load divided among two or three sets of contacts.

 

OK, for a relay to switch that power level at 230 volts, I suggest contacts rated for 15 amps at greater than 250 volts AC. That could still be within the classification of "control relays" rather than power contactors, because it will not cycle frequently. A simple alternative could be to split the total load into two or three separate sections, all switched at the same time, but the load divided among two or three sets of contacts.

do i need to have 3 separate circuits inside the relay and one relay will control L/N/Ground simultaneously?

sorry getting lost...

 

do i need to have 3 separate circuits inside the relay and one relay will control L/N/Ground simultaneously?

sorry getting lost...

NO! "Ground"is not ever switched. So a two pole relay can open both the line and the neutral, for complete isolation. If you do not find a relay wirh an adequate contact current rating, then you could split the load up and put half of the load on one pair of contacts and the other pair on a second pair of contacts. THAT would require a FOUR POLE relay, which would cost a bit more than a two pole relay, but not nearly as much as two relays.
Are you planning on putting all of the outlets for all of the devices on the one enclosure? Or just plugging in a single plug strip??Just wondering.