Hi all, long time.
I'm working on a project for my simulator cockpit which I have some ideas on, but am being a bit careful so as not to damage my electronics. Hopefully I'll describe the problem sufficiently well for someone to fill in the blanks for me!
I have a PhidgetLED64 output module attached to my PC. It has 128 output pins, of which I'm only concerned with 10: 5 pairs of anode/cathode pins.
In software, I can drive a variable current down those pins. The anode pulses a square wave at about 13kHz, 50% duty cycle from 0V to 3.3V DC. At full power, the anode sources 30mA; this is controllable from 0 to 30mA in 100 linear steps (noting that due to the 50% duty cycle from the anode voltage PWM, it is effectively 15mA).
Essentially, the board is designed to have LEDs attached directly to it. No current limiting resistor is needed, as the anode is designed as a constant current source.
However, I want to attach 12V lamps to them. This is the problem.
Now my first idea was to use an optocoupler (essentially a LED right?) on the output pins, which would trigger a solid state relay to drive the lamps. But the PWM gave me cause for pause there and I wondered if I'd have issues with relays.
Can anyone suggest the bit in the middle, between the output A/K and the two lamp pins, assuming a separate 12VDC supply?
*edit* and my usual supplier is Jaycar in Australia, hopefully all required components would be available there.
Many thanks
I'm working on a project for my simulator cockpit which I have some ideas on, but am being a bit careful so as not to damage my electronics. Hopefully I'll describe the problem sufficiently well for someone to fill in the blanks for me!
I have a PhidgetLED64 output module attached to my PC. It has 128 output pins, of which I'm only concerned with 10: 5 pairs of anode/cathode pins.
In software, I can drive a variable current down those pins. The anode pulses a square wave at about 13kHz, 50% duty cycle from 0V to 3.3V DC. At full power, the anode sources 30mA; this is controllable from 0 to 30mA in 100 linear steps (noting that due to the 50% duty cycle from the anode voltage PWM, it is effectively 15mA).
Essentially, the board is designed to have LEDs attached directly to it. No current limiting resistor is needed, as the anode is designed as a constant current source.
However, I want to attach 12V lamps to them. This is the problem.
Now my first idea was to use an optocoupler (essentially a LED right?) on the output pins, which would trigger a solid state relay to drive the lamps. But the PWM gave me cause for pause there and I wondered if I'd have issues with relays.
Can anyone suggest the bit in the middle, between the output A/K and the two lamp pins, assuming a separate 12VDC supply?
*edit* and my usual supplier is Jaycar in Australia, hopefully all required components would be available there.
Many thanks
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