1 Channel 5V Relay Module 16A AC

Relays are marvellous devices that have been around for quite some time now, with the original idea being brought to life with transistors, and over time growing into their own standalone devices, now being available in both electro-mechanical and solid state forms. They allow for a wide range of different applications, such as automatic switching when signals are received or turning on high-current components while keeping specific circuitry isolated, and have recently become quite popular in Hobbyist Electronics too.

This handy little 1 Channel 5V Relay Module from DFRobot offers a relatively beefy 16A capability at up to 250V AC. It operates on the common microcontroller standard of 5V DC, and can be controlled via a simple single wire TTL interface. This is fantastic, as these specifications allow it to be easily integrated into almost any microcontroller circuit, with many different Arduino Boards being perfectly compatible, opening up awesome opportunities for home automation, remote device control and other exciting projects.

Finally, in addition to remote control and automation, these relays are built to offer complete isolation between the control circuit and the circuit being controlled. This is vital if you are operating high current devices or AC machinery that could harm users or damage other components, and these types of safety control circuits are often used in heavy-duty machinery to protect operators from dangerous high-power circuits.

Additional Resources:

• If you want to find out more about this module, this is the DFrobot 16A Relay Module Page, which contains some great insights and basic Arduino Code to get you started.

As self-proclaimed “Robo-holics”, DFRobot is a company comprised of over 100 staff members, of which 30% are engineers who love to build robots. It was started in 2008 with the goal of embracing and promoting open-source hardware, with a core focus on Arduino, Raspberry Pi and their very own LattePanda development boards. Since then, DFRobot have manufactured over 1300 unique modules, sensors and components that all work together and complement each other, allowing users like us to enjoy a full spectrum of cutting edge robotics and electronics without having to pay premium prices.

With the primary goal of developing and manufacturing great quality products, while making them accessible to as many people as possible, DFRobot are rapidly becoming one of the most common-place brands in the world of open-source robotics and electronics. With more than 1300 products developed in-house, and an impressive range of different categories and specialisations, there are few brands in the world who can compete in terms of quality, accessibility and genuine innovation.