Electronics are awesome, and are relatively safe as long as you aren’t pumping too much power through them, but sometimes Hobbyist Electronics simply aren’t enough to cool a room or boil a kettle, and in such times it’s often easier to simply integrate AC appliances or machinery into projects. However, while AC devices are typically capable of higher power ratings and inductive loads, they can’t simply be controlled directly with a DC circuit, and this is why Relay Modules are such awesome devices.
Relays like these Single Channel 5V Relay Modules are designed to act as switches, allowing DC circuitry to activate or deactivate both AC and DC circuits, with these particular models being capable of up to 5A @ 250V AC or 24V DC. This means that you can use these handy little relay modules to control devices, machinery and components with ease, by simply activating or deactivating the relay switch. These features make relay modules like these the ideal choices for home automation and smart tech’ integration into living spaces – although they’re also just as good for turning on the lounge fan, coffee machine or other devices remotely.
This relay module features the DFRobot Gravity Series PH2.0-3P Port for powering and controlling it, while on the other side of the board there are four screw terminals labelled “NC”, “NO”, “N/A” and “COM”. This is a relatively stock-standard style for relays, although the Gravity Series connector does make it very easy to use with Arduino Boards. However, if you’re not entirely sure of how relays work with their ports, it’s a good idea to brush up on this knowledge, or check out the handy DFRobot Wiki featured below the following table.
1 Channel 5V Relay Module 5A - Technical Specifications: |
|
|
– Electromechanical |
|
– 1 |
|
– TTL Level (HIGH/LOW) |
|
– NC | NO | N/A | COM |
|
– 5V DC |
|
– 5A 250V AC – 5A 24V DC |
|
– 3.8V DC |
|
– 0.5V DC |
|
– 10ms Activate | 5ms Deactivate |
|
– 1 x Gravity Series 3-Pin Digital Cable |
|
– 37 x 33mm |
Additional Resources:
- This is the official DFRobot 5A Relay Module Wiki, where you can find all the info you need, with sample code included, 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.