Thread: What is a RELAY?!?

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Originally Posted by Baron Samedi

It's really not the same, is it?

Whilst Wikipedia and other such sites can give you a basic insight into what a relay does or how it works, it can't offer advice on practical applications for specific uses, or explain in depth if there's some aspect that you don't understand or are having trouble with.

That's why forums like ours are such great and useful places...
First hand advice from like minded people with practical experience in the subject field is an extremely useful resource, and can prevent costly or even dangerous mistakes.

While questions like "What is a relay?" may seem somewhat inappropriate to some, the real response here is. So What !

No one is obligated to answer a question and if a question is asked and individuals are willing to respond, then what is the harm.

Willing people with like minded interests wishing to learn from others and to school those who wish to gain knowledge in a friendly and fun environment.

Wiki who ?

Originally Posted by dpeterson

You should have asked: "What is Wikipedia?" and "How do I use it?". (This may be a bit callous, but I'm just sayin'....)

ive looked there answers are just to hard to understand

Originally Posted by Nevergoback

I find that asking questions to real people gets me an answer I understand better. Besides, this is a forum of like minded people who are here to help. Just sayin...

thank you

Originally Posted by Baron Samedi

It's really not the same, is it?

Whilst Wikipedia and other such sites can give you a basic insight into what a relay does or how it works, it can't offer advice on practical applications for specific uses, or explain in depth if there's some aspect that you don't understand or are having trouble with.

That's why forums like ours are such great and useful places...
First hand advice from like minded people with practical experience in the subject field is an extremely useful resource, and can prevent costly or even dangerous mistakes.

yeah there ways to talk is to hard for my small brain lol

Originally Posted by gravedigger greg

Not sure if you mean how with software do yo trip it on the 74 board or just any relay. If any, then it could be a motion detector, a pressure mat, or just a plain switch. Normally there would be other things involved like timers (search prop1 controler)!that would do things like keep the relay open for a set time or turn on ther relays for lights or air valves. If you are talking about the kit 74, it wold be hooked up to a computer the entire time running software that has need programmer to activate one or more of the relays as part of a show. Go to YouTube and search for singing pumpkins as an idea. Or using the same concept with a ton more cash search here for LOR

well software yeah sort of. but the prop one has relays built in right? how many outputs does it have to?

Originally Posted by spinman1949

While questions like "What is a relay?" may seem somewhat inappropriate to some, the real response here is. So What !

No one is obligated to answer a question and if a question is asked and individuals are willing to respond, then what is the harm.

Willing people with like minded interests wishing to learn from others and to school those who wish to gain knowledge in a friendly and fun environment.

Wiki who ?

hahahah right

I dont trust Wikipedia, it isnt really fact checked for accuracy

I knew that post would stir up a conversation. I was in a bad mood when I posted that Wikipedia comment.

I find Wikipedia to be extremely useful for researching a lot of topics, technical or other. While it's possible that some people might post some invalid facts to it sometimes, there are still many more eyes around the world who review it and point out inconsistencies. After having used it a long time, my gut tells me that most of the information is incredibly valuable and accurate. You just have to use your head, like anything related to the Internet (and life).

I didn't mean to squash anyone's inquisitiveness or joy, I just meant to promote researching stuff for one's self, Wikipedia being a great place to start. =)

Check it: Relay - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here is a good explanation and video to a relay and how it works.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkG22KgciwY]YouTube - Relays - How to Wire[/ame]

ok i was looking threw those and found those to be helpful. but a relay u can switch on with your own finger right?

A light switch in your home could be considered a finger actuated relay. Generally a relay is not involved externally with mechanical movement as in the case of a switch.

So TBQH, I am a bit confused by the finger comment.

i guess you could say a prop 1 has something that switches things on and off, but in most cases, (unless youre only turning on and off leds or very low watt/volt lights you will need to add a relay for each item you want to control with it. (up to 8)

below is my firefly prop driven by a Prop1 which is NOT using relays (for those reading the other thread about using Cat5 cable, this is what I was building)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdujxiD0AZ8]YouTube - firefly[/ame]

A PROP-1 does not have relays, it has a current sink chip that is able to drive relays, small lamps, LEDs and solenoids directly.

Backyardhaunter, I posted that video for you to help you with the understanding and the principle of a relay.
That is just, simple to take in.
Hope it helps.
MM