Defeated and Looking for a Recommendation

Archive SparkFun Site Questions/Comments
1

After literally spending months researching and studying microcontrollers, e.g. 8051 Basic Stamp I have come to the conclusion that the elctronics are beyond me

While I am very proficient and experienced in Visual Basic and C++ my experience has been focused on database development and office applications. I am also fair home taught electrician

After doing some googling about process control using a PC I find that there appear to be many “black Boxes” available that can control devices from a PC.

My needs are simple. I need something that will take up to 4 digital inputs and based on their state operate up to three latching relays for 110 VAC and 220 VAC devices.

Can anyone recommend a kit that is relatively inexpensive that can get me there. Some of the kits I’ve seen appear to operate over existing house wiring but each room in my house is on its own circuit so I don’t think that type will work without extensive rewiring. I have several old 386 and 486 PCs that work but are not being used so I have that at least.

Thanks in advance

Clueless

2

Have you looked at the Arduino? Its still a microcontroller, but its a hell of a lot easier than an 8051 based device.

That being said; if you can run wires; just run everything off the parallel port of the old PC. You just need an external power supply to provide power for the relays. For every relay coil, you just need a transistor, a resistor, and a diode. Should be fairly easy to build. It’ll be a bit harder if its a single-coil latching relay where the coil has to be energized in opposite directions.

Cheers,

–David Carne

3

Does it have to operated from a PC? It sounds like a standalone device.

In that case, this might work: http://cubloc.com/product/03_02cusb30r.php

It just uses BASIC so the learning curve should be nonexistent.