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Potential Divider

04/12/2010 4:32 AM

I have 220v, I want to use 12vDC through potential divider to oprate a 12 volt relay which coil current is 300ma please help me to calculate the required Resistor and his wattage, I mean what will be the wattage of the Resistor and proper value.

best regard to my friends of CR 4

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#1

Re: Potential Divider

04/12/2010 7:34 AM

You would be better getting a relay with a 220v ac coil.
But....

If you put a diode and a resistor in series with the 220v ac you may find the relay will buzz. But if you insist on trying it then a rough calculation would be something like this...

R= V/I you want to drop about 210 volt (but oh dear do we want peak volts? RMS whatever..or do we add a capacitor to stop the relay buzzing? Never mind let's press on regardless and see what we get.)
R= 210/ 0.3 well this is 700 ohms (680 is nearest common value)
Power dissipation is V2/R this would be approx 65watts...
Hmmm maybe you can now see why I said you'd be better off getting a relay with a 220v ac coil? mains relays are cheap and plentiful.
Del

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#4
In reply to #1

Re: Potential Divider

04/13/2010 1:52 AM

He can also use a 60 W light bulb and it will also make visible the status of the relay...

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#6
In reply to #1

Re: Potential Divider

04/13/2010 1:20 PM

Answer is technically right and right in a sense what OP has asked. But, this way is more power consuming. (65W as you calculated)

But, if we use transformer, power required should be much less. Actual power on secondary will be VI= 12*0.3 = 4W (Load wattage). Input side it may be Load wattage/ transformer efficiency. Even considering losses in transformer it should be much less than 65W. (May be some 8W.

Am I correct?

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#8
In reply to #6

Re: Potential Divider

04/13/2010 1:31 PM

Thanks a lot, thanks to every one of CR4 friends Transformer is a little bit safer, cheaper, easy and usefull methed.

Once again thanks to every one who help me,

Babar.

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#2

Re: Potential Divider

04/12/2010 3:32 PM

For this amount of step-down voltage and power a resistive voltage divider is not going to be practical, cheap or electrically safe.

If you cannot use a 220V AC relay (inexpensive and easy to obtain) I would suggest either using a small inexpensive (and MUCH safer) transformer and regulator or zener voltage divider network or (if space is a problem AND you know what you are doing electrically) using a capacitor voltage divider network which eliminates the massive losses.

http://cr4.globalspec.com/comment/133640

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage_divider

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_regulator

For this application SERIOUSLY consider a small and inexpensive transformer as this will reduce power losses and electrocution hazards.

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#7
In reply to #2

Re: Potential Divider

04/13/2010 1:24 PM

This is the right approach. Potential divider is not right approach. GA from me

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#3

Re: Potential Divider

04/12/2010 10:34 PM

The question you ask is a sign that you are new to this type of thing.

It is an unsafe way to solve the problem.

So please, just buy a 240VAC relay, it'll be cheaper than buying appropriately sized resistors, diodes & capacitor.

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#5

Re: Potential Divider

04/13/2010 11:13 AM

items to try to drive a 12vdc relay from mains 220vac.connect the mains to four 1N4007 in bridge rectification principle .

filter it with 200microfarad 400vdc polarised capacitor. And connect 220-240 kilo ohms 1watt in series on the positive terminal from the four bridge 1N4007 before another electrolytic capacitor 2200microfarad 25vdc in befor the relay do not forget to connect another single 1N4007 between the relay positive and negative ternal inorer to avoid the relay to over heat on the attached is a scetch drawing but the last blocking diode is not included for relay protection.

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#9
In reply to #5

Re: Potential Divider

04/14/2010 7:50 AM

What about the circuit protective device? Why isn't that on the components list?

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#10
In reply to #5

Re: Potential Divider

04/14/2010 9:09 AM

How do you expect about 1mA to drive a 300mA coil.

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#11

Re: Potential Divider

04/17/2010 2:10 PM

A transfomer and rectifier is what you need. Even if you do design a voltage drop to give the votage you will need a rectifier. Or just change the relay to one with a 220V coil.

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