switch..

[Andrew]

Hi Everyone,

Im looking to build a switch which can switch off current if a 120v
electrical outlet goes live..

120v (Plug ) A --------------------------- 120v ( Outlet ) B
|
120v ( Outlet ) C

If outlet C goes live the circuit between A & B is cut.

I realize that this may seem a little elementary. Please forgive me
as I know nothing about electronics. Does anyone have any
suggestions as to how I could build such a switch or find one premade
??

Best Regards

Andrew

 

[Ian Stirling]

Andrew <skitziod@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi Everyone,

Im looking to build a switch which can switch off current if a 120v
electrical outlet goes live..

120v (Plug ) A --------------------------- 120v ( Outlet ) B
|
120v ( Outlet ) C

If outlet C goes live the circuit between A & B is cut.

Do you mean "something is turned on connected to the output"?

That's a bit complex, could you live with when a switch on outlet C
is turned on?
The switch would simply when in the "on" position select output C, the
off position would activate B.

--
http://inquisitor.i.am/ | mailto:inquisitor@i.am | Ian Stirling.
---------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------------
"The device every conquerer, yes, every altruistic liberator should be required
to wear on his shield... is a little girl and her kitten, at ground zero"
- Sir Dominic Flandry in Poul Andersons 'A Knight of Ghosts and Shadows'

 

[Andrew]

On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 20:08:38 +0000 (UTC), Ian Stirling
<root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:

Andrew <skitziod@hotmail.com> wrote:
On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 07:47:00 +0000 (UTC), Ian Stirling
root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:

Andrew <skitziod@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi Everyone,

Im looking to build a switch which can switch off current if a 120v
electrical outlet goes live..

120v (Plug ) A --------------------------- 120v ( Outlet ) B
|
120v ( Outlet ) C

If outlet C goes live the circuit between A & B is cut.

Do you mean "something is turned on connected to the output"?

That's a bit complex, could you live with when a switch on outlet C
is turned on?
The switch would simply when in the "on" position select output C, the
off position would activate B.



No, when outlet C is active ( 120v + ) then current will be cut off
between outlet A --> B. I suppose that when outlet C is active it
could run some sort of switch ( mechanical / electrical ) which would
open and cut the circuit between A --> B. It should be pretty simple,
I just need insight on what components to use to build this kind of
apparatus.

I just realised I got B and C mixed up in my first description.

What do you mean by 'active'?

A normal output has 120V on it at all times (unless switched off)
anything plugged in is then free to draw any power it needs.

A switch is certainly going to be the simplest way.

Ok, if there is a positive current flowing through C then the
circuit between A & B will be cut.. If there is no current flowing
through C then then circuit between A & B becomes active. What kind
of switch would do that ?

 

[Kevin Kilzer]

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 20:56:16 GMT, Andrew <skitziod@hotmail.com> wrote:

Im looking to build a switch which can switch off current if a 120v
electrical outlet goes live..

120v (Plug ) A --------------------------- 120v ( Outlet ) B
|
120v ( Outlet ) C

If outlet C goes live the circuit between A & B is cut.

I realize that this may seem a little elementary. Please forgive me
as I know nothing about electronics. Does anyone have any
suggestions as to how I could build such a switch or find one premade
??

What you ask for is similar to a device for protecting washing machine
water supplies, where one circuit controls another. A 2nd circuit is
turned off to close the water supply valve when the washer is off.

Of course, your request is for the opposite result (2nd circuit off
when the 1st is used), so you may have to modify the device, or
perhaps the manufacturer makes it with different options.

Kevin

 

[Ian Stirling]

Andrew <skitziod@hotmail.com> wrote:

On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 20:08:38 +0000 (UTC), Ian Stirling
root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:

Andrew <skitziod@hotmail.com> wrote:
On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 07:47:00 +0000 (UTC), Ian Stirling
root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:

Andrew <skitziod@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi Everyone,

Im looking to build a switch which can switch off current if a 120v
electrical outlet goes live..

120v (Plug ) A --------------------------- 120v ( Outlet ) B
|
120v ( Outlet ) C

If outlet C goes live the circuit between A & B is cut.

Do you mean "something is turned on connected to the output"?

That's a bit complex, could you live with when a switch on outlet C
is turned on?
The switch would simply when in the "on" position select output C, the
off position would activate B.



No, when outlet C is active ( 120v + ) then current will be cut off
between outlet A --> B. I suppose that when outlet C is active it
could run some sort of switch ( mechanical / electrical ) which would
open and cut the circuit between A --> B. It should be pretty simple,
I just need insight on what components to use to build this kind of
apparatus.

I just realised I got B and C mixed up in my first description.

What do you mean by 'active'?

A normal output has 120V on it at all times (unless switched off)
anything plugged in is then free to draw any power it needs.

A switch is certainly going to be the simplest way.

Ok, if there is a positive current flowing through C then the
circuit between A & B will be cut.. If there is no current flowing
through C then then circuit between A & B becomes active. What kind
of switch would do that ?

Right, that's unfortunately a bit complex.
You'd looking at either a current relay, or a complex bit of electronics.
What sort of load do you want it to activate on?
If it's something like a heater, then it's going to be much easier than
if it must trigger on a clock.

--
http://inquisitor.i.am/ | mailto:inquisitor@i.am | Ian Stirling.
---------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------------
Acting is merely the art of stopping a large number of people from coughing
- Sir Ralph Richardson