Dirk the Daring
New Member
I'm sure this project has been done many times before, but it is my first time, and my electronic skills are more than a bit rusty.
I am trying to control a coin hopper-- a device that spits out coins when activated. It is an old-style hopper, which means it has two lines for A/C 115, that power a motor that ejects coins. There is also a switch that is triggered when a coin is ejected.
So, effectively, in order to eject a coin, you turn on the power for the motor and wait for the switch to be tripped, then stop the motor.
NOW...
My setup involves a PC, and a PIC connected by a serial cable. I need to figure out how to control the motor with either the PIC or the PC (I assume the PIC, unless I'm missing something obvious)
So my first guess is to involve a relay-- to have the hopper powered off the AC lines on the PC, with an in-line relay, controlled by the PIC. The pic would then use one output line to control the relay, and one input to listen to the switch in the hopper.
This seems fairly straightforward, however, it leaves me a few questions:
* Is there an easier way to do this?
* If not, what relay would be recommended? Although I understand the
concept of a relay, I do not understand the specifics.
* Is there more to this circuit than a relay, and a bunch of wiring?
Basically, help
Thanks,
Mike
I am trying to control a coin hopper-- a device that spits out coins when activated. It is an old-style hopper, which means it has two lines for A/C 115, that power a motor that ejects coins. There is also a switch that is triggered when a coin is ejected.
So, effectively, in order to eject a coin, you turn on the power for the motor and wait for the switch to be tripped, then stop the motor.
NOW...
My setup involves a PC, and a PIC connected by a serial cable. I need to figure out how to control the motor with either the PIC or the PC (I assume the PIC, unless I'm missing something obvious)
So my first guess is to involve a relay-- to have the hopper powered off the AC lines on the PC, with an in-line relay, controlled by the PIC. The pic would then use one output line to control the relay, and one input to listen to the switch in the hopper.
This seems fairly straightforward, however, it leaves me a few questions:
* Is there an easier way to do this?
* If not, what relay would be recommended? Although I understand the
concept of a relay, I do not understand the specifics.
* Is there more to this circuit than a relay, and a bunch of wiring?
Basically, help
Thanks,
Mike