I'm working on a project that will use a Reed switch to close a circuit on a charged capacitor that will open or close a solenoid. The problem I am having is in trying to determine the proper Reed switch to use.
Generally speaking, I've found Reed switches having the capability to handle .5, 1 and 1.5 switching amps up to 200 volts. Generally, the lower the amperage specification, the cheaper the switch.
I will be using a 2300 uF capacitor charged to about eight volts. I have no way to determine how long it will take to discharge this capacitor in the solenoid but tests so far would indicate that it's very fast (perhaps 1/100th of a second?) The specs on the solenoid says it needs five watts to operate at between 5 to 10 volts for ten milliseconds. Is there a way to determine how many amps this pulse is producing?
Generally speaking, I've found Reed switches having the capability to handle .5, 1 and 1.5 switching amps up to 200 volts. Generally, the lower the amperage specification, the cheaper the switch.
I will be using a 2300 uF capacitor charged to about eight volts. I have no way to determine how long it will take to discharge this capacitor in the solenoid but tests so far would indicate that it's very fast (perhaps 1/100th of a second?) The specs on the solenoid says it needs five watts to operate at between 5 to 10 volts for ten milliseconds. Is there a way to determine how many amps this pulse is producing?