Hi Everybody,
I'm hobbyist with an electronics question that I hope someone here is willing and able to answer for me. I want to rig an ordinary GFCI-equipped electrical outlet to trip in the presence of light. Can I arrange this by simply bridging the outlet's hot and neutral with a resistor and light sensitive device so that light shining on the outlet would result in a flow of current between them and thereby cause a deliberate trip of the mechanism? Would that be safe and reliable? Is there a simpler way to use light to triggered a trip of the GFCI? What kind of light sensitive device would be best? I want the trip to occur within a second or two of light exposure; the device to be small, inexpensive, rugged, and easy to get.
Many Thanks,
Tom
I'm hobbyist with an electronics question that I hope someone here is willing and able to answer for me. I want to rig an ordinary GFCI-equipped electrical outlet to trip in the presence of light. Can I arrange this by simply bridging the outlet's hot and neutral with a resistor and light sensitive device so that light shining on the outlet would result in a flow of current between them and thereby cause a deliberate trip of the mechanism? Would that be safe and reliable? Is there a simpler way to use light to triggered a trip of the GFCI? What kind of light sensitive device would be best? I want the trip to occur within a second or two of light exposure; the device to be small, inexpensive, rugged, and easy to get.
Many Thanks,
Tom