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  1. M

    Lamp: Will it burn my house down and kill me?

    I'm looking at this UV sterilizing lamp (link at end of post). The bulbs will be contained within a metal duct, but the ballast will be outside of it. I can't find any manufacturer information regarding it. Is it a realistic worry that this might catch fire and burn my house down? Similar...
  2. M

    A/C device becomes active when other becomes inactive

    Ok, I understand. Thanks.
  3. M

    A/C device becomes active when other becomes inactive

    Let's say that I want to run an A/C device. If it should fail, I'd like a backup A/C device to turn on to take the place of the first. This seems like it would be a really easy circuit to build, and perhaps something is already offered that does this. Can anyone point me in the right...
  4. M

    I need to hire someone for a logic design

    Well, finally at long last, I'm able to start thinking about the aquarium again. I've had quite a bit on my plate with work and such. As for this whole idea, at this point I'm not going to pursue it further. I certainly appreciate the input, and hope that the idea might work for someone else.
  5. M

    I need to hire someone for a logic design

    Great replies so far. Thanks. I'll look into this some more and post when I find out something regarding bubble conductivity. Right off the bat, I did find that sea water has a conductivity of 56 mS/cm. I don't know how this would translate to conductivity of a thin-walled bubble, though.
  6. M

    I need to hire someone for a logic design

    Thanks Steve. Using the circuit to detect water levels seems like another great application. If the mentioned circuit can't detect a bubble, is there a way to modify it so that it does? Increase the voltage, maybe? I would recommend that an AC signal be used to prevent the electrodes from...
  7. M

    I need to hire someone for a logic design

    I'll take this from the top. I am setting up a saltwater aquarium. The water in which the fish live must have a certain concentration of “dissolved organic content”. With too little “dissolved organic content”, nutritional requirements of plants will not be met. With too much, the health of...
  8. M

    I need to hire someone for a logic design

    It's supposed to turn on devices related to a "protein skimmer". That part isn't really important. I just need to have an AC jack energized so that it provides power to the devices plugged into it. As for the bubble and the electrodes, a current is to flow from one electrode to another...
  9. M

    I need to hire someone for a logic design

    That would be great if someone could help me here. I'm creating an awesome aquarium setup. I took a little while in proceeding with this thread because I wanted to make sure I had my needs well thought out. I need to have two electrodes that, when in contact with a bubble in the aquarium...
  10. M

    I need to hire someone for a logic design

    I guess I could. I'm such a n00b with logic circuits that tackling it myself seems daunting. But maybe it's possible. I'll get the specs together.
  11. M

    I need to hire someone for a logic design

    I'm building a project that will require at least one, and maybe two, automated processes involving logic circuits and a DC power source (with a wall wart) with a battery backup. It(they) will be simple, but are beyond my capabilities. If anyone is interested, PM me. Thanks.
  12. M

    incorrect load on soldering iron transformer?

    I have read a fair amount about vacuum tube amplifiers. One thing that is of importance in such devices is having a proper load hooked to the transformer. If the impedance is wrong, there is no speaker hooked up, etc., the transformer can be seriously damaged. Which makes me wonder about my...
  13. M

    can I use this wire?

    The motor will only run for, at most, 5 min every hour. More realistically, it will run for 20 sec./Hr. You don't still think that I'd need a thermal fuse, do you?
  14. M

    can I use this wire?

    Hi, I'm wiring up two motors for an automatic fish feeder for an aquarium. Given the nature of the project, the device will frequently see use while not attended. Therefore, it is vitally important that it not catch fire. The motor that draws more current has a stall current of 800 mA, with...
  15. M

    measure current drawn while using pulse width modulator?

    thanks
  16. M

    measure current drawn while using pulse width modulator?

    I have a motor hooked up to a pulse width modulator. How would I measure current draw at partial duty? At 100%, it's easy enough. I don't have an oscilloscope, so I can't determine the pulse width at a given setting. If I am at a duty percentage less than 100%, and I take a current reading...
  17. M

    Ratings for AC vs DC devices

    ok, thanks. I'm thinking of using (as was mentioned in my other thread) AC plugs for DC wires. However, I started a new thread since I'm wondering if there are any general rules regarding this. It seems that there are, and that you explained them.
  18. M

    Ratings for AC vs DC devices

    If an AC device is rated for a certain voltage and amperage, can these ratings be assumed to hold true for DC devices as well? What about vice versa? E.g., if an AC plug is rated for "x" amps, could the rating of "x" amps be considered to hold true in DC applications as well? Thanks.
  19. M

    AC plug for DC purpose?

    The connectors I am using (made for DC) attach to wire via solder. The wire pulled out of the solder. This might be solved to some degree by separating the strands of wire from each other prior to soldering. If I were to support the wire, I'd have to jerry rig something. The plug in the...
  20. M

    AC plug for DC purpose?

    I have a trolling motor to which I'm hooking up a Pulse Width Modulator. I have installed plugs meant for DC purposes, but am not happy with them. These plugs use a solder connection to wire, which has failed twice already. I'd rather screw a wire down than solder it. Furthermore, the plugs...
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