OUTPUT RELAYS

OUTPUT RELAYS

Simple reed relays, driven by either bipolar transistors or fets. Both types are used. Both types work well. The transistors are cheaper, but require a base resistor.

DIP sockets

Each Relay Output also has a visual onboard LED.

Reed Relays
Reed Relays use unregulated system 12v: not the regulated 5volts.
Spiking is thus kept out of all onboard electronics, and this keeps spikes and current drain out of the onboard internal 5v.
And, of course, the relays never send out or dispatch internal voltages to the external world of equipment. This could compromise the system. Instead, a module only supplies an isolated contact closure to external circuits.

Years ago, I experimented with HEXFETs as output control. After all, I had all kinds of broadcast equipment to experiment with. With proper design, and carefull consideration to voltages and currents, FET switches will work for a while. FETs are cheaper and smaller, and always work fine on paper. They usually fail in the shorted condition, resulting in run away equipment. I have learned that FETs can not be placed near equipment, especially if that equipment is to be used or turned on.

7) And the Lord said unto Satan,
Whence comest thou?
Then Satan answered the Lord, and said,
From going to and fro in the earth,
and from walking up and down in it.

Job

The catagory is broad, but they will fail due to "Acts of God".

Also, I have lost many due to lightning, but only during those times when the lightning was deemed an "act of God".

To be fair, Fets work great and are extremely reliable when not interfaced to external worlds.

Isolated dry contracts for control.

Autonomous Systems