Electronics Gurus -12v PLC
Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 20, 2015 at 19:45
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Tim
So I have put a roof cage on the chariot and currently have a led light bar mounted up there but I am looking at also installing a solar panel, some smaller led work lights and an led strip light for my awning. Rather then running a new cable up to the cage for every device I am thinking that their must be a product available so I can run a large supply cable up there as
well as a cat5 or similar to control everything. Obviously there would be a control box under the bonnet and another on the roof cage but I think this would be still easier then running 4 or 5 cables up there.
I know companies like
hazard make a light bar controller which is used by emergency
services but I was wondering if anyone knows of anything else available as I am not to keen on installing a
hazard system in my private vehicle. Or should I go down to jaycar and build it from scratch?
Thanks
Tim
Reply By: Member - Wide ranger - Tuesday, Jan 20, 2015 at 20:41
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2015 at 20:41
You really are talking about a small or even a micro PLC ,
In 12v DC you are asking a lot .
There is a few micro controllers that will run at that , the Siemens LOGO! is one that stands out .
But , and here is the rub , you will struggle to do it for less that about $350 and even then you have not a lot of budget higher current switching devices .
Why not try this ?
Run a 20 amp supply and up at the top fit a small relay panel or box , then the wires to operate the relays can be a fine gauge like 0.3sq mm , security cable or LAN cable ,
that sort of thing . Then inside the cabin you will have a main power fuse and then maybe some rocker switches like those nice ones from Custom Rockers , and then a control fuse . This all means running a few more wires than you wanted but , it works and its inexpensive and can be easily sorted when things go pear shaped out in the back of beyond .
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Follow Up By: Tim - Tuesday, Jan 20, 2015 at 20:45
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2015 at 20:45
That was the sort of thing I was thinking of, getting a bread board(?) and designing my own control board and mounting it in an ip rated j box. A data cable would give me 7 or 8 available inputs/outputs.
Tim
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Reply By: Robin Miller - Wednesday, Jan 21, 2015 at 07:56
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2015 at 07:56
This is how I do those sorts of things and its very cheap , this one can switch 7 small relays , or easily handle a combination of up to seven inputs or outputs.
http://www.picaxe.com/docs/axe117.pdf
Actually picaxe is a whole system that is easy to get into and includes simple software and a range of simpler and more complex kits .
However in your case I probably would not approach the problem that way and would run seperate sized cables , each fused with switches inside the car, for each device.
This will prove to be more robust over time.
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