Your choice of one or two complete VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED SWITCHES in one package - Perfect for
building thermostats, automatic battery disconnects, light level
sensors,
current-controlled switches, charge controllers, humidistats...plus a
million other uses!
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Dual-Channel equivalent circuit shown
(Single-Channel version is similar)
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Product
Overview
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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION - Pro-VCS™
(“Programmable
Voltage-Controlled Switch”)
consists of one or two voltage-controlled switches driving a pair of power relays,
packaged inside a small, epoxy-encapusulated
enclosure. Each switch/relay combination (or
“Channel”) is
independently programmable for turn-on and turn-off input voltages over
a range of either 0-5 or 0-20 volts DC. Programming either channel is
quick and easy - simply press the SET
Von or SET
Voff
buttons whenever the desired input turn-on or turn-off voltages are
present. The unit “memorizes” these settings,
retaining
them even after the DC supply is removed.
The output of each channel is a single-pole double-throw relay, capable
of handling resistive loads of up to 10 amps at 120/240 VAC or 12 VDC.
Although the dual-chanel version is factory-configured so that each relay operates
independently, a user-configurable "strapping" option allows both
relays to be controlled by the same channel instead.
Both relays use latching contacts, and thus only consume DC power for
the small fraction of a second when they are actually changing states -
The rest of the time, they draw no power whatsoever. The entire unit
been
designed for minimal power consumption, only drawing approximately 5 mA
of supply current at 12.8 VDC (including the LED indicator lights).
This makes it ideal for battery-powered applications.
Although designed for use with a
nominal 12.8 volt DC power source, Pro-VCS™
can be operated on 7.5 to 20 VDC.
HOW
IT WORKS – Pro-VCS™
uses an 8-bit microcontroller with a built-in analog-to-digital
converter (or “ADC”) that continuously measures
both input
voltages. Whenever these voltages precisely match the turn-on or
turn-off voltages programmed into the microcontroller, it turns the
corresponding relay on or off. The ADC has a resolution of 10 bits,
which means that Pro-VCS™
is capable of discerning voltage differences as small as approximately
0.02 volts at either 0-20 volt input, or approx. 0.005 volts at either
0-5 volt input. The 0-5 volt inputs are fed directly to the ADC; the
0-20 volt inputs are first scaled to 0-5 volts with a built-in
resistive voltage divider. Both ADC inputs share a common "Analog
Ground"
connection.
As a precaution against
accidentally changing the turn-on or turn-off
voltage
settings, the buttons only respond to a long keypress (approx. 2
seconds). Once programmed, the settings are stored in EEPROM memory,
and are retained
regardless of whether or not DC power is present.
A regulated 5 volt reference voltage output terminal is provided,
making it very easy to connect Pro-VCS™
to potentiometers, thermistors, photoresistors, phototransistors,
pressure transducers, humidity sensors or other input devices
–
In some cases, no components other than the sensor itself are necessary
to complete the circuit.
One
10K Ohm NTC thermistor is included, allowing the unit to be
configured as a thermostat, right out-of-the-box - No additional parts
required.
Pro-VCS™ is backed by a 1-year warranty.
(Click HERE
for product specifications)
(Click HERE
to download the installation and operating instructions).
(Click HERE
for Frequently-Asked Questions about the product).
(Click HERE
to download a product brochure). |
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