Flip Flop

[GBOOST]

My advise would be if you don't know much about electrics, to just buy one. Its only like $400 usd or something, the dollar is over 90c at the moment, its hardly expensive. I COULD make it, but for the price, it isn't worth the time and hassle, I'd rather buy a proven and tested product with 1000's of hours of field testing.

 

GB

[iamnotacop]

Its only like $400 usd or something, the dollar is over 90c at the moment, its hardly expensive. I COULD make it, but for the price, it isn't worth the time and hassle, I'd rather buy a proven

 

To me 400 is pretty damn expensive as I am near convinced that it would not cost that much to build. I would prefer to learn how to build one as then I can build another one if I ever want to. Knowing how to do it is worth enough to me.

 

I just need to make sure I do it right so that I don't burn anything down. That requires advice from people with experience.

 

 

=====

 

Question.....

 

Could you cut the end off of a lamp lead and then attach a normal extension cord male end fitting, which could then attach to the flipflop with a normal female plug as opposed to the ones with the holes in them? I can't see why not, but asking doesn't cost anything either.

[MongyMan]

I can't get a camera atm.....when I do I'll do a thread showing how to build them

 

 

That's the relays I use...relay ....hope that helps a bit for now.

 

 

Peace MongyMan

[GBOOST]

If I were building it myself, I would save the extra connections and hard wire the leads straight to the relays. A jiffy box is only 4 screws to take the lid off if you ever want to change it for some reason. I think you'd find if you looked hard enough on google and us forums you'd find the femail plug for the lamp lead as well anyway, one of those links I gave you had flying leads with femail plugs on the ends, so they must be available.

 

GB

[MongyMan]

You can buy extension leads with round earth plugs.... You need 2 of them, a relay, a box to house the relay and a standard earth pin male plug.

 

 

They are easy to make. Still trying to borrow a camera, and will post a thread when I can.

[iamnotacop]

I thankyou for your help, it is greatly appreciated. I just got a friend to order two of those relays from that website you mentioned MongyMan, so I now have a financial interest in getting this thing made. I will get a couple of those extension leads, the box to hold it all and the standard male extension cord end from bunnings next time I am in town, maybe a week or two.

 

<edit>

 

I think I understand it. Basically, the ballast wires into the relay on one side and the other side of the relay is wired to lampA and lampB. so the relay is kind of like a switchable double adapter? Then power is introduced to the relay (from a timer on 12/12) and that is what activates the switch on the relay either on or off thereby changing from LampA to LampB? Ahh, how simple.

Edited May 3, 2010 by iamnotacop

[iamnotacop]

OK, so I am thinking of using this gutted power supply. I can plug the timer into the wall, and then the computer cable from that to this power supply.

The brown and blue wires would need to be attached to one relay, and then more wire added to connect the other relay to the same pins? (so that the relays either get power or not.)

 

So assuming Ballast One lead was connected to the relay on the left, which pins would the brown and blue wires connect to?

And then which pins on the relay on the left would "Ballast One - Lead to Light 1A" and "Ballast One - Lead to Light 1B" attach to?.

 

Would it be safe to assume it would be the same with the other relay using Ballast Two lead and then the two Ballast Two leads?

 

Also, could I just have one "earth" bolt attached to the power supply caseing and then attach all the yellow/green earth wires from both ballast leads and all four of the lead to lights? . If not where do the earth wires from each of the leads go.

 

I think that is it for now.

 

Any assistance is appreciated, especially advice obtained from experience.

[The Hash Nibbler]

Dude, top marks for making your own flip-flop but be careful, 240v is not a thing to be messed with lightly. check, double check, triple check everything you do. check your relays are rated for the power you wish to flow through them and the amp rating is right. At the end of the day if you are concerned, take it to a sparky, don't mention what it is for just that it is a relay switching device and you want to make sure the wiring is correct. If I was you, for peace of mind and your own safety, where the power goes into the unit, for gods sake put an RCD in line, I f your in an old house that does not have them on the main board this is a MUST!

Well I hope it goes well for you and I'm sure there are some sparkys on here that will help you out, I have an electronics background and I would still rather buy one than risk myself, my grow and potentially my house. Goodluck man. GH72

[iamnotacop]

your sig says it all - "If it's Worth doing, it's worth getting it RIGHT the first time".

 

 

I agree about being carefull, but I still want to have a go myself. Did you look at the relay that Mongy linked to and do you think it is rated to do the job?? 240 volts and 30A seem about right to me, as in only running either 2 600's or t 1000 watters.

 

One other question, on the relay do the wires from the leads get soldered into the holes on each pin, or do you get the little spade adapter thingies? I can't see why soldering them would hurt.

 

And, if it is only electricity, then it has known science behind it, so as long as everything is logically set up then what can go wrong??trip switches are designed to be tripped. Also, if I am not doing anything illegal, and my house burns down then the insurance would get me a nice double story place with a big privacy fence. Although I know that by building it myself then the insurance may be dubious, I will have to check that out. But if it is built and it works and does not trip or start any fires then I could take it to a qualified elecctrician and certified,? No/maybe? surely. Once again, back to your sig about doing it right the first time.

 

thanks for the well wishes.

[iamnotacop]

 

My mate got these four cables for me, charged me 20 each, not bad considering the hardware stores had none. I stripped them and marked them for visible aides. I can solder these ends straight to the pins? yes?

 

And about the yellow/green earth wires, can I just attach the donut shaped bits and attach them to a bolt in the chassis of my power supply?? maybe a couple of bolts.