Selecting a PowerSwitch Tail

PowerSwitch Tail has a built-in AC relay that is activated between 3-12 VDC. This is designed to easily integrate with many microcontroller platforms, such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, and so on. Usually, Arduino digital output provides 5VDC that allows it to activate the AC (Alternative Current) relay inside the PowerSwitch Tail. Using a PowerSwitch Tail with your microcontroller projects provides safety since it distinguishes between AC and DC circuitry by using an optocoupler which is an optically activated switch.

PowerSwitch Tail ships in several variants. At the time of writing this book, the product website lists various PowerSwitch Tails, assembled and in kit form, that can be used with this project.

To build this project, we will use a 240V AC PowerSwitch Tail that can be purchased as a kit and assembled.

PN PSSRKT-240

Refer to http://www.powerswitchtail.com/Pages/PowerSwitchTail240vackit.aspx.

PN PSSRKT-240 Normally Open (NO) version—240V AC Image courtesy of PowerSwitchTail.com, LLC (http://www.powerswitchtail.com)

Here, we will not cover the assembly instructions about the PN PSSRKT-240 kit. However, you can find the assembly instructions at http://www.powerswitchtail.com/Documents/PSSRTK%20Instructions.pdf.

The following image shows an assembled PN PSSRKT-240 kit:

PN PSSRKT-240 Normally Open (NO) version—240V Image courtesy of PowerSwitchTail.com, LLC (http://www.powerswitchtail.com)

PN PSSRKT-240 Normally Open (NO) version—240V Image courtesy of PowerSwitchTail.com, LLC (http://www.powerswitchtail.com)

If you are in a country that has a 120V AC connection, you can purchase an assembled version of the PowerSwitch Tail.

PN80135

Refer to http://www.powerswitchtail.com/Pages/default.aspx.

PN80135 Normally Open (NO) version—120V AC (left-hand side plug for LOAD and right-hand side plug for LINE) Image courtesy of SparkFun Electronics (https://www.sparkfun.com)