Need electrical help

[DJRiful]

This can be done with Arduino >.> I guess? just sensors and commands.

[JaskarnSidhu]

I dont know what Arduino is, can you explain?

[gdesmo]

Arduino's are a set of PCB boards used in robotics and do-it-yourseif projects with integrated circuits for many different applications. Motor controls-step up transformers-electronic switching and many other cool little projects. I thought a little more about your situation and had a thought about using an Aquacomputer flow sensor with flow meter and low flow alarm. You could set it for the alarm to go off at a certain low flow rate and pick off the alarm power to shut off the compressor via a relay.

[JaskarnSidhu]

Can you explain this a bit more I don't quite understand. So I would have a flow switch that would shut the compressor off and a flow meter that would sound an alarm if I had low flow? Or would the slow switch open cause the alarm?

[gdesmo]

Aquacomputer has a flow sensor that has an alarm built into it. You can program the sensor with one of their free downloads and use the alarm output to trigger a relay that could shut off the compressor. Would be compact, cheaper and a more elegant way of doing it, Daz carries the in-line sensor unit but is currently out of stock. Sure it can be ordered in though.

[gdesmo]

Me too... but that was for buying a copy of Anarchist Cookbook...

I'm on the Homeland Security List because I ordered and imported some adjustable Meanwell power supplies. Had to sign and declare a few documents to assure them I was using them for personal use and that there was no chance that I would export them to a restricted Country. Paranoid or what !

[JaskarnSidhu]

ok.

I would still need control voltage and a contactor right? 24VAC for the relay and a contactor set to pull in when the compressor has to turn on.

[gdesmo]

Yes !

[JaskarnSidhu]

This is where I need more help with.

I dont know what size or type of relay to get. I can pick up a 120/24V AC step down transformer for my control voltage, but beyond that I dont know too much about electrical.

What size or type of contactor would I need?

[JaskarnSidhu]

I really do appreciate all the help am Im getting from everyone, especially you Gdesmo.

[JaskarnSidhu]

I've been doing some more research on flow switches as well as looking into this aquacomputer thing. What I need is for this flow switch and relay and contactor to be all co-located in the same enclosure, which is the water chiller. The aquacomputer looks to be designed to fit inside of a computer case and run off of DC voltage.

Im looking for something I can keep in the water chiller case, and keep separate from my computer. I would prefer a simple flow switch, with a relay and contactor, all operating on AC voltage.

[stephen]

http://www.spaandpoolsource.com/6560...mpsystems.aspx

might be able to use a spa flow switch i just dont know how much gallons per minute would require to close the switch

as for contactor youll want minimum of 20 amps as compressors and motors have a high inrush current

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-40-amp-2...-/261319817496
something similar to this.

you can probably just use a 120v coil with that switch as it wont much current draw on the coil then you wont need transformer either

[JaskarnSidhu]

http://www.spaandpoolsource.com/6560...mpsystems.aspx

might be able to use a spa flow switch i just dont know how much gallons per minute would require to close the switch

as for contactor youll want minimum of 20 amps as compressors and motors have a high inrush current

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-40-amp-2...-/261319817496
something similar to this.

you can probably just use a 120v coil with that switch as it wont much current draw on the coil then you wont need transformer either

So if i find a 120v relay you mean I wont need a transformer? or is there a contactor that I buy that has a 120V coil on it already?

[stephen]

relay's are for low amps like 1-10ish

contactors are heavy loads espically compressor and motors

but yes you can get contactors with 120v coils the one i posted is, you most likely wont find a single pole one but two is fine.

threw a digram together if it helps you

[JaskarnSidhu]

Thank you Stephen. That is perfect and exactly what i needed to see.