- #1
zeb
- 33
- 0
I have a circuit with a 13.8v DC output that powers a solenoid. I'm not sure what the current draw of the solenoid is, but it's probably not much. I would like to have a 3W light come on when the solenoid is energized. The problem is that the circuit is very old and is known to have very low tolerances for current. I'm afraid of the bulb drawing too much current and blowing components in the circuit. (In fact, there are 2 other outputs on this circuit with known current limits - the acceptable range for those is 160-200 mA. If you draw more than 220-230 mA, it will blow the circuit.)
So my first thought was to use a normal SPST electromagnetic relay to isolate the light from the output of the circuit, but then I got to thinking that the relay probably has it's own current draw. Someone recommended that I look into a CMOS Flip Flop to use instead of a relay. He said that it has practically no current draw. I started reading up on those but feel like I've gotten a little over my head.
Are there any simple solid state relays, or other circuits that will perform like a SPST relay, but with absolute minimum current draw?
So my first thought was to use a normal SPST electromagnetic relay to isolate the light from the output of the circuit, but then I got to thinking that the relay probably has it's own current draw. Someone recommended that I look into a CMOS Flip Flop to use instead of a relay. He said that it has practically no current draw. I started reading up on those but feel like I've gotten a little over my head.
Are there any simple solid state relays, or other circuits that will perform like a SPST relay, but with absolute minimum current draw?