K2633 Velleman Relay Board

[Halloween_SoCal]

Has anyone had success hooking up a K2633 relay board to a Prop-1?   For the life of me, I can not get it to work with the Prop-1 controller.   My code works and I have the board setup right.  The LED's on the K2633 light up in sync with the Prop-1 code, but the relays do not engage.

Hook up:
I have 9VDV going to the Prop-1 and to the K2633 (same source).
From there, I set the Prop-1 on position 1 and hook up voltage from the K2633 to the V+ and GND. From there, I have four commands to trigger the prop-1, which should feedback the 9V to the K2633 and trigger the relay.

Only thing that happens is the LED's on the K2633 light up in sync with the commands from the Prop-1 controller.

Just see if anyone else has used one of these before.

Thanks
JD

[JonnyMac]

It is always helpful to provide documentation (or links to it) for non-EFX-TEK products.  I'm on my way out this moment, but will check back when I return; please post the docs for that device, or a suitable link.  There are plenty of us here who will help you if you don't make us go on a wild goose chase to do it.  ;)

[Halloween_SoCal]

My bad.  Here are the links to the documentation and the product itself.  I tried to attach the manual, but its to big.  Really appreciate the help!

JD

http://www.vellemanusa.com/downloads/0/illustrated/illustrated_assembly_manual_k2633_rev1.pdf

Manual

http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/product/view/?id=350503

Product

[JonnyMac]

Hopefully you installed the Rx resistors on the K2633.  You can take power from the Prop-1, V+ and GND terminals (connect to terminals of the same name on the K2633), then connect OUT0 to IN1, OUT1, to IN2, OUT2 to IN3, and OUT3 to IN4.  Remember, the V+ terminal is only active when the Prop-1 power switch is in position P2.  The INx connections on the K2633 are looking for an active-low signal, and that's what you get from the Prop-1's OUTx terminals.

[Halloween_SoCal]

Thanks for the speedy reply.  Yes, the K2633 was built complete.   What I did:

P2633                                          Prop 1
+VDC - goes to power source
+VDC - goes to the Prop 1 V+ with the switch in the 1 position
GND - goes to the Prop 1 GND

I have OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, and OUT4 assigned to trigger the 1,2,3 &4 to trigger the relays.

All seems to be okay with the program for it does light up the LED's on the K2633 board. 

I am going to take a reading on the Prop-1 Out ports to see if they are pushing 9VDC.

And I am going to short the K2633 to see if they are working properly.

JD

[JonnyMac]

You can't power the Prop-1 from its V+ connector, is that what you're trying to do?  If so, don't.  Connect a transformer to the Prop-1 power jack and then you can pull power for the relay board from V+ when the power switch is in position 2.

And you won't find 9 VDC on the OUTx terminals; they either float (when off) or go to ground (when on) -- the ULN is a low-side driver.  The high side is provided by V+.

[Halloween_SoCal]

No, we have a power source hooked up to the 2.1MM power connector.   And did what you suggested with running power from the GND and +V to the K2633 power port.  Same situation.  Last night I did run it by a friend of mine who works for JPL - NASA and he did some quick tests and said everything looks in order and the relays should work.  Probing further, he thinks there may be a problem with the resistors so where going to swap out the resistors R5...R8 with 1K resistors.  I guess next time I will go with the RC-4 and have it run the prop.

Thanks for all your help!

JD - From - what's left of San Diego

[JonnyMac]

JD,

There is a bit of a voltage drop across the ULN, so reducing the input resistor might be enough to bias the transistors so they'll conduct.  I would be inclined to use 470-ohm series resistors; this will let ~13 mA run through the LED and is plenty of current to saturate the transistor.

Be safe.  Here in the San Fernando valley we can see smoke from all sides but, thankfully, aren't in any danger.

Jon