
Using Relays — SIK Circuit 13
ការណែនាំ
Parts & Introduction
Parts & Introduction
A relay is an electrically-operated mechanical switch. A small current energizes a coil that physically moves a contact arm, switching a separate circuit. Relays can control high-power devices (motors, lights, appliances) from low-power Arduino signals. This experiment uses an SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw) relay to alternate between two LEDs.
Parts Needed
- 1x Arduino Uno + USB cable
- 1x Breadboard
- 1x SPDT Relay
- 1x NPN Transistor (P2N2222A)
- 1x Diode (1N4148)
- 2x LEDs (different colors)
- 2x 330Ω Resistors
- 14x Jumper Wires
Materials for this step:
SparkFun Inventors Kit - V3.21 kit
330 Ohm Resistor2 pieces
Jumper Wires8 piecesTools needed:
Hardware Hookup
Hardware Hookup
Wiring Instructions
Transistor + Relay Coil
- Connect transistor Base through 330Ω resistor to Arduino Digital Pin 2.
- Connect transistor Emitter to GND.
- Connect one side of the relay coil to transistor Collector.
- Connect other side of relay coil to 5V.
- Flyback Diode: Band (cathode) to 5V, anode to Collector.
Relay Contacts + LEDs
- Connect relay COMMON through a 330Ω resistor to 5V.
- Connect relay NC (Normally Closed) to LED 1 positive leg.
- Connect relay NO (Normally Open) to LED 2 positive leg.
- Connect both LED negative legs to GND.
Materials for this step:
330 Ohm Resistor2 pieces
Jumper Wires8 piecesArduino Code
Arduino Code
Open the Arduino IDE and upload the following sketch to your Arduino board.
Materials for this step:
Tools needed:
Test & Experiment
Test & Experiment
What You Should See
You should hear the relay clicking, and see the two LEDs alternating — one on, one off — switching every second.
Troubleshooting
- LEDs not lighting: Check LED polarity — longer leg is positive.
- No clicking sound: The transistor or coil circuit isn't working. Verify transistor orientation and coil connections.
- Relay not making good contact: The SIK relay is designed for soldering, not breadboarding. Press it firmly to ensure all pins contact.
- Confusion: Don't mix up the TMP36 temperature sensor with the transistor!
Experiments to Try
- Replace the LEDs with a motor on the NO contact — use the relay as a motor on/off switch.
- Use a button to control when the relay toggles.
- Add variable delay to create morse code patterns.
សម្ភារៈ
9- $105.00
- SPDT Relay1 piece
- $3.00
- $5.00
CC0 សាធារណៈ
ប្លង់នេះត្រូវបានចេញផ្សាយក្រោម CC0។ អ្នកមានសិទ្ធិចម្លង កែប្រែ ចែកចាយ និងប្រើប្រាស់ដោយមិនចាំបាច់សុំអនុញ្ញាត។
គាំទ្រអ្នកបង្កើតដោយទិញផលិតផលតាមរយៈប្លង់របស់ពួកគេ ដែលពួកគេទទួលបាន កម្រៃជើងសារអ្នកបង្កើត កំណត់ដោយអ្នកលក់ ឬបង្កើតកំណែថ្មីនៃប្លង់នេះ ហើយបញ្ចូលជាការតភ្ជាប់ក្នុងប្លង់របស់អ្នកដើម្បីចែករំលែកចំណូល។