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  1. Home
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  3. Safe In-Wall AC to DC Transformers??

Safe In-Wall AC to DC Transformers??

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  • rvendrameR rvendrame

    @ServiceXp , no oscilloscope. I was Cheking why the power sensor was measuring 10w instead 3w or less.

    The CT sensor was around the mains phase wire, and the psu was powering the sensor. I didn't change anything , just multimeter readings on DC side. Didn't touch the ac mains except to insert the current transformer around it.

    I also connected a light bulb on same wire, in order to generate some load. The sensor was measuring the bulb correctly, however when the bulb was disconnected it read 10w, away too much for only an arduino.

    YveauxY Offline
    YveauxY Offline
    Yveaux
    Mod
    wrote on last edited by
    #185

    @rvendrame I'm not sure if I really get your setup, but ground loops can be a very nifty cause of all kinds of stuff getting 'too hot' :grimacing:

    Could this be the cause of the problem?

    That 0 ohms resistor also looks like it been fried. What's its use on the board?

    http://yveaux.blogspot.nl

    1 Reply Last reply
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    • rvendrameR rvendrame

      @ServiceXp , no oscilloscope. I was Cheking why the power sensor was measuring 10w instead 3w or less.

      The CT sensor was around the mains phase wire, and the psu was powering the sensor. I didn't change anything , just multimeter readings on DC side. Didn't touch the ac mains except to insert the current transformer around it.

      I also connected a light bulb on same wire, in order to generate some load. The sensor was measuring the bulb correctly, however when the bulb was disconnected it read 10w, away too much for only an arduino.

      RJ_MakeR Offline
      RJ_MakeR Offline
      RJ_Make
      Hero Member
      wrote on last edited by RJ_Make
      #186

      @rvendrame Hard to say then, but I'd bet an ice cream sandwich that something went to ground/neutral. It's the high voltage side that is blown out of that rectifier.. You may never know what the cause was.

      RJ_Make

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      • petewillP petewill

        Does anyone know of any 120V AC to 5V DC transformers that are safe to put in a wall electrical box? I have been using old cell phone chargers for most of my projects but I was recently pondering putting something right in the wall. Since shipping can take so long I thought I'd ask now before I even start on the project.

        I did some searching and couldn't find anything so I thought I'd ask the experts here.

        Thanks in advance!

        EDIT 9/7/2016
        Watch out for Fakes! Read more here: https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/1607/safe-in-wall-ac-to-dc-transformers/355
        If in doubt you can get them directly from the vendor here: http://www.hlktech.net/product.php?CateId=10

        EDIT 12/28/2015
        After MUCH discussion on this here are the findings of this thread (as of now):

        Here is the diagram for how things should be wired:
        HLK-PM01-Wiring.jpg

        These are the parts I ordered. I haven't tested any of these parts yet as this project has been put on the back burner for now :(. I am in the USA so this is spec'd for 120 VAC. If you're using 240 you will need to change the size of the Varistor but everything else should be fine for 240.

        Also, see these posts for more discussion/ideas if interested:
        http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/1540/110v-230v-ac-to-mysensors-pcb-board
        http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/2488/in-wall-pcb

        Varistor for 120VAC - http://www.ebay.com/itm/321024816822?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

        73°C Thermal Fuse - http://www.ebay.com/itm/221560426284?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=520415979885&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

        250V 300mA Slow Blow Fuse - http://www.ebay.com/itm/111433875797?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=410420838583&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

        HLK-PM01 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/351418782712?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

        Pete

        J Offline
        J Offline
        jemish
        wrote on last edited by
        #187

        @petewill when you start home automation at that time please share photos wit me.
        how to setup the no. of relay, power supply, arduino, radio etc in WALL box.

        petewillP 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • J jemish

          @petewill when you start home automation at that time please share photos wit me.
          how to setup the no. of relay, power supply, arduino, radio etc in WALL box.

          petewillP Offline
          petewillP Offline
          petewill
          Admin
          wrote on last edited by
          #188

          @jemish yes, that's the plan. Once all the geniuses figure out how to do it I plan on making a how to video :)

          My "How To" home automation video channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq_Evyh5PQALx4m4CQuxqkA

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          • B Offline
            B Offline
            Bertb
            wrote on last edited by
            #189

            Is there any news from the test guy?

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • J Offline
              J Offline
              jemish
              wrote on last edited by
              #190

              yes , is there any news

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • Moshe LivneM Offline
                Moshe LivneM Offline
                Moshe Livne
                Hero Member
                wrote on last edited by
                #191

                @Didi, did you end up doing horrible things to these? You said something about flashbox?

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • Z Offline
                  Z Offline
                  Zeph
                  Hero Member
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #192

                  If the fellow behind http://lygte-info.dk/info/usbPowerSupplyTestHow UK.html posts good results on his website, the supply chain should prepare for a flood of orders! I've seen those tests widely referenced, and I think a lot of people are looking for something safer but still cheap.

                  Don't be surprised if a positive review made it to HackaDay and the like as well.

                  (Get your ali orders in now, beat the rush - if you think it will come out well)

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • Talat KeleşT Offline
                    Talat KeleşT Offline
                    Talat Keleş
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #193

                    I'm also looking forward about test results. I've seen the module however never totally trusted; until I found this topic. The price and size are perfect for under-socket installation. If further results come out good, I'm eager to see in-wall projects.

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                    • C Offline
                      C Offline
                      ceech
                      Hardware Contributor
                      wrote on last edited by ceech
                      #194

                      This one is not "safe", but it is an In-Wall AC to DC converter. Transformerless. With a 3A Solid state relay:

                      2015-08-21T12-11-1.jpg

                      2015-08.jpg

                      The converter output is 3.3V at 100mA and the solid state relay is a Triac.

                      F schroecaS 2 Replies Last reply
                      0
                      • B Offline
                        B Offline
                        Bertb
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #195

                        Looks very nice, but you cannot use it for sensors or actuators that can be touched by hand and do not comply with the insulation standards, since parts of it will be connected to mains.

                        C 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • B Bertb

                          Looks very nice, but you cannot use it for sensors or actuators that can be touched by hand and do not comply with the insulation standards, since parts of it will be connected to mains.

                          C Offline
                          C Offline
                          ceech
                          Hardware Contributor
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #196

                          @Bertb Yes, it shouldn't be touched. It can be used with wall-mounted mains switches, though. Placed behind it.

                          DrJeffD 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • TD22057T Offline
                            TD22057T Offline
                            TD22057
                            Hardware Contributor
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #197

                            Did anyone look at the SwitchMote PSU over at LowerPowerLab? More info here. The kit is fairly expensive ($30) but I wonder how much it would be to source the components yourself since someone else has done all the design work.

                            YveauxY 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • TD22057T TD22057

                              Did anyone look at the SwitchMote PSU over at LowerPowerLab? More info here. The kit is fairly expensive ($30) but I wonder how much it would be to source the components yourself since someone else has done all the design work.

                              YveauxY Offline
                              YveauxY Offline
                              Yveaux
                              Mod
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #198

                              @TD22057 I would say the cost of this PSU is dominated by the Recom converter onboard. Farnell charges E14,58 for single pieces (http://nl.farnell.com/recom-power/rac02-05sc/ac-dc-converter-2w-5v-reg/dp/1903060?searchRef=SearchLookAhead).
                              Rest of the components will be a few Euro's, and ofcourse the PCB (which contains a number of milled slots for isolation).
                              All together you will get fairly close to $30 when building it yourself.

                              http://yveaux.blogspot.nl

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                              • C ceech

                                @Bertb Yes, it shouldn't be touched. It can be used with wall-mounted mains switches, though. Placed behind it.

                                DrJeffD Offline
                                DrJeffD Offline
                                DrJeff
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #199

                                @ceech said:

                                Yes, it shouldn't be touched

                                Nice! just label board !LIVE!

                                Not safe due to no fuse? Do share, making your own boards with solder mask?

                                YveauxY 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • DrJeffD DrJeff

                                  @ceech said:

                                  Yes, it shouldn't be touched

                                  Nice! just label board !LIVE!

                                  Not safe due to no fuse? Do share, making your own boards with solder mask?

                                  YveauxY Offline
                                  YveauxY Offline
                                  Yveaux
                                  Mod
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #200

                                  @DrJeff the board is not isolated from mains by e.g a transformer. This means traces carry live mains!

                                  http://yveaux.blogspot.nl

                                  1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • DrJeffD Offline
                                    DrJeffD Offline
                                    DrJeff
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #201

                                    So basically it is like any other consumer Zwave switch or X10 just box it up (3D printer on stand by) with 2 micro buttons with a rocker face and I want 10. :) But sorry I digressed from the OP in my excitement.

                                    C 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • DrJeffD DrJeff

                                      So basically it is like any other consumer Zwave switch or X10 just box it up (3D printer on stand by) with 2 micro buttons with a rocker face and I want 10. :) But sorry I digressed from the OP in my excitement.

                                      C Offline
                                      C Offline
                                      ceech
                                      Hardware Contributor
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #202

                                      @DrJeff As @Yveaux said the board does not have an insulation transformer. Yes, I make them. And it works fine, placed inside an enclosure is as safe as it could be. Would you make a box for it? I can send you one board if you like, for the measures.

                                      DrJeffD 1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • C ceech

                                        @DrJeff As @Yveaux said the board does not have an insulation transformer. Yes, I make them. And it works fine, placed inside an enclosure is as safe as it could be. Would you make a box for it? I can send you one board if you like, for the measures.

                                        DrJeffD Offline
                                        DrJeffD Offline
                                        DrJeff
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #203

                                        @ceech Yes I like the idea of course the board would be housed inside of a box, my idea is to incorporate the box with a daughter board with 2 push buttons on and off like Zwave switches use. Yes please send me, if you are worried I will use safely I was taught to work on all power 120v - 480v as if it is live so that you remain alive!

                                        C 1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • DrJeffD DrJeff

                                          @ceech Yes I like the idea of course the board would be housed inside of a box, my idea is to incorporate the box with a daughter board with 2 push buttons on and off like Zwave switches use. Yes please send me, if you are worried I will use safely I was taught to work on all power 120v - 480v as if it is live so that you remain alive!

                                          C Offline
                                          C Offline
                                          ceech
                                          Hardware Contributor
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #204

                                          @DrJeff All right, send me a message with your address and I'll send you one.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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