06-15-2010, 02:54 PM
For what it is worth, here is a schematic of the uncoupler control circuit.
It contains circuitry to allow only one magnet to be energized at any given time. The purpose of this is to prevent overloading the power supply. For example, say we have a 24 vdc 2 amp supply. Each magnet will draw 1.5 amps. If two magnets were turned on at the same time, we would overload the supply with 3 amps. The Master Relay and its associated normally-closed contact control this.
The purpose of the On-Delay Timer and its associated normally-closed contact is to turn the magnet off after 5 seconds.
Note that the Timer and the Master Relay are located at the Control Cabinet. All we need is one of each regardless of how many electromagnets we have.
At each magnet location, we have a momentary pushbutton and a control relay with two contacts. The relay is used to "latch" the magnet on when the button is pushed, allowing the magnet to remain energized when the button is released. The On Delay Timer will turn the magnet off after 5 seconds as mentioned above.
The vertical colored lines (red, blue, brown, black) represent the "bus" wiring which extends to each magnet location. I used these particular colors because 4-conductor 18 gauge cable with red-blue-brown-black wires is readily available.
Note: Regardless of the number of magnets, all we need is four wires coming from the control panel. Again, it is these same four wires which connect to every magnet location. A single 4-conductor cable is routed under the benchwork, and each magnet is tied into those wires as shown.
Although I am showing only two magnet locations, we could add as many as we want simply by repeating the magnet location circuitry and connecting them to the 4 conductor bus. This is indicated by the arrows at the bottom of the schematic.
Edit: It isn't shown on the drawing, but I am using pushbuttons with a clear red cap. Installed an LED in it, so the button lights up when the magnet is energized. The LED and resistor is connected between the orange and black wires.
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It contains circuitry to allow only one magnet to be energized at any given time. The purpose of this is to prevent overloading the power supply. For example, say we have a 24 vdc 2 amp supply. Each magnet will draw 1.5 amps. If two magnets were turned on at the same time, we would overload the supply with 3 amps. The Master Relay and its associated normally-closed contact control this.
The purpose of the On-Delay Timer and its associated normally-closed contact is to turn the magnet off after 5 seconds.
Note that the Timer and the Master Relay are located at the Control Cabinet. All we need is one of each regardless of how many electromagnets we have.
At each magnet location, we have a momentary pushbutton and a control relay with two contacts. The relay is used to "latch" the magnet on when the button is pushed, allowing the magnet to remain energized when the button is released. The On Delay Timer will turn the magnet off after 5 seconds as mentioned above.
The vertical colored lines (red, blue, brown, black) represent the "bus" wiring which extends to each magnet location. I used these particular colors because 4-conductor 18 gauge cable with red-blue-brown-black wires is readily available.
Note: Regardless of the number of magnets, all we need is four wires coming from the control panel. Again, it is these same four wires which connect to every magnet location. A single 4-conductor cable is routed under the benchwork, and each magnet is tied into those wires as shown.
Although I am showing only two magnet locations, we could add as many as we want simply by repeating the magnet location circuitry and connecting them to the 4 conductor bus. This is indicated by the arrows at the bottom of the schematic.
Edit: It isn't shown on the drawing, but I am using pushbuttons with a clear red cap. Installed an LED in it, so the button lights up when the magnet is energized. The LED and resistor is connected between the orange and black wires.
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