[ARC5] When without a BC456, what do you use as a keying relay?

[J Mcvey via ARC5]

Mark,

It's true that I do like to "get it right" the first time!  I attempt to do this by asking lots of  questions from more experienced folks such as yourself, so I can avoid the same mistakes. I have some very good relays that I use for antenna switching and are good for ARC5 receiver control, but it looks like they won't cut it for keying and would be and marginal for the TX LV dynamotor control (15A at 30V). I think the start current is around 15-18 amps if the run amps is listed as 9 amps?
I have some medium voltage reed relays from an instrumentation scanner. They are rated at 200V @ 250ma but the coils are 5v ... a resistor will fix that problem... still, the contact ratings are not up to snuff. 

Most of the parts have been collected, so now I am in the 'layout phase" and I need to know what kind of space and mounting is required. I would rather put an adequate device in that plan so the chassis doesn't get the "swiss cheese" look from various failed devices having been mounted, not to mention the frustration of it having failed.

The plan is to take this stuff "on tour" occasionally, so it has to look half way decent and function reliably.

Thanks,
Jim AC2EU




On Friday, October 24, 2014 8:11 AM, Mark K3MSB <mark.k3msb at gmail.com> wrote:
 


I can’t recall the relay ratings;  I’ll try to remember to check this weekend (which is filled with winterization projects before the cold wx sets in…..)
Thinking about it, it is not the typical P&B octal base relay that I initially posted; it’s one with spade lugs but they’re not uncommon.   I have a drawer full of various voltage relays (6, 12, 24 DC,  110 AC etc) and they’re readily available at festers, so I’m usually not concerned about zorching a relay if the contact ratings aren’t up to snuff.
A comment for you.  From previous posts I get the impression that you’re trying to build the “ultimate” setup at first shot.   Getting ARC-5’s on the air was for me, and I suspect a lot of others, a learning and experimentation process that never ends.   My setup, including power supplies, have gone through various stages.    I found that the simple voltage divider schema that’s in the manuals and exposited by Preacher Dave is the best way to go!  It’s simple… and it works!     I tried the route of choke input power supplies with Zener regulated voltages etc, but the divider is what I settled on.   Is it the “best”?  Probably not;  Can it be improved upon?  Probably.  But… it works!   
73 Mark K3MSB
Sent from my Android phone 
On Oct 23, 2014 10:32 PM, "J Mcvey" <ac2eu at yahoo.com> wrote:

what are the contacts rated for? HV DC relays are hard to come by. I find contacts rated for 250 VAC, 15A but are only rated for 30V 10A DC...bummer! Can we get away with using a standard relay with the spark suppression circuit?
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>On Thursday, October 23, 2014 9:52 PM, Mark K3MSB <mark.k3msb at gmail.com> wrote:
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>I use a good old P&B relay in my HB ARC-5 supply.  Never had a problem.
>Mark K3MSB
>Sent from my Android phone 
>On Oct 23, 2014 9:44 PM, "J Mcvey via ARC5" <arc5 at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
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>I have been thinking of using a reed relay which is very nimble and some can handle the "juice".
>>Any other suggestions or experiences?
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