Hi,
After spending some time with different platforms, I have a project where PICAXE seems a good solution.
T-hansen in Denmark sells an "electronic launch system" for fireworks, which I want to make a better control box for (instead of the somewhat unreliable infrared one they provide) for next year.
I will use their fuse system, which is 5 fuses that ends in a standard 2x5pin array.
(A "fuse" is fitted with a clamp, which is attacted to the fuse on the fireworks, when shorted it makes a spark and ignites the fireworks, when the firework fuse is gone the clamp falls off.)
Upon startup I will need to see which fuses are avaliable, its fairly easy as its basically a wire, so I provide 5V an check that the picaxe can see this on another pin.
The problem is when I want to use the fuse, I have to make a short over the 2 wires, it will use about 350mA at 5V for 2seconds, so I need to protect the picaxe from this.
One way could be to use a 4051 and then select an empty port when ready to fire.
But maybe some diodes, (poly)fuse or resistor is easyier ?
My basic idea is to provide +5Vdc on the fuses at all times, then use an tristate port on the picaxe to first sence the 5V and mark the port ready or blown.
Then change the port to HIGH and send it trough an transistor chip (ie. 2803A) to provide the short circuit.
Any ideas is most welcome
After spending some time with different platforms, I have a project where PICAXE seems a good solution.
T-hansen in Denmark sells an "electronic launch system" for fireworks, which I want to make a better control box for (instead of the somewhat unreliable infrared one they provide) for next year.
I will use their fuse system, which is 5 fuses that ends in a standard 2x5pin array.
(A "fuse" is fitted with a clamp, which is attacted to the fuse on the fireworks, when shorted it makes a spark and ignites the fireworks, when the firework fuse is gone the clamp falls off.)
Upon startup I will need to see which fuses are avaliable, its fairly easy as its basically a wire, so I provide 5V an check that the picaxe can see this on another pin.
The problem is when I want to use the fuse, I have to make a short over the 2 wires, it will use about 350mA at 5V for 2seconds, so I need to protect the picaxe from this.
One way could be to use a 4051 and then select an empty port when ready to fire.
But maybe some diodes, (poly)fuse or resistor is easyier ?
My basic idea is to provide +5Vdc on the fuses at all times, then use an tristate port on the picaxe to first sence the 5V and mark the port ready or blown.
Then change the port to HIGH and send it trough an transistor chip (ie. 2803A) to provide the short circuit.
Any ideas is most welcome