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mechanical detection for 230 mains plug

5 Mar 2011

bandinigo

United Kingdom

I am building a battery box, that has a inverter that inverts 12v DC to 230V AC. I want to use a mains power socket to connest appliances. As I don't want to run the inverter all the time (consuming even with no load around 3 W) I am wondereing

if there is a power socket that has a mechanical detecetion (e.g a spring) that would trigger if a sth is plugged in and turn my inverter on to power the device that is plugged in?

 

Replies

LStacey

United Kingdom
1 year ago

As far as I'm aware there's nothing of the sort but I'll ask the RS team as their knowledge on these things is far greater than mine.

Another option you could consider is some very low power load sensing. What is the upper limit on the current you wish to switch?

bandinigo

United Kingdom
1 year ago

Well, the upper limit is not very high, it depends on the appliance that is plugged in but I would say 200 mA. Could you give me a bit more detail about what you mean by low power sensing. As we are a student run organisation our knowledge is not too profound...

Connector Geek

United Kingdom
1 year ago

Hi there,

I have just returned from some leave, and I have been trying to come up with an answer.

I was sure that someone made an IEC 320 connector with a microswith to auto-detect whether the connector was plugged in, but I'm having real difficulty finding it (any ideas, anyone).

I think Lee's suggestion has merit - an IEC connector with an old-fashioned on-off switch.

Even better, British company Bulgin has a range called Polysnap.  It lets the engineer choose from a series of modules (IEC inlet, switch, fuse etc) and mount them in a common frame.  Smart little things, they are.  Have a look here and here...

Hope this helps

 

LStacey

United Kingdom
1 year ago

Your knowledge probably surpasses mine... and then some!

I was thinking something along the lines of applying a low voltage to meaure change in resistance across the live and neutral pins of the socket. Pretty tricky stuff but I'm sure someone must have done it already.

What's wrong with a good old fashioned mechanical on/off switch on the battery side of the inverter?