Relay Logic
I have a fetish for antiquated technology. Stuff like vacuum tubes, transistors, electro mechanical devices, and of course relays used to run things. I did a few searches here on Instructables on relay logic and found nothing so I thought I'd start a forum on it.
Most of the earliest computers ran using relays. I love how they sound, clickity - clack. In a way they seem more alive to me than todays silent electronics, and dead boxes, There's just something cool about a machine that you can hear working instead of dead silence, maybe I'm just a old fashioned.
Anyway, I have a limited knowledge using relays for adders, if, and, or, gates, etc. but I'd like to learn more. I did however make a clock circuit using only relays and capacitors, and I have a video of it here...
Most of the earliest computers ran using relays. I love how they sound, clickity - clack. In a way they seem more alive to me than todays silent electronics, and dead boxes, There's just something cool about a machine that you can hear working instead of dead silence, maybe I'm just a old fashioned.
Anyway, I have a limited knowledge using relays for adders, if, and, or, gates, etc. but I'd like to learn more. I did however make a clock circuit using only relays and capacitors, and I have a video of it here...
Discussions
9 years ago
. To play with relay logic, without the expense of physical relays and the hassle of hard-wiring, look into "ladder logic" simulators. Great for designing and testing circuits before building.
Reply 9 years ago
Nice, thanks for the info. NachoMahma... I just found one I just downloaded and am messin with, a simple logic simulation program I mean. While looking up "ladder logic simulator" led me to "Programmable Logic Controllers", which is fascinating as well. Thanks again!
Reply 9 years ago
. I used to program Allen-Bradley PLC-2 and PLC-5 systems using A-B's 6200 software (ladder logic). That was ten years ago, but I should be able to help you with basic questions.
Reply 9 years ago
Thanks NachoMahma, I appreciate the lending hand! yea I've been looking for a good ladder logic program, after you had mentioned it. I'm on a mac, and also Linux so in some ways kinda limited since most of what I've seen is Windows based..... However, after a bit of an extensive search, I did find this program called Atanua which seems pretty good, it's here... http://sol.gfxile.net/atanua/ Seems to do what I want for problem solving basic ladder logic, and as a bonus shows workable ICs which could then be worked into actual projects later on. As I mentioned I'm more interested in relays for the time being, but my interests change almost daily sometimes so this program seems like a good starting point. Anyway, the logic behind ICs, and relays are the same, I just like the chunky -clunkiness of relays.
Reply 9 years ago
Check out the most recent issue of MAKE. There's an article on PLCs with a brief digression into ladder logic.