This is my first post here. So just a bit of background. I am NOT a fully educated Engineer. (read--Associates in Electronics with 25 years of experience) However, I do play one at work. So somtimes I ask pretty stupid questions.

Anyway, I have a project that is really perplexing me. I have a control module (Another company) that outputs TWO(2) 24VAC Sources and share a common. One source actuates a valve open, the other, Closed.

I need to interface OUR sensor to controll these two sources via a ucontroller. These 24VAC sources are the only avaliable source of power to the circuit. So I want to rectify them and use them to make a 5V source. Problem is that they are never on at the same time and they switch back and forth depending on what the controller module is telling the valve to do.

I have worked out the details but It requires two relays and two isolation transformers, and two bridge rectifiers.

Anyone got any ideas how to do this other then what I have come up with?

What about just using two auctioneering diodes to half-wave rectify your two supplies?

You should probably check that the control module just switches between the two outputs and that there isn't a dead period in between where neither one is on.  If there is, then you may need some significant capacitance to keep your supply up during that time, depending on how much current you're drawing from it.

You just use a fullwave rectifier.  Which ever coil is energized provides half-wave power to your filter cap.


Your coils continue to be hooked up directly across the two outputs.

MORE NEWS