PC Relay Driver Board
(Kit 74)
What Is It?
Well if you want to control your Halloween/Christmas Props with your computer... Then this is the one board that will make it happen! You just hook it up to the Parallel Port on your computer and use the software that comes with it or (and this is what I use) use FFHC Pro. Well worth the $50! but you can try it for free and make up your own mine.
There is also a Input board that I will do a How to on in the near further that will increase value of this board in a Halloween/Christmas display.
What can it do?
Well, last year I set it up when someone drove or walked by it would activate the Graveyard. IE ghost would pop up lights would flash and spooky sounds would be played over the FM transmitter so that if you have your radio on you could here the sounds and the neighbors don't have too :) . The FFHC Pro software will allow you to turn on and off anything you hook up to it in any combo. Download and give it a look even without the board you can see what all the software will do.
Skill Level
Please do not be afraid to attempt to assemble this kit! It is very easy to do, even if you are an electronics novice! Work in a well lit area, and make sure you have plenty of time to complete the project.
What you will need.
Solder Iron. (I really like the Butane gas type)
Solder
Kit 74
Diagonal Wire Cutters. (normal ones are ok but the Diagonal ones do a much
better job)
Helping hands is optional but a great help (thus the name)
Instructions:
Sort out, Identify and verify parts
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Reference- Resistor Cross Reference Chart
Prepare
Bend the resistors and diodes in a U shape now to save time.
Take a Good Look at the Board.
Taking a good look at the board we can see that most of the components
repeat themselves over 8 times. For this reason I will show just RL8 How-to
install only instead of each section over and over. I am sure you will not mind
:).
Install R22, R23 & R24
R22 is the 3K3 Resistor
R23 is the 10K Resistor
R24 is the 1K Resistor
Direction of install Dose not matter but I like putting the resistor Tolerance
side down or on the right.
Install D8
D8 is Diode 1N4004
Direction is VERY Important make sure the stripe is facing the same direction as
the stripe on the board.
Install Q8
Q8 is the Transistor BC547
The marking on the transistor is actually marked "C547B"
Install with the Flat side facing the same direction as what is drawn on the PC
board
Install L8
L8 is the Red Led
install with the Flat side of the led facing the stripe on the circle.
If you plan on putting this in a Project box like I am you will want to extend
the led to the proper length. I had to replace all 8 after I got the idea to do
so. As a note RadioShack has a great Enclosure that fits this project to a T.
It is catalog # 270-1808.
See final product here.
Install D9
D9 is Diode 1N4004
Again direction is important. Make sure stripe is on the same side as the board
stripe.
Install C1, X9 & X10
C1 is 100uF capacitor
Direction on this is also Important. One side of the capacitor is marked "-" put
that pin in the hole opposite the one that is marked "+" on the board.
X9 is the power connector.
there is only one way it can go in.
X10 is the Small 2 pole Terminal block.
Make sure the connections face out.
Install X8
X8 is 1 of the 3 pole terminal blocks
Make sure the connections face out.
Install RL8
RL8 is the blue relay
It will only install one way
Install CN1
CN1 is the Parallel Port Connector.
Now ...
You can repeat this 7 more times if you want or Just put all the same
type components in at the same time then move on the the next one. I would keep
the order the same. Below you can see the benefits of just bending the parts
into a "U" shape and not cutting them till after they have been soldered in.
When you push them in they auto cross and hold themselves in.
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Your Done.
Just download the software of your choice...
FFHC Pro Free to try and
my choice.
Or the basic one that comes with the kit.
http://kitsrus.com/zip/k74disk.zip.