i was woundering if it is possible to hook up something like a small relay to the parallel or serial port and have a small program to turn it on and off.. i have something thats powered seperatly but i would like to be able to turn it on and off at will with out a manual switch..
yes it is possible, lookhere i use this program to controll my relays that i have hook up to tmy pc, and there are schematics in the program somewhere, i think it might be under settings or about, i forgot, i would check but im on my mac now.
yer it does have a scematic for a relay.. ill give it a try when i can get to the shops to get some bits..
Springs, I posted this reply for The Agent since he was looking for something similar: I posted a reply some time ago for a similar problem when someone wanted help to trigger a factory bell via the parallel port. This site should help: http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/parallel_output.html See the simple circuit using the ULN2803 under the title Compact 8 Channel output driver. Subsitute the LEDs for relays. There is a link for a program called Relais timer which controls the parallel port. Hope this helps. ARM
