Phidgets Inc. adds a new product to its family of InterfaceKits

Users can plug the PhidgetInterfaceKit 0/0/8 into their computer, and use the relay outputs to route circuits. One typical application for the 0/0/8 is the performance of automated tests and monitoring – as the large number of contacts and their suitability for switching signals makes it easy to connect test equipment into circuits. says Chester Fitchett, CEO of Phidgets.

Product Specifications

· Contact Resistance (max at 6VDC 1A): 50mOhms
· Wetting Current / Voltage:10uA / 10mV
· Switching Voltage (max AC): 250 VAC
· Switching Voltage (max DC): 220 VDC
· Switching Current (max AC/DC): 2 Amps
· Switching Power (max): 60 W, 125VA
· Digital Control Update Rate: ~125 updates / second
· Operate Time (at max load): ~18ms
· Release Time (at max load): ~18ms
· Switching Speed (at max load): 20 contacts / minute
· Recommended Terminal Wire Size: 16 - 26 AWG
· Terminal Wire Strip Length: 5 - 6mm (0.196 - 0.236)
· USB-Power Current Specification: 500mA max
· Device Quiescent Current Consumption: 14mA
· Device Active Current Consumption: 380mA max

Applications

· Switching data communication lines – USB, RS232, etc.
· Measuring resistances between various points in a circuit
· Switching a voltmeter to various points in a circuit
· Controlling a number of much larger relays, or RF relays.
· Extra pole in relay can be monitored as a switch to verify position.
· Switching power to external circuits.

Software Environment

Unlike a lot of our competitor's products that require their users to write some firmware or proprietary code in order to use their products, we are completely Plug and Play says Bernard Rousseau, Director of Marketing. With Phidgets, you plug it in and start using it and when it comes to programming, the user, not us, decides which operating system and which computer language he wants to use, added Rousseau.

Users can program Phidgets using a simple yet powerful and well documented Application Programming Interface (API) that is supported under Windows (2000, XP, Vista), Windows CE, Mac OS X, and Linux. Users can write programs in Visual Basic, VB.NET, C#, C/C++, Flash/Flex, Java, Labview, Matlab, ActionScript 3.0, and Cocoa.