Ways to control Devices with Arduino Board & Software

[Miana]

Hello all and I'm hoping to hear some good ideas!

I've ran into a small problem trying to plan out some teases for sessions. Much of the software available here can be hooked up to an Arduino board to provide little programmed teases. While getting the bboard and software is fairly easy, I'm having trouble trying to figure out to actually switch on/off devices or hopefully even change certain modes during a session

My issue is doing that with making at most minor changes to be toys themselves; I'd like to preserve them for use in normal partner play too. So how could I maybe do that? I'm hoping for inspiration but if you've got specific plans that'd be great

Here's the list of what I'm trying to control;

Corded Anal Vibe
Wireless Adonis Pouch
Corded Wand Massager (or Rechargable if you have a good suggestion
2-Channel E-Stim Box (don't have this just yet. Planning on a Erostek 312B but others are ok)

As for the Arduino setup I have
Aduino Leonardo Board
Battery backup
I-cubeX Sensor Sheild (huge variety of sensors available)
(I don't have any sensors or actuators just yet, until I get this problem solved doing so seemed premature)

Anything that uses a bullet vibe I don't mind converting wholesale, those are relatively heap enough replacements are a big deal. A wand massager and a e-Stim box aren't; I need to figure out a reliable way of pushing buttons and turning knobs without change the equipment.

Feel free to suggest any kind of sensor, actuator, shield board or otherwise I could use. Cost is no issue either; I'd rather pay a premium for reliability and safety than saving a few bucks

Thanks in advance, hope to get at least a few suggestions

[Sir Cumference]

If it is "low voltage DC", use MOSFETs
You can do simple on/off and PWM
http://bildr.org/2012/03/rfp30n06le-arduino/

If it is mains voltage, use an extension cord with a solid state relay
http://www.photosensor.com.tw/Solid%20S ... R-25DA.htm
But that will give you on/off only



In general it is hard to get to the functionality of the buttons, without taking the instrument apart.

[PiJoy]

If it is "low voltage DC", use MOSFETs
You can do simple on/off and PWM
http://bildr.org/2012/03/rfp30n06le-arduino/

If it is mains voltage, use an extension cord with a solid state relay
http://www.photosensor.com.tw/Solid%20S ... R-25DA.htm
But that will give you on/off only
<snip>

I'm pretty sure there is an error in the MOSFET circuit shown above. All of those circuits connect an Arduino pin *directly* to the MOSFET's gate, with no resistor to limit the worst-case/instantaneous inrush current. Arduino pins can handle 40 mA absolute max; sinking or sourcing over 40 mA, even for a very short while, can kill the Arduino output pin. Putting a 160 ohm resistor between the Arduino pin and the MOSFET's gate limits the worst-case/instantaneous current to 5.0 / 160 = .031... mA. Don't forget the diodes; I put them in even when I'm not (at first) planning to drive an inductive load -- the MOSFETs I've saved have more than paid for the diodes.

For smaller DC currents, you might consider the UNL2803A http://octopart.com/uln2803a-stmicroelectronics-88 That gives you up to eight independent channels each good for a couple hundred mA of DC current. Note however that there's a heat-dissipation limit that means you can't run them all at full power at once. These are convenient in that they need no resistors or diodes; all that is built into the chip.

I wasn't able to get a readable webpage from the second link in the part I quoted. Here are links to similar products. I've used the lower-power one with good results: http://www.powerswitchtail.com/Pages/PowerSSRTail.aspx and http://www.powerswitchtail.com/Pages/default.aspx
Both of those say no inductive loads. However I've read several posts saying they've had no problem controlling a Hitachi with a dimmer made for incandescent light bulbs -- and both use similar circuitry. I've also read rumors or second+ hand accounts of burning out the dimmer or the Hitachi, but those are always second hand -- or even more dubious. Your mileage may vary

[Sir Cumference]

The "resistor on gate" has been discussed at the arduino forum (at some length!), and the conclusion was "do it if you like, it can't hurt".

I can see that something went wrong with the second link, here is one to the same relay at dealextreme:
http://dx.com/p/ssr-25da-25a-solid-stat ... ite-134494

(Quite cheap, but I have seen the same relay sold for 2$ at evilbay)