Looking for a 0.5V to 5V amplifier

Hi I'm new to this forum and I've got a technical problem at work I should say I have very little understanding of electronics.

I' m trying to operate an SSR (solid state relay) but my input pulse is to weak about 0.5v I need to amplify the signal to about 5v using a 12v source. I'm looking for an off the shelf product I can buy but I can't find anything I'm looking for a quick solution because I encounter this problem a lot but each time I built mu own amplifier and its time consuming.

Appreciate any help possible

Re: 0.5V to 5V amplifier

do_bon said:

Hi I'm new to this forum and I've got a technical problem at work I should say I have very little understanding of electronics.

I' m trying to operate an SSR (solid state relay) but my input pulse is to weak about 0.5v I need to amplify the signal to about 5v using a 12v source. I'm looking for an off the shelf product I can buy but I can't find anything I'm looking for a quick solution because I encounter this problem a lot but each time I built mu own amplifier and its time consuming.

Appreciate any help possible

Click to expand...

I think easiest way is to use op-amp or comparator circuit ( IC )
for driving SSR.
Simpliest is one transistor driver with right bias and load current limiter
resistance.

Re: 0.5V to 5V amplifier

kak111 said:

I think easiest way is to use op-amp or comparator circuit ( IC )
for driving SSR.
Simpliest is one transistor driver with right bias and load current limiter
resistance.

Click to expand...

This is the general approach I'd take, however I'd offer a modification/extension. Since you have a 12V supply, you'll need a couple additional parts.

1) 5V linear regulator (LM78M05, or similar... google 7805, or look on Arrow, Mouser, Digikey, Newark, etc). That'll take your 12V supply down to +5V for the next IC. (also caps on Vin and Vout... see datasheet for recommended values).

2) a voltage Comparator (LM311, or similar) with a resistive voltage divider to set the threshold at 250 mV, and maybe a 100k feedback resistor for a little hysteresis.

If your SSR will activate with 2.5 mA or less, you could tie one side of the relay's coil to +5V, and the other side to the output of the comparator (might need a current limiter resistor, too). The LM311 is supposed to have a 2K pull-up resistor on the output, so that means it can sink around 2.5 mA (check datasheet to verify).

3) If the coil needs more current to turn it on, then add a FET or BJT at the output of the comparator, to act as a switch. The transistor would then sink the current going through the relay coil.

Re: 0.5V to 5V amplifier

Is there an all in one product I can buy you know "time is money" I need a simple single unit that I can connect on one side 0.5 volt an get on the other side 5v using the 12v battery.

when i build my When I build my own amp the parts are a total of 5$ isn’t there any thing cheaper?

do_bon said:

when i build my When I build my own amp the parts are a total of 5$ isn’t there any thing cheaper?

Click to expand...

I think you're kind of stuck with a DIY circuit (which could be designed and have parts selected within a normal workday), or a relatively expensive, does everything under the sun, prebuilt module. For something this simple, I don't think there is much of a market for it... most designers would simply "roll their own".