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The AMi switch output ports

Before connecting a device to an AMi switch output port, please check the current and voltage are within the port's limits - see below.

Introduction

AMi has 8 switch output ports (they're located on the back of the device) and they can be used to turn things on and off under software control. For example, a switch output could turn a speaker on, activate a pellet dispenser or switch on a shocker.

The output uses what's called a solid state relay, but you can think of it as a simple on/off switch, like a light switch, for example.

Connecting devices to a switch output port

Connecting a device to a switch output port could hardly be easier - just connect it to the port like it's a switch. In other words, when the switch is closed (on), the two terminals of the port are connected together; when the switch is open (off), the terminals are not connected together. By the way, the terminals have no polarity, so you can connect the wires either way round - see figure 1.

Figure 1. In this circuit, the switch output will turn the lamp on and off. Note that the output just connects and disconnects the two wires connected to it; it does not provide power.

Switch output port specification

Although a switch output port essentially connects and disconnects whatever is attached to its two terminals, that's not to say that it doesn't matter what you connect to it - there are two important limits, the maximum voltage across the terminals is 40V either AC or DC and the maximum current is 1.5A.

Note that these limits mean that you cannot control mains-powered devices using a switch output port.

The full specification of the switch output port is as follows:

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ANY-maze help topic T1170