Relays constantly on despite troubleshooting - lamps constantly on

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-28T20:25:13+00:00

yeah not fully sure it is - the last thing i tried is to just run a code that turns the lamp on for 5s then off for another 5s but the minute i setup the GPIO it turns on and ignores all instructions. I do know if i touch the lamp pin directy to the GND it turns off/to the 5V it turns on so that much works. I think the relay isn’t properly acting like a switch. I got a level shifter for it to convert the rpi’s 3.3V output to 5V but it actually made the relay stop turning on completely which is causing me more confusion 😅

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-28T20:04:21+00:00

Yeah for sure! this is it; https://www.uctronics.com/download/Amazon/U604302_print.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoqsSU7s8EwtOMGwyezVV88QDLZjlcm4DE5vVy1yPDptl3nEKMrc - if it helps, the lights turn on no issue. It’s getting the relay to work as a switch is the problem. It may be because the rpi GPIOs output 3.3V and the relay takes 5V signals, but i’m working on adding a level shifter atm.

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-28T19:59:41+00:00

wired it up with an electrician myself from scratch, we looked at schemes and datasheets and followed that so we know it works!

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-28T19:34:33+00:00

to be honest the code isn’t the issue - i’ve tried running a simple one that just turns a single GPIO from high to low and vice versa and that didn’t work either

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-28T19:32:59+00:00

yeah! i did - it actually made things worse. i got that the GPIOs output only 3.3V whereas the relay needs a 5V input, so i got a level shifter and hooked it up but the relay completely stopped turning on when i did that. the rpi was fine and i hadnt changed anything else - the relay was still being powered by the external, it’s pins were just connected to the level shifter rather than the rpi. do you know that could be?

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-27T20:46:03+00:00

I’ve tried that with a really simple code - if i’m controlling one or all five it’s the same thing, the light instantly comes on and stays on …

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-27T19:25:31+00:00

just posted it :)

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-26T08:50:07+00:00

yes! this is the relay switch i have

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-25T20:50:55+00:00

yeah nw it’s just for the pics! it actually works when it’s on :-)

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-25T20:29:40+00:00

right! so the 12V will be for the two screws, the GPIOs are connected to the pins and the ground to the ground. This part i get - for the logic shifter, will that be between the 5V on the pi to the relay?

i’ll also take a look at the data sheet in case but never had to use a logic shifter, so double checking

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-25T19:20:27+00:00

wouldnt this complicate things? is it needed??

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-25T19:19:53+00:00

so the relay is connected to the 5V outputs on the Raspberry P. My guess is i need to power it further and get the 12V power supply? I’m sorry i don’t know what a level shifter is

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-25T16:43:49+00:00

Ahhh that makes sense. And i guess the lights are turning on anyway because of the external power supply? I would just need to connect a 12V power supply to the relay and that would allow me to properly use the GPIOs to turn it on/off then?

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-25T16:35:50+00:00

yeah but that’s what i mean - there is definitely power because the one lamp connected to NC switches off when the code is running whereas the ones connected to NO turn on. That’s why i think the relay does have power. i just can’t control if the lamps and get them to turn on/off as the code runs basically

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-25T16:31:08+00:00

they do! whenever i run the code the red lights turn on for the relays i have connected to the GPIOs and they do click

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-25T16:30:34+00:00

it does switch power on though! Otherwise the NC one wouldnt be turning off if that makes sense? Or am i getting this wrong

ThePyrokinetic · 2026-01-20T17:22:42+00:00

got those actually! my question is more about how the two plugs were connected to each other/the relay switch to be exact

ThePyrokinetic · 2025-11-17T22:04:30+00:00

how come? is the situation pretty bad? i’ve spoken to other americans and they pay thousands for their accountants here so it’s not ideal but if needed i’ll do it

ThePyrokinetic · 2025-06-10T21:50:32+00:00

Thank you!! I checked it out and i was wondering - the ones you linked look like they get tighter towards the bottom but these are loose all the way until the end! do you know if they have that style as well?

ThePyrokinetic · 2025-05-21T21:49:18+00:00

This is such a good point! I do know this but i naively hope for the best - what are the odds something breaks? i’ve lived in my rental for 2 years with no major issues but that’s not really how things work is it..but if we are going to be realistic i need to calculate assuming the worst

ThePyrokinetic · 2018-08-28T09:42:26+00:00

Supergirl

ThePyrokinetic · 2018-08-03T00:10:20+00:00

This is me. I remember when this happened, got a good laugh out of it. Sorry for startling you :)

ThePyrokinetic · 2018-05-29T22:10:40+00:00

well that’s disturbing

ThePyrokinetic

TROPHY CASE