High side switch question

[neo]

I have a 6 volt signal i need to make a 12 volt signal, my solution was to buy ir6226 high side switch. http://www.irf.com/product-info/datasheets/data/ir6226.pdf I have pin one grounded pin 2 connected to my signal and 12 volts going to the vcc pin. All is fine and well one paper but my output voltage is 3 volts. The signal is the carry out of a 4017 decade counter. Any advice to make this work or any other methods to step up the voltage would be greatly appreciated.

[BrianHG]

Are you saying you only have 6v and you need to generate 12v + convert the 6v IO into 12v as well?
Or, do you have a 12v supply with 6v logic IO you wish to convert to a 12v IO?
Or, is this just a power switch?  Like a Relay...
How much power do you need on the 12v output?
Does the 12v output go from 0v to 12v, or, 6v to 12v?
How fast does this conversion need to be?

[neo]

I have 12 volts in and need the logic level to be at that for the rest of the circuit. A relay would work fine except i would need to replace it every year or two since this would trigger a relay twice a minute, once when the carry goes low and again when it resets. 12>6v regulator>arduino>4026>4017>rest of circuit and any point after that has to be 12 volts. Its for a digital clock circuit which i have functioning, the second half needs to be at 12 volts for the display and the carry out is too low for it. I would also like to use what i have on hand if possible which eliminates optocouplers, comparators and mosfets unless i buy them.

[BrianHG]

I would also like to use what i have on hand if possible which eliminates optocouplers, comparators and mosfets unless i buy them.

What do you have on hand?
Once again, how much current do you need at 12v?  Something like a NPN 2N3904 and PNP 2N3906 and a 4k7 and a 10k resistor may work for you...

[neo]

A few MA of current, enough to clock the next chip its not doing anything other than that. Crude schematic but its what i could do. Also, i would like a semi conductor solution but if i decide to use a relay would this be a good one, http://www.ebay.com/itm/RadioShack-2750232-SPST-1AMP-5V-Reed-Relay-Switch-PL1-9501-275-0232-NIB-/351993880726?hash=item51f4786096:g:kUMAAOSwfVpYtdz3

[neo]

BrianHG
Basic logic chips and whatever i can find on old circuit boards, i should be able to find working pnp and npn transistors for example. I also have a couple MTP3055E N-channel mosfets

[neo]

the 4017 carry is high for 40 seconds low for 20 then high again repeating that cycle over and over again.

[neo]

A thought occurs to me, i can get a solid state relay on ebay fairly cheap and as far as i know solid state relays should last indefinitely.

[neo]

evb149
(g) i checked wiring to it already
(f) have yet to try that but will
(e) it is i checked both with my oscilloscope and a fluke DMM
(d) when i checked it there was no load
(c) i don't even know how to use dg pin
(b) why both?
(a) see (d)

it should also be noted im learning and would rather have overkill that is simple than a sensible circuit that is not as simple.

[digsys]

A relay would work fine except i would need to replace it every year or two since this would trigger a relay twice a minute ....

FYI some signal switching relays are rated for large numbers of operations.   2 years would be 2 million switching cycles ...

2 million .. PPFFTT :-)  I've been using these for 20yrs - https://www.onlinecomponents.com/datasheet/mss21a12.aspx?p=40512409
2+ Billion operations at up to 300Hz. Mine run at 5Hz, 24/7, up to 500VAC peak (carrying 2mV data), 100mA. I replace them every 3-5 yrs.
For your rate, that's about 200,000yrs :-)

[neo]

digsys
Thank you,  although i cannot find any at a reasonable price, because i can't find any sold by the piece. If you could point me to where to find one it would be perfect

[digsys]

... although i cannot find any at a reasonable price, because i can't find any sold by the piece. If you could point me to where to find one it would be perfect 

I have a few 100 "used" ones, some with only 50M, and up to 250M cycles left :-) I'm happy to send you a few (or 100 :-) ) free-of-charge with 1 provision. As these contain mercury,
they have to be disposed of as hazardous waste, when done. I've been waiting until I get an even 500 or so, before I do, as it costs a bit.
Just PM me your mailing address, if interested.

Edit:

  With any relay or even some drivers you have to make sure your IN signal has enough voltage and current drive to drive the device, otherwise you need a
relay driver to drive the relay to drive the output ...

Yeah, as these are 12V, you'll need a simple NPN transistor to drive them.

[neo]

The thing with mercury and lead is that they may be potentially bad there just isn't a good substitute.

[digsys]

The thing with mercury and lead is that they may be potentially bad there just isn't a good substitute.

Yup, absolutely NO substitute at all !! Switching frequency, NO arcing or bounce, uV to 100s V signals, a dream switch. Note: They MUST be orientated correctly !

[neo]

The thing with mercury and lead is that they may be potentially bad there just isn't a good substitute.

Yup, absolutely NO substitute at all !! Switching frequency, NO arcing or bounce, uV to 100s V signals, a dream switch. Note: They MUST be orientated correctly !

How should they be oriented?

[digsys]

How should they be oriented?

Vertical, Pin#1 to the top. Mercury must cover the contacts. Check the specs. It will still work horizontal but you won't get the full 2-5B operations.
On 1 site, I calculate 25B clicks (at 10Hz), 24/7, 5-8yrs

[neo]

Well that is certainly convenient, my entire clock is vertical due to the display.

[digsys]

Sample pack of ~12 is ready to post :-)  2x new, 2 types, rest are swap-outs, and should still have ~50+M closures. Just test for dead ones.

[Zero999]

This is another way to do it, besides with an optocoupler which should be straightforward as another alternative.

]

It's better to move the NPN's base resistor to the emitter and add a pull-up on the PNP. It's much faster and has a higher input impedance.

[SeanB]

Added bonus is that there is no digit ghosting from amplified base current leakage as well, so you can use the Vces voltage instead of the Vceo voltage.

[neo]

This idea is completely irrelevant it doesn't work. I tried it.

[digsys]

Naaaaa, there's nothing good about that circuit AT ALL ! With the NPN on, you have 4.4V/220R current draw, for no reason. Do either one of the NPN/PNP solutions, or the NPN/Relay
solution. Use ~2K2 to NPN base, and the relay to 12V. That way there is no OFF current. You can put a 100-220R in series with the relay coil to reduce draw even further.

[neo]

I must be terrible at this everything i can get my head around makes little to no sense in practice it seems. Will a tip 137 work for the pnp in the npn pnp solution? I know it is overkill but i got one. Also going into the specifics of the simulator, it says there little current draw current so either falstad is wrong or its missing a law of physics, im not trying to be annoying just trying to understand

[digsys]

I must be terrible at this everything i can get my head around makes little to no sense in practice it seems. Will a tip 137 work for the pnp in the npn pnp solution?I know it is overkill but i got one.

Don't panic, it gets easier with time and practice. Just about ANY PNP will do. The TIP137 is a darlington, so you'll lose ~1V, which should be perfectly OK.

[neo]

I didn't panic at all the first 3 months, now i panic alot because the more i learn the more confused i get. 

[neo]

I tried the pnp high side and found this circuit to work well. Yes, that really is a germanium.

[Zero999]

I tried the pnp high side and found this circuit to work well. Yes, that really is a germanium.

Yes, that should work fine in real life too.

The only issue might be speed, with such high value resistors, otherwise it's a good idea.

By the way, why did you decide on a germanium transistor? Is it just because it's cool to use old parts?

[neo]

Its germanium because it was handy. Its for a 1 hertz signal, i physically built it and it worked well.

[brunoital]

Schematics?

[Zero999]

Schematics?

Plenty of schematics have been attached to the posts. You'll need to be logged in to the forum to see them. If you are having problems viewing them, check your firewall settings.

[Zero999]

Here's another option which only uses one NPN transistor.

[sanwal209]

Make life simple, There are tons of IC load switch and cost you 44 cents. Try this one out
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/vishay-siliconix/SI1865DDL-T1-GE3/SI1865DDL-T1-GE3TR-ND/4494407