Specifications:

The MKR Relay Proto Shield is designed to easily integrate relays into your MKR board-based projects, offering versatility for controlling high-power devices. It comes equipped with two on-board relays and provides a small prototyping area for additional components.

• Operating Voltage: 3.3V, supplied by the host board.
• Relay Features: Two relays with Normally Open (NO), Common (COM), and Normally Closed (NC) connections.
• Compatibility: Works with battery-powered boards.
• Connection Options: Features 8-position screw terminal blocks for easy connections, including A1 to A4 Analog inputs, SCL and SDA for I2C, GND, and 3.3V output. Additionally, there are 6 positions for screw terminal blocks (NO, COM, NC for each relay).
• Electrical Specifications: The shield can carry a current of 2 A, with a maximum operating voltage of 24 VAC or 50 VDC. The maximum operating current is 1 A, and it has a maximum switching capacity of 62.50 VA or 30W.

Applications and Projects:

The MKR Relay Shield, with its capability to control high-voltage devices through relays, opens up a plethora of practical applications across various fields. A few notable use cases include:

• Home Automation: The shield can be used to automate home appliances, lights, or any electrical device, allowing them to be controlled remotely or based on specific conditions, such as time or sensor input.
• Gardening Projects: An interesting application is in gardening, such as creating an automatic plant watering system. By integrating sensors for soil moisture, temperature, and humidity, you can create a system that waters your plants only when necessary, ensuring optimal plant growth without wastage of water.
• Remote Control Projects: With the addition of a connectivity module (like the MKR WiFi 1010), the MKR Relay Shield can be used to create projects that require remote control of devices. This could range from simple remote-controlled lights to more complex systems like heating or cooling systems that can be activated remotely.
• Industrial Applications: In industrial settings, the shield can be used to control motors, pumps, or other machinery, enabling the automation of various processes. For example, controlling a pump in a manufacturing process based on sensor data to optimize the process and reduce waste.
• Educational Projects: The shield is also a great tool for educational purposes, helping students learn about relays, electromagnetism, and circuit design. Projects can range from simple demonstrations of how relays work to more complex systems that integrate various sensors and outputs.