Is the Bot Board II w/ Basic atom able to turn 5v on and off. What i’m trying to do is switch a transistor. I know that there are pins above the servo ports that you can change from vs to 5v but i don’t want to fry my controller.
bane
it depends some on the particular transistor, both type and size.
a small bipolar (npn or pnp) transistor you need to put a resistor in series between the i/o pin and the base. a larger power type bipolar transistor you can probably not drive enough base current directly from the port pin and will require a driver transistor or device of some sort.
a MOSFET needs to be a logic level type, that is specified for Vgs at 5V or less, and if it has in input capacitance much more than 1000pF or so I would again include a series resistor between the I/o pin and the gate just to protect against turn on current surges.
heres some pics
(just a diagram, not 24v)
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4054.0;attach=1566;image
this is one that i made
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4054.0;attach=1573;image
Could i just applie VSS to the MOSFET to open the circuit?
Bane