I need something that closes an electrical circuit for a certain amount of time when it receives an electrical pulse.
In my case, two wires touch, even for a second, the device I need will supply power for 30 seconds to another device.
Electronic – What do I need to close an electrical circuit for a certain amount of time
time
Best Answer
I see Steven and Russell have given you good answers. The old 555 timer will certainly work given the specs you provided, and that's the way to go if you are sure this is precisely the problem you want to solve. By the way, as Steven mentioned, the general name for this type of timing block is monostable multivibrator, but it is more popularly known as a one shot. There are also dedicated one shot chips that should be simpler to hook up since they are more targeted. The 74x122 is one example, although I haven't checked whether it supports times as long as 30 seconds.
However, the real purpose of this answer is to point out a totally different approach, which is to use a microcontroller. Even the smallest, simplest, cheapest micro can do this, like the PIC 10F200. If you're not already familiar with micros, then this will take a lot more to get going. However, if you are truly interested in electronics and envision doing other projects, then learning about micros is really useful. In fact I'd say it is essential. Nowadays microcontrollers are indispensible electronic components along with resistors, capacitors, and transistors. If this were a commercial product, I think most professional electrical engineers would use a micro, not a analog timing chip.
The advantages of a micro are:
None of these points may apply to your instance right now, and the analog solution may be perfectly fine for your case. However, I want you to at least be aware that there are other ways.