I am doing a design project for a EE class and am having a hell of a time finding relays to do what I need. I am pretty sure relays are the only way to do what I need. Here is what I am trying to do:
In a nutshell I have 4 pins on a circuit. I need to be able to put the 4 pins into 2 different states, all at the same time. I need one state to short all 4 pins together, to make them act as one giant node essentially. I need the other state to send each pin into another circuit independently of the other 3 pins. So all 4 pins are connected to another circuit at the same time, but are not connected to each other.
There will be as high as 1.5 or so amps traveling thru the nodes when they are shorted together. I had thought about using some FETs to short the pins together, but with the high current going thru them I don’t want to risk smoking the entire circuit. I see relays as the only option here.
I think that I need 4pin double throw relays. 4 pin out on both sides and one 4 pin input. I have looked all over for something like this but cannot find any. Power useage is not a concern here but price is. I have a $400 budget for this project and there are many other things involved in the project that are eating up money. I am pretty sure this is the most expensive part of the design though because I need 16 of these relays, unless there are 8 pin double throw which I doubt would be affordabel even if there were.
Hopefully I am clear in my question. If I am not please ask me if I left out critical info. If there is another way to do this without relays I am all ears. I just cant think of another way.