What is Relay? - Working, Applications & Types

What is Relay? - Working, Applications & Types

Summary

Have you ever wondered what a relay switch is, and why it's used in technology? It can play an essential role in controlling circuits within many different types of applications.

In this blog post, we'll explain what a relay switch is and its working principle – as well as its various types – so that you have all the details needed to determine whether it fits your specific needs.

Introduction

Relays are an important part of the electrical system. They serve as switches that transfer signals to other devices, allowing for remote control or automated operations in a wide range of applications.

Relays work by reacting to changes in voltage and current levels on their input terminals, which then trigger them to open or close contacts between two circuits.

This helps speed up process times while increasing accuracy and safety within many systems such as traffic lights, manufacturing machines, robotics arms etc.

Different types relays offered include time delay relays, solid-state relay (SSR), latching relay and reed switch matrix circuitry among others - each serving different requirements according to industrial needs across various sectors ranging from automation industry through medical equipment manufacture all the way even spacecrafts.

Electronic engineers have been using this technology comfortably over decades now with ever growing advancement towards more environment friendly solutions including wireless ones! Now let's learn about what is relay in electrical.

What is a relay?

A relay is an electromagnetic switch or device which can be used to control electrical circuits. It works by opening and closing power supply lines in order to optimize the flow of current within a circuit.

Along with controlling applications, it has other benefits such as providing protection from overcurrents due to short circuits, helping direct energy more efficiently throughout systems, and allowing for remote operation through automation processes.

What is a relay?

For example, At a busy airport, relay switches control conveyor belts, ensuring luggage moves efficiently. When a cart triggers a sensor, it sends a signal to a relay, which activates the belt's motor.

This sequence repeats, Similar to relay racers passing batons, it smoothly transfers luggage from one point to another. 

Relays come in various types depending on application needs; some of the most common ones are general-purpose relays, latching relays, thermal overload relays and solid staterelay (SSR).

As experienced professionals have known for years now - when integrated into existing machinery or electronic equipment designs properly – there’s no limit what these powerful components can do!

 

Working Principle of Relay Module?

A relay is an electrical device which helps to complete the circuit and thus controls a large amount of electricity with low power.

It operates on simple electromagnetic induction principles:

When an electric current passes through a wire winding within the relay’s coil it creates magnetic flux which pulls down its armature and closes contacts connected mechanically to a second set of terminals functioning as output switches from one location to another.

This process continues until either power is cut off (opening circuits) or when manual button pressed internally reverts back resetting operation (closes circuits).

An electromechanical switch that opens and closes circuits is called a relay. The main function of this device is to establish or break contact by a signal and it does not need human interaction to be turned on or off.

It is mostly utilised to employ a low-power signal to operate a high-powered circuit. Typically, a DC signal is utilised to operate a circuit that is powered by high voltage, such as when using microcontrollers to operate AC home appliances.

Construction:

Construction of Relay
  1. The relay is physically and electrically driven. It consists of electromagnetic fields and contact sets that carry out the switching function. Relay construction is primarily divided into four groups. They are the housing, terminations, electromechanical design, bearings, contacts, and terminations.
  2. The most crucial essential component of the relay that influences dependability is the contacts. Good contacts have minimal contact resistance and little wear. The type of current to be interrupted, its size, frequency, and voltage of operation are only a few of the variables that affect the contact material choice.
  3. The magnetic circuit design and the mechanical attachment of the armature, yoke, and core are both included in the electromechanical design. The resistance of the magnetic route is minimized to increase the circuit's efficiency. Soft iron electromagnets typically have coil current and voltage limitations of 5 amps and 220 volts, respectively. 

Relay Contact Types

It can be classified, depending on the poles and throws

  1. Single Pole Single Throw (SPST)
  2. Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT)
  3. Double Pole Single Throw (DPST)
  4. Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT)

Single Pole Single Throw (SPST):

 

Circuit diagram of SPST

 

Fig. 2. Circuit diagram of SPST 

A switch with only one input and one output is referred to as a Single Pole Single Throw (SPST) switch.

The single input terminal and single output terminal are shown here. An SPST switch serves as an on/off switch in a circuit.

The circuit is activated when the switch is closed. The circuit is cut off when the switch is in the open position.

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Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT):

Single Pole Double Throw

 

Fig. 3. Circuit diagram of SPDT

 

An SPDT switch allows for the connection of two outputs to a single input.

This indicates that it has two output terminals and one input terminal. A single pole double throw switch has several applications in a circuit. Whether or not the circuit may be utilized as an on/off switch depends on how it is connected.

Or it can connect circuits to any two different paths that a circuit may need to follow in order to function. For instance, a printer's Ready Mode and Standby Mode can be created by connecting an SPDT switch.

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Double Pole Single Throw (DPST)

Circuit diagram of DPST

 

Fig. 4. Circuit diagram of DPST

 

A double pole single throw (DPST) switch is used to link two source terminals to the corresponding output terminals.

It contains four terminals (but never to each other). In an "ON/OFF" configuration, a DPST switch can be utilised with its terminal pairs either connected ("ON") or disconnected ("OFF").

Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT):

Double Pole Double Throw

 

Fig. 5. Circuit diagram of DPDT

 

A Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) switch is a switch with two inputs and four outputs, each of which can be connected to one of the two corresponding outputs. A double pole, the double switch has two possible orientations for each of its terminals. Due to its versatility, the double pole, double throw switch. It may be connected to 4 distinct outputs with just 2 inputs. A circuit can be rerouted into one of two operating modes.

Check out Solid State Relays

 

Types of relays:

Relays are an essential equipment for countless applications in the power system. They come in a variety of types and can be used to perform various functions related to protection, safety, control or automation.

Depending on what they’re being used for, relays may take different form factors such as electromechanical relays (EMR), static transfer switch (STS) or solid-state relay (SSR).

EMRs use current flow via coils to create magnetic fields, which, under certain circumstances, activate contact mechanisms to open or close circuits.

When transferring loads between two sources, STS is typically used to provide a continuous supply with little interruption.

Instead of utilizing moving elements, SSRs rely on semiconductor devices like transistors and transducers, which makes them more costly than other types of relays but more dependable.

Relays can be divided into several types based on their features, architecture and uses, etc. Here, we've included a few of the more typical relay kinds.

  1. Electromagnetic
  2. Latching
  3. Electronic
  4. Non-Latching
  5. Reed
  6. High-Voltage
  7. Small Signal
  8. Time Delay
  9. Multi-Dimensional
  10. Thermal
  11. Differential
  12. Distance
  13. Automotive
  14. Frequency
  15. Polarized
  16. Rotary
  17. Sequence
  18. Moving Coil
  19. Buchholz
  20. Safety
  21. Supervision
  22. Ground Fault

How to Test Relays?

How to Test Relays

Before testing a relay you need prepare it. Just follow these below steps to prepare your relay;

Steps for Preparing your Relay:

Step 1: Check for damage indicators like melting or blackening. Verify that the LED indications are off if the relay is not in use.

Step 2: Take great care while handling capacitors and carefully unplug all power sources, including line voltage and batteries.

Step 3: To ensure precise testing and prevent mistakes, refer to the relay schematic or datasheet for pin layouts and specifications.

Steps for Test a Coil Relay:

Step 1: First, identify the relay's component number. This number is frequently spotted on the relay casing. Once you have this information, check the relay's datasheet to establish the control coil's voltage and current requirements.

The purpose of this critical step is to ensure that the relay receives the proper amount of electricity.

Step 2: Some relays have diode protection to prevent the logic circuitry from harm caused by increased noise levels. A triangle with a bar across one corner is commonly used to represent diode protection.

Check to ensure that the diode's orientation matches to the positive connection on the control coil.

Step 3: Look at the contact structure of the relay, taking note of how many poles it has and whether or not it has normally closed (NC) and normally open (NO) connections.

You may find this information on the relay casing or in the datasheet. The connections between each pole will be shown in schematic drawings.

Step 4: Make sure the contacts are disconnected before turning on the relay. Determine the resistance between each pole and the corresponding NC and NO contacts using a digital multimeter (DMM).

In this scenario, resistance on the NO connection should be infinite, whereas resistance on the NC connection should be zero ohms.

Step 5: After verifying the status of the disconnected connections, activate the relay coil using power from a suitable source. Verify that the voltage level meets the requirements listed in the datasheet.

Remember the polarity of the independent power supply if your relay has diode protection. There should be a noticeable clicking sound when the relay is correctly powered.

Step 6: Once the relay is operating, test the resistance between each pole and its corresponding NC and NO contacts again using the Digital Multi Meter. The electrified state need to exhibit a value reversal in comparison to the de-energized state.

More precisely, NC connections should have infinite resistance while NO connections should have 0 ohms of resistance.

Steps for Testing Solid-State Relays:

Step 1: To evaluate the integrity of the relay, use an ohmmeter. Make sure the power to the control is off. Put the ohmmeter across the terminals that are usually open (N.O.).

The relay should show an open circuit (OL) when it is disconnected. When control power is applied, a working relay will display a closed circuit, usually at 0.2Ω.

Step 2: Change the multimeter's mode to diode test. Cross the A1(+) and A2(-) terminals using probes.

For silicon transistors, a measurement of around 0.7V or 0.5V for germanium transistors indicates typical operation. Any variation points to a malfunctioning relay.

Step 3: It is best to keep solid-state relays cool to maximize their lifespan and functionality. Consider DIN rail packages or block mountings for efficient heat dissipation.

It is important to employ caution when using SCR relays in heating applications since they may fail due to temperature fluctuations.

Applications of Relay:

When galvanic isolation is desired, relays are employed whenever it is necessary to control a high-power or high-voltage circuit with a low-power circuit.

Relays were first used on long telegraph lines, where a contact may be controlled by a weak signal received at an intermediate station, renewing the signal for further transmission.

Small, low-voltage wire and pilot switches can be used to control high-voltage or high-current equipment. Followings are the major 8 applications of relay.

  1. Lighting control systems
  2. Industrial process controllers
  3. Traffic control
  4. Motor drives control
  5. Protection systems of electrical power system
  6. Computer interfaces
  7. Automotive
  8. Home appliances

Conclusion:

In this blog, we understand what is a relay, working, contact types and different types of relays and applications. We have seen It works on the principle of electromagnetic attraction when it gets energized it operates according to the signal given.

Nowadays, this signal is given by the micro-controllers or microprocessors. These relays are also used in power system operations to detect and prevent the fault.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a relay used for?

An electrically operated switch that's utilized for the regulation of electrical current flow in a circuit is a Relay. It operates by either opening or closing the circuit based on an electrical signal, granting it the power to manipulate the flow of electricity to various electrical apparatus such as motors, lights and other electrical components. Relays have become a ubiquitous presence in automotive, industrial, and communication applications as they grant control over high-power devices using low-power signals. Moreover, they provide insulation and protection to delicate electronic devices by keeping them isolated from high voltage and current sources.

2. What is the principle of relay?

Relays essentially function as a switch that operates to control the flow of electrical current in a high-power circuit with a low-power circuit. It operates by harnessing the power of an electromagnet, which, when activated by an electrical signal from the low-power circuit, opens or closes the switch like a whimsical puppet master, controlling the flow of electrical energy remotely. Used in a plethora of applications, relays are ubiquitous in control systems, protection circuits and electrical distribution systems, serving as the gatekeepers, safeguarding and isolating electrical loads.

3. What is difference between relay and switch?

Relays and switches are two electric components that regulate the flow of electricity in a circuit, but they differ in their mode of operation! A relay is an electrically operated switch that harnesses the power of an electromagnet to either open or close a circuit, while a switch is a mechanical device that opens or closes a circuit physically. Switches can be activated manually, but relays are typically controlled by electrical signals. When it comes to usage, switches are utilized in applications that require low power, whereas relays are employed in high power applications where manual activation is neither feasible nor practical.

4. What are the four functions of a relay?

The four main functions of relays are: 

  • They combine and process multiple control signals for specified effects, 
  • Amplify small control signals to regulate larger power circuits,
  • Expand control ranges by changing multiple circuits at once,
  • Enable automatic, remote control, and monitoring functions in program control circuits.

5. Are relays AC or DC?

Relays can be defined as DC and AC both types. DC relays use a DC power supply and a small coil wire with several turns due to the wire's high coil resistance. whereas, the coil windings on AC relays are particularly built for AC characteristics. Both types operate electrical circuits by opening or closing contacts in response to input signals.

6. What is the work of 4 pin relay?

A 4-pin relay has two pins (30 & 87) that control one circuit and two other pins (85 & 86) that control the coil. Relays with four pins can be classified as Normally Closed (NC) or Normally Open (NO). When a coil is engaged, a normally closed relay shuts off the circuit's electricity, whereas a normally open relay turns it on.

7. How many circuits are in a relay?

Relay does not have its own circuits. Instead, it controls them.

One component is known as the control circuit, and it functions similarly to a small-power route. It features a coil and wire connectors. When you add electricity to a coil, it produces a magnetic field. The other component is the load circuit, which is comparable to the high-power path.

The relay works as a switch in this circuit. When it is engaged by the control circuit, electricity flows through the load circuit. When switched off, it stops the flow of power. So, even though a relay does not have its own circuits, it is still highly valuable for regulating energy in various parts of the device.

8. What is pole in relay?

In a relay, the "pole" functions as the main connecting point. It's the location where every connection occurs. Each location where the pole can connect to something else is referred to as a “throw.”

A relay with one pole and one throw is referred to as a single-pole single-throw (SPST). It's like having a single switch that can be turned on or off.

A relay with one pole but two throws is called a single-pole double-throw (SPDT). This indicates that the pole can connect to two separate locations, one normally open (NO) and one normally closed (NC).

A double-pole double-throw (DPDT) relay consists of two poles with two throws each. It's like having two switches, each with two choices.

Finally, there's something called an RF transfer switch, which is similar to a DPDT relay except for radio waves. It has four ports and two states, reset and set. In the reset state, one set of ports is linked to each other, while in the set state, it changes to a different set of ports.

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