Relays and Reed Switches
Relays and Reed Switches
Relays and Reed Switches
1. Relays:
A relay is a switch worked by an electromagnet. It is useful if we want
a small current in one circuit to control another circuit containing a device
such as a lamp or electric motor which requires a large current, or if we wish
several different switch contacts to be operated simultaneously.
When the controlling current flows through the coil, the soft iron core
is magnetized and attracts the L-shaped soft iron armature. This rocks on its
pivot and opens, closes or changes over, the electrical contacts in the circuit
being controlled it closes the contacts.
The current needed to operate a relay is called the pull-in current and
the dropout current in the coil when the relay just stops working. If the coil
resistance R of a relay is 185 and its operating voltage V is 12V, the pullin current I is given by:
I=V
12
= 0.065A = 65mA
185
2. Reed switches:
Relays operate comparatively slowly and for fast switching
of a signal circuit, e.g. in a telephone exchange, reed switches are used. The
reeds are thin strips of easily magnetizable and demagnetizable material.
They are sealed in a glass tube containing an inert gas such as nitrogen to
reduce corrosion of the contacts.
The switch is operated either by bringing a magnet near
or by passing a current through a coil surrounding it. In both cases reeds
become magnetized, attract each other and on touching they complete the