Relay: Prepared By: Engr. Irish Jasmine C. Morales, Rme

Relay
PREPARED BY:
ENGR. IRISH JASMINE C. MORALES, RME
Relay
 An electromechanical relay is an electrical switch that is typically operated by

using electromagnetism to operate a mechanical switching mechanism.
 An electrical relay is an electromagnetically operated electrical switch - an
electromechanical switch. A relatively small current is used to create a magnetic
field in a coil within a magnetic core and this is used to operate a switch that can
control a much larger current.
 Many relays use an electromagnet to mechanically operate a switch, but other
operating principles are also used, such as solid-state relay.
Relay
 Relays are used where it is necessary to control a circuit by a low-power signal

(with complete electrical isolation between control and controlled circuits), or
where several circuits must be controlled by one signal.
 The first relays were used in long distance telegraph circuits as amplifiers:
they repeated the signal coming in from one circuit and re-transmitted it on
another circuit.
 A type of relay that can handle the high power required to directly control an
electric motor or other loads is called a contactor.
Relay
Principle of Relay
 A relay may also be called an “electromagnetic switch”
 Relays use a “low amperage circuit” to control a “high amperage circuit”
 The low amperage circuit controls an electromagnetic device.
 The electromagnetic device “closes/opens” the high amperage circuit.
Operation of Relay
 A simple electromagnetic relay consists of a coil of wire wrapped around a

soft iron core, an iron yoke which provides a low reluctance path for magnetic
flux, a movable iron armature, and one or more sets of contacts.
 The armature is hinged to the yoke and mechanically linked to one or more sets
of moving contacts.
 It is held in place by a spring so that when the relay is de-energized there is
an air gap in the magnetic circuit.
 In this condition, one of the two sets of contacts in the relay pictured is closed,
and the other set is open. Other relays may have more or fewer sets of contacts
depending on their function.
 The relay in the picture also has a wire connecting the armature to the yoke.
Operation of Relay
 When an electric current is passed through the coil it generates a magnetic field
that activates the armature, and the consequent movement of the movable
contact(s) either makes or breaks (depending upon construction) a connection
with a fixed contact.
 If the set of contacts was closed when the relay was de-energized, then the
movement opens the contacts and breaks the connection, and vice versa if the
contacts were open.
 When the current to the coil is switched off, the armature is returned by a
force, approximately half as strong as the magnetic force, to its relaxed position.
Usually this force is provided by a spring, but gravity is also used commonly in
industrial motor starters.
Operation of Relay
 Most relays are manufactured to operate quickly. In a low-voltage application

this reduces noise; in a high voltage or current application it reduces arcing.
 When the coil is energized with direct current, a diode is often placed across the
coil to dissipate the energy from the collapsing magnetic field at deactivation,
which would otherwise generate a voltage spike dangerous to semiconductor
circuit components.
Types of Relay
1.LACHING RELAY
2.INDUCTION TYPE RELAY
3.REED RELAY
4.MERCURY-WETTED RELAY
5.SOLID STATE RELAY
Latching Relay
 A latching relay (also called "impulse", "keep", or "stay" relays)maintains

either contact position indefinitely without power applied to the coil.
 The advantage is that one coil consumes power only for an instant while the relay
is being switched, and the relay contacts retain this setting across a power outage.
 A latching relay allows remote control of building lighting without the hum
that may be produced from a continuously (AC) energized coil.
 This type is widely used where control is from simple switches or single-ended
outputs of a control system, and such relays are found in avionics and
numerous industrial applications.
Induction Type Relay
 These are used as protective relays in AC systems alone and are usable with DC
systems.
 The actuating force for contacts movement is developed by a moving
conductor that may be a disc or a cup ,through the interaction of
electromagnetic fluxes due to fault currents.
 These are of several types like shaded pole, watt-hour and induction cup
structures and are mostly used as directional relays in power system protection
and also for high-speed switching operation applications.
Reed Relay
 Reed relays can switch. A reed relay is a reed switch enclosed in a solenoid.
 The switch has a set of contacts inside an faster than larger relays and require very
little power from the control circuit. However, they have relatively low switching
current and voltage ratings.
 Though rare, the reeds can become magnetized over time, which makes them
stick 'on' even when no current is present; changing the orientation of the reeds
with respect to the solenoid's magnetic field can resolve this problem.
 Sealed contacts with mercury-wetted contacts have longer operating lives and
less contact chatter than any other kind of relay.
Mercury-wetted Relay
 A mercury-wetted relay is a form of reed relay in which the contacts are wetted
with mercury.
 Such relays are used to switch low-voltage signals (one volt or less) where the
mercury reduces the contact resistance and associated voltage drop, for low-
current signals where surface contamination may make for a poor contact, or for
high-speed applications where the mercury eliminates contact bounce.
 Mercury wetted relays are position-sensitive and must be mounted vertically to
work properly. Because of the toxicity and expense of liquid mercury, these relays
are now rarely used.
Solid-state Relay
 A solid state relay or SSR is a solid state electronic component that provides a
function similar to an electromechanical relay but does not have any moving
components, increasing long-term reliability.
 A solid-state relay uses a thyristor, TRIAC or other solidstate switching device,
activated by the control signal, to switch the controlled load, instead of a solenoid
 An optocoupler (a light-emitting diode (LED) coupled with a phototransistor) can
be used to isolate control and controlled circuits.
 As every solid-state device has a small voltage drop across it, this voltage drop
limits the amount of current a given SSR can handle.
Advantages
 Electromagnetic relays have fast operation and fast reset.

 They can be used for both ac and dc systems for protection of ac and dc
equipment.
 They have the properties such as simple, robust, compact and most reliable &
These relays are almost instantaneous.
Disadvantages
 The directional feature is absent in electromagnetic relays. Requires periodic

maintenance and testing unlike static relays.
 Relay operation can be affected due to ageing of the components and dust,
pollution resulting in spurious trips.
Applications
 Electromagnetic relays are employed for the protection of various ac and dc

equipment.
 The over/under current and voltage protection of various ac and dc equipment.
 For differential protection.
 Used as auxiliary relays in the contact systems of protective relay schemes

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Relay: Prepared By: Engr. Irish Jasmine C. Morales, Rme

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Relay

 An electromechanical relay is an electrical switch that is typically operated by

 Relays are used where it is necessary to control a circuit by a low-power signal

 A simple electromagnetic relay consists of a coil of wire wrapped around a

 Most relays are manufactured to operate quickly. In a low-voltage application

 A latching relay (also called "impulse", "keep", or "stay" relays)maintains

 Electromagnetic relays have fast operation and fast reset.

 The directional feature is absent in electromagnetic relays. Requires periodic

 Electromagnetic relays are employed for the protection of various ac and dc

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