Relay

Relay is an electrically operated switch. A relay is automatic device which

senses an abnormal condition of electrical circuit and closes its contacts. These contacts
in turns close and complete the circuit breaker trip coil circuit and make the circuit
breaker tripped for disconnecting the faulty portion of the electrical circuit from rest of
the healthy circuit.
About material of relay, it consists of two separate and completely
independent circuits. The first is at the bottom and drives the electromagnet. In this
circuit, a switch is controlling power to the electromagnet. When the switch is on, the
electromagnet is on, and it attracts the armature (blue). The armature is acting as a
switch in the second circuit. When the electromagnet is energized, the armature
completes the second circuit and the light is on. When the electromagnet is not
energized, the spring pulls the armature away and the circuit is not complete. In that
case, the light is dark.
The Types of Relay
1. Electromechanical Relays
These type of relays are made of a coil that induces a magnetic field when it gets
energized and moves the armature, which closes or opens the contacts.

Usually there are 2 types of relays:

a) Latching
b) Non-Latching

2. Reed Relay

The reed relay consists of a switch with magnetic contacts that move under the
influence of an external magnetic or the induced field from its solenoid. They have
faster switching speed compared to the electromechanical ones but their switching
current and voltage is lower mainly because of its contacts thickness.
Here you can read more about it.

3. Solid-State Relay (SSR)

The SSR is basically a circuit with various electronic components that has the same
function as an electromechanical relay. The advantage of using SSR is that it doesnt
have moving parts so it lasts longer and doesnt make noises.

Based on the number of Pole and Throw, relay is devided into 4 types:
Single Pole Single Throw (SPST)

Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT)

Double Pole Single Throw (DPST)

Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT)

The Function of Relay

1. As a Logic Function
2. As a Time Delay Function
3. Controlling High Voltage Circuit supported by Low-voltage signal.
4. Protecting motor or the other component from overload or short-circuit.
The Characteristic of Relay

Rated Coil Voltage

The Rated Coil Voltage of a relay is the voltage that the relay is supposed to receive
in order to be energized. This is the voltage that the relay ideally should receive
when you energize it. So when designing a relay circuit, you should check its rated
coil voltage on the datasheet of the specified relay, and make sure that you design
the circuit so that it receives this voltage.

Seted Operate Voltage

The set or operate voltage of a relay is the minimum voltage that the relay can
receive in order to operate with full functionality. If a relay fails to receive the set
(operate) voltage, it may not have enough voltage in order to be energized and
function properly. When designing a relay circuit, make sure that it at least receives
its operate voltage. Ideally, it should receive the rated coil voltage, which is the
voltage it was meant to receive to be powered with full functionality. But the circuit
can also work at its minimum rating specified on the datasheet.

Rated Power
This is the power that a relay is specifically meant to handle. For example, if a relay
is rated at 60W, no more than 60W should be used with the relay. The power rating
is the power consumption of the coil, usually expressed in milliwatts, when the relay
is energized. Power should not be used for a relay above its power rating.
Sometimes the power is expressed in ampere ratings, milliamperes.

Switching Capacity
The maximum amount of current that you can switch with contacts inside the relay.
Usually this is for resistive loads, which are attached to the contacts of a relay,
example being a light bulb attached to the relay contacts for the relay to power it on.
When you use a device that requires a lot of current, such as a motor, the motor
takes a big initial surge of current before it gets up to speed. In this case, make sure
you choose a relay rated for double the current that the motor draws when it is
running

Applications of relay
1. Change motor direction with DPDT relay
Double Pole Double Throw relay, it is quite interesting and can be used in various
scenarious, including for changing the direction of a motor. It can be used to choose
between 2 different types and have a visual indication of what rotation is choosen. It
has 2 terminals and 4 connectors and you can look at the DPDT relay as the
equivalent of 2 Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) relays.

Relay
Definition and material of relay

Symbols and types of relay

Function and Characteristic of relay

Applications of Relay
Change motor direction with DPDT relay

Switch 2 circuits with SPDT relay