Relay pin configuration and implementation in the circuits

Relay is frequently used by engineers and technician wherever a smart system is required in terms of the breaking or connecting a circuit or to introduce some automation. Relay is an electromagnetic switch that is used as a two way connector or switch in the robotic circuit at low voltage level from 12V to 30V and also they are used in the power system (transmission and distribution) at high voltage level of order in KV. But here I am goanna to talk about the relay those are used in the robotics circuit to control the motor drive circuit and sensor. Internal structure and construction of a relay is shown in the picture below showing the various terminals of the relay i.e. common, normally closed (NC), normally opened (NO), coil terminal C1 & C2 , connector pin and coil used inside the relay.

Connector pin (made up of magnetic material) is fixed at one end as the one terminal called the common terminal whereas two terminal NC and NO are at the opposite end to the common terminal. Coil in the relay has resistance of 1K and is energised with the dc voltage, thereby produces the magnetic field. Normally (without the excitation of coil) connector pin is connected to the upper strip which is the portion of the right terminal and hence termed as normally closed (NC). Whenever coil is excited, as a result of flow of current in the coil magnetic field is produced which attracts the connector pin towards itself and thereby shifts the connector pin from NC to NO.

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Schematic diagrams show the function of excitation above. Thus relay act as a two way switch which makes the connection between common terminal and NO terminal in excitation mode and disable the connection in non-excitation mode.

Lets implement the relay to run the DC motor in either direction with one power source. When a DC motor is connected to the DC power source then due to unidirectional nature of current it runs only in one direction either clock wise or counter clock wise. If it is required to run in another direction then polarity of the battery is needed to revert so that polarity of current also changes. But polarity of current can be changed without reverting the battery using a two way switch. And it is better accompanied by the relay. Circuit Description: Here is the requirement of one DC Motor, two relay, two push key, one power source to run motor (let 9V) and one 5V battery to energise the coil. Make the connections as depicted in the diagram below.

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Two relay are being used here so the two terminals of both the relay are connected in such a way so that after connection both the coil appears in parallel, here this is necessary because excitation of both the relay must occur simultaneously. Excitation of coils may be with external power source or within the same power source which is being used to power up the motor with the help of voltage regulator. After making the connections now you will be able to control the direction of motor with two push key S1 &S2. Whenever you press the S1 then motor is connected to the two different terminals of the battery and thus motor runs in one direction. But when S2 is pressed then excitation of two coils occur and connector pin of the relay is shifted from NC to NO terminal and connects the motor to battery in the reverse polarity than that of previously connected and motor runs in the opposite direction. Note: Direction of current or polarity across the coil does not matter for the excitation. Same circuit is implemented to control the direction of two or four motors by adding two more relay in the same manner where no readymade remote control is being used.

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