Relay

By Adib Abyan Nugroho

1. Meaning of Relay
Relays are switches that open and close circuits electromechanically or
electronically. Relays control one electrical circuit by opening and closing contacts in
another circuit. As relay diagrams show, when a relay contact is normally open, there
is an open contact when the relay is not energized. When a relay contact is Normally
Closed, there is a closed contact when the relay is not energized. In either case,
applying electrical current to the contacts will change their state. Relays are generally
used to switch smaller currents in a control circuit and do not usually control power
consuming devices except for small motors and Solenoids that draw low amps.
Nonetheless, relays can "control" larger voltages and amperes by having an
amplifying effect because a small voltage applied to a relays coil can result in a large
voltage being switched by the contacts.
Protective relays can prevent equipment damage by detecting electrical
abnormalities, including overcurrent, undercurrent, overloads and reverse currents. In
addition, relays are also widely used to switch starting coils, heating elements, pilot
lights and audible alarms.
2. Material of Relay
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.

3. Types of Relay
Based on the classification number Pole and Throw her a relay, the relay can be
classified into:
1. Single Pole Single Throw (SPST)

Single Pole Single Throw is a switch that only has a single input and can
connect only to one output. This means it only has one input terminal and only
one output terminal. A Single Pole Single Throw switch serves in circuits as onoff switches. When the switch is closed, the circuit is on. When the switch is
open, the circuit is off. SPST switches are, thus, very simple in nature. When the
SPST is closed, the circuit is open and light from the lamp switches on. When the
SPST is then opened, the light from the lamp goes out and the circuit is off.
2. Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT)
Single Pole Double Throw is a switch that only has a single input and can
connect to and switch between 2 outputs. This means it has one input terminal and
two output terminals. You can see above how a SPDT can be wired up to put a
circuit in either one of two modes. When the switch is connected one way, the
lamp will turn on, while the LED is off. When connected the other way, the LED
then turns on, and the lamp shuts off. This shows the dynamic 2-mode capacity
that SPDT switches allow.
3. Double Pole Single Throw (DPST)
Double Pole Single Throw is a switch that has 2 inputs and 2 outputs; each
input has 1 corresponding output. A Double Pole Single Switch has a lot of
versatility being that it accepts 2 inputs, which makes it then be able to drive 2
different outputs in a circuit. What it drives depends on the circuit design and what
the circuit is intended to do. But DPST have enormous applications in circuits.
4. Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT)
Double Pole Double Throw is a switch that has 2 inputs and 4 outputs; each
input has 2 corresponding outputs that it can connect to. Each of the terminals of a
double pole double switch can either be in 1 of 2 positions. This makes the the
double pole double throw switch a very versatile switch. With 2 inputs, it can
connect to 4 different outputs. It can reroute a circuit into 2 different modes of
operation.

For your information pole is The number of contacts (Contact) owned by a relay and
Throw is The number of conditions that are owned by a Contact (Contact).
4. Function of Relay
The function of relay to control one electric circuit or output device by
opening and closing the contacts on another circuit. Attraction relays can be
supplied by AC or DC, and operate by the movement of a piece of metal when it
is attracted by the magnetic field produced by a coil. There are two main types of
relay in this class. The attracted armature relay, which is shown in figure 1,
consists of a bar or plate of metal which pivots when it is attr acted towards the coil.
The armature carries the moving part of the contact, which is closed or opened
according to the design when the armature is attracted to the coil.
5. Characterictic of Relay
1. Rated Coil Voltage
The voltage that the relay is supposed to receive when you energize it.
2. Set (Operate) voltage
The minimum voltage that the relay needs to close its switch. This will
be a little less than the ideal coil voltage.
3. Rated Power (sometimes called Operating Current)
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.
4. 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.
6. Applications of 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 use 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. Beside any Telegraph,
Microprocessor, Ladder programming languange, Handphone, and Computer.

Relay
1. Meaning of Relay

2. Material of Relay

3. Types of Relay
1. Single Pole Single Throw (SPST)

2. Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT)

3. Double Pole Single Throw (DPST)

4. Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT)

5. Function of Relay
There are a few function. Yes on of them is to switch higher volt. Cmpter control systm 24

6. Characterictic of Relay
1. Rated Coil Voltage (must to reiceive)
2. Set (Operate) voltage (this is a little less than ideal)
3. Rated Power
4. Switching Capacity (resistive load included contact in rlay)

5. Applications of Relay
1. Double pole double relay (DPDT)
2. Telegraph

3. Microprocessor

4. Ladder programming Languange

5. Telephone and Television