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Relays FAQ02804 of General Purpose Relays FAQ

General Purpose Relays
FAQ No. FAQ02804
Solid-state Relays Question
Choosing from among CR elements, diodes, varistors, and other kinds of surge suppressor elements, which is the most
Power Controllers
effective for protecting contacts?

FAQ
Answer
For a DC load, a diode is generally the most effective, and the next most effective is CR elements. For an AC load, a
Technical Guide varistor or CR elements are the most effective.

Models with Standards Examples of Surge Suppressors:

Certification
Item Applicability Features and
Circuit example Element selection guidelines
SISTEMA Library Type AC DC remarks

Use the following as guides for C and R

eLearning values:
*Load impedance C: 0.5 to 1 F per 1 A of contact current (A)
Glossary of Industrial must be much R: 0.5 to 1 per 1 V of contact voltage (V)
Automation smaller than the CR These values depend on various factors,
circuit impedance including the load characteristics and
when using the variations in characteristics. Capacitor C
*
OK Relay for an AC suppresses the discharge when the
(OK)
voltage. contacts are opened, while the resistor R
When the contacts limits the current applied when the contacts
CR are open, current are closed the next time. Confirm optimum
type flows to the values experimentally.
inductive load via CR. Generally, use a capacitor with a dielectric
strength of 200 to 300 V. For applications in
an AC circuit, use an AC capacitor (with no
polarity). If there is any question about the
The release time of ability to cut off arcing of the contacts in
the contacts will be applications with high DC voltages, it may
OK OK increased if the load be more effective to connect the capacitor
is a Relay or and resistor across the contacts, rather than
solenoid. across the load. Perform testing with the
actual equipment to determine this.
The electromagnetic
energy stored in the
inductive load
reaches the inductive
Use a diode having a reverse breakdown
load as current via
voltage of more than 10 times the circuit
the diode connected
voltage, and a forward current rating greater
in parallel, and is
Diode than the load current. A diode having a
NG OK dissipated as Joule
type reverse breakdown voltage two or three
heat by the
times that of the supply voltage can be used
resistance of the
in an electronic circuit where the circuit
inductive load.
voltage is not particularly high.
This type of circuit
increases the
release time more
than the CR type.
This circuit effectively
Diode + shortens the release
The breakdown voltage of the Zener diode
Zener time in applications
NG OK should be about the same as the supply
diode where the release
voltage.
type time of a diode
circuit is too slow.
This circuit prevents
a high voltage from
being applied across
the contacts by
using the constant-
voltage characteristic
of a varistor. This The cutoff voltage Vc must satisfy the
circuit also following conditions. For AC, it must be
somewhat increases multiplied by 2.
Varistor
OK OK the release time. Vc > (Supply voltage 1.5)
type
Connecting the If Vc is set too high, its effectiveness will be
varistor across the reduced because it will fail to cut off high
load is effective voltages.
when the supply
voltage is 24 to 48
V, and across the
contacts when the
supply voltage is 100
to 240 V.

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FAQ02804 for General Purpose Relays | OMRON Industrial Automation https://www.ia.omron.com/support/faq/answer/36/faq02804/

Do not use a surge suppressor in the manners shown below.

This circuit arrangement is very effective for diminishing arcing at the contacts when breaking the circuit.
However, since electrical energy is stored in C (capacitor) when the contacts are open, the current from C flows into the
contacts when they close. This may lead to contact welding.

This circuit arrangement is very useful for diminishing arcing at the contacts when breaking the circuit.
However, since the charging current to C flows into the contacts when they are closed, contact welding may occur.

Note:Although it is thought that switching a DC inductive load is more difficult than a resistive load, an appropriate contact protection
circuit can achieve almost the same characteristics.

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