11.
GLOSSARY OF COMMON RELAY TERMS
1. Operating force or torque - that which 15.
tends to close the contacts of the relay.
2. Restraining for ce or Torque - that which
opposes the operating force or torque and
tends to prevent the closure of the relay
contacts. 16.
3. Pickup (level) - The value of current or
voltage etc. which is the threshold above
which the relay will close its contacts. 17.
4. Dropout (level) OR Reset - The values
of current or voltage etc., which is the
threshold below which the relay will open 18.
its contacts and return to normal position
or state.
5. Characteristic (of a relay in the steady 19.
state) - the locus of the pick up or reset
when drawn on a graph.
20.
6. Backup relay - A relay which operates
usually after a slight delay, if the normal
relay does not operate to trip its circuit
breaker.
21.
7. Selectivity - The ability of the relay to
discriminate between a fault in the
protected section and abnormal conditions
or a fault else where on the system.
8. Consistency - The accuracy with which
the relay can repeat its electrical or time 22.
characteristic.
9. Flag or Target - A visual device, usually
spring or gravity operated for indicating the
operation of a relay.
23.
10. Instantaneous relay - One which has no
intentional time delay and operates in less
than 0.1 second.
11. Burden (VA) - The power absorbed by the
24.
circuits of the relay expressed in volt-
amperes if alternating current, and in watts
if direct current at the rated current or
voltage.
12. Operating time - The time which elapses
from the moment when actuating quantity
25.
attains a value equal to the pick up value
until the relay operates its contacts.
13. Blocking - Preventing the protective relay
26.
from tripping, either due to its own
characteristic or to an additional relay.
14. Annunciator - Audible and/or visible
alarm or signal initiated electrically.
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Circuit breaker - A device for interrupting a
circuit between separate contacts under
normal or abnormal conditions. May be
operated manually or automatically for circuit
control by overload or the selected condition.
Circuit breaker mechanism: - An assembly
of levers, cranks and other parts which actuate
the moving contacts of a circuit breaker.
Dash pot - A device using a gas or liquid to
absorb energy or retard the movement of
moving parts such as on a circuit breaker.
Closing coil - The electromagnet or solenoid
which supplies power for closing a circuit
breaker.
Trip coil - An electromagnet used for opening
a circuit breaker.
Diffwerential relay - A relay which functions
by reason of the difference between two
quantities of the same nature such as current
or voltage.
Instrument transformer (CTs, PTs) - Used
for measuring and control purposes, provides
current and voltages representative of the
primary components but of such magnitude
that there is less danger to instruments and
personnel.
Interlock - An electrical or mechanical
arrangement that prevents one operation or
sequence of operation from taking place, until
another prerequisite operation or condition has
been satisfied.
Solenoid - An Electro magnetic coil which
when electrically energised produces a
mechanical force by acting up on a free
armature in the coil axis.
T.M.S. Time Multiplier setting (UK) T.L.S.
Time lever setting (U.S.A) - A means of
adjusting the movable back stop which controls
the travel of the disc and thereby varies the
time in which the relay will close its contacts
for given values of current.
Plug setting bridge (UK) or Tap block (USA)
- A device providing a range of current settings
at which the relay will start to operate.
Capacitor - An electrical device for storing of
electricity and returning it to the line. It is used
to balance the inductance of a circuit since its
action is opposite in phase to that of inductive
apparatus i.e., it throws the current ahead of
emf in phase.
T & SS Training Institute, Madurai.