Have you ever needed to power a 12-volt relay in a circuit but only had 6 or 9 volts available? This simple circuit will solve that problem. It allows 12-volt relays to be operated from 6 or 9 volts, ...

Over the years, control relays of various types have been used by the hundreds — even thousands — to control nearly every function in commercial and industrial processes. Today, many of those ...

Potential relays are commonly found on many smaller, single-phase, capacitor-start, capacitor-run motors in the HVACR industry. Their function is to assist in starting the electric motor. Potential ...

As an electric motor’s rotor turns in close proximity to the motor windings, a bucking voltage or back electromotive force (EMF) is generated. The back EMF (BEMF) generated across the start winding is ...

This chapter covers representative general-purpose relays used in the control circuits of most industrial, commercial, and consumer products. Relay names and terminology are in accordance with ...

No matter what the application is, when a definite-purpose solution is required, time delay relays (TDRs) can provide simple, reliable, and economical control. Adjusting the delay time is often as ...

Relays and contactors use a variety of technologies to switch signals and power connections. Many devices called relays use similar techniques and topologies, but the terminology can be confusing.

An RC circuit in series with the coil allows full-current turn-on for reliable relay operation, then reduces the current to save power. Fellow engineer Sanjay R. Chendvankar of Mumbai, India, recently ...

Last column, I wrote about various applications where fire alarm relays could be used to integrate a commercial fire alarm system with other electrical systems at a customer’s site to provide them ...

Electromechanical relays can be manufactured with high-frequency RF characteristics that allow them to pass and switch signals in the 7-GHz range and beyond with the proper packaging. Two key RF ...

When it comes to electronics, it seems like a relay is such a simple device – yet, it is able to interface some pretty elaborate high-end systems with a fire alarm system. Working with relays is an ...

Relays are clunky, switch slowly, have contact bounce, and make noise, both acoustically and electromagnetically, so why are they still used? Relays are clunky, switch slowly, have contact bounce, and ...