There are many machines included in industrial operations nowadays, and most are powered by electricity. Though the electric current is essential for your production process, it can also be the source of significant damage to your industry if not adequately controlled. The key option for the protection of your industry against electric fires is a relay. This is a controlled device which will open or close your industry’s electrical contacts to regulate the operation devices in a similar or different electric circuit.
In the past, mercury relays were the mainstay of industrial operations. Nowadays, you have a range of options for relays in your industrial processes. The following are your available options.
Electromechanical Relays
These relays are constructed in a manner which makes them easily adaptable to a range of applications. In their operation, a coil is directly pulled on an armature and the movable contacts which are connected to the armature. There are three duty ranges for electromechanical relays, including heavy (at least 15 amperes), medium (two to ten amperes), and light (2 amperes at most). Time-delay, crystal can, latch-in, differential, resonant reed, and power-type relays are the most common types of electromechanical relays used in industries. These relays are highly inductive, and they have a constant inductance value and longer switching periods compared to solid-state relays.
Dry-Reed Relays
Unlike electromechanical relays, these relays do not need an armature. They will generate a flux which will act directly on the contacts without any linkage. Two separated magnetic flux and electrically conducting elements contained in a sealed glass envelope comprise the relays. When the coil on the relay is energized, the conducting elements will attach and form a closed circuit. Dry-reed relays are generally used in lab and production test instruments, computer input and output devices, and communication systems.
Mercury-Wetted Relays
The contacting faces in these devices contain mercury. The mercury which is drawn from a capsule is pushed by pressure to either open or close an electric circuit. The relay is completely sealed in a high-grade approved epoxy to prevent voltage and moisture damage. In mercury-wetted relays, the power and signal levels can be switched without affecting your electrical load’s nature though the mercury might solidify at low temperatures. They are generally used in electronic data processors, communication equipment, computer output and input device production, and lab test equipment.
Solid-State Relays
These, unlike other relay options, have no moving parts. A solid-state relay is essentially a semiconductor switching device which contains input terminals that are isolated from your current’s output switch path. The relays work on both DC and AC supply and have high switching speeds, owing to the absence of moving components. They also have a higher life expectancy and generate less noise compared to other relay options.
The above relays will make a significant difference in your industry’s operation and the safety of your workers and machines. Picking the one which will suit your industry is hence essential. The best bet to making the right choice is to get an expert’s input before you settle on a relay. It should also be installed by a qualified electrician to guarantee its optimal operation.
