Relay basics, tutorial

Found this webpage and thought it might help someone else new to relays (like me). Got my first ones in the mail today and am going to try to put them to use later this week.

http://www.bcae1.com/relays.htm

Great find! I nominate this for the 'useful stuff' sticky.

Excellent...I've been looking for something to explain relays to me...thank you very much

Awesome site there goes the week.

On the subject of relays, check this link from WoodNotOil -- a board with 4 solid-state relays, 4 to 32v dc input; 50-240vac out, 2amp. Quite alot for 20 bucks. Haven't tried it, but hope to soon.

http://cubloc.com/product/01_03ssr4.php

Thanks for the great web tutorial, Mr. Ed. I really was in need of just such a page.

Robert

Nice relay 101 explanation... The car audio emphasis is a bit distracting from the relay tech part, but the principles are pretty good. Could stand to make a bit more emphasis on the need to match the voltage, current and AC/DC choices to the application, but again, not bad.

Will try adding it to the "tidbits" when i get a chance... (BTW, any of the mods can add stuff there, I won't mind...)

Gooserider

One other point worth mentioning - you will occasionally run into "solid state" relays - These are an electronic equivalent to the traditional "electro-mechanical" relays discussed in the tutorial above...

They can be a little fussier about insisting on the right control (coil) and switched voltages, currents, and AC / DC type, and often will insist on the right polarities, etc... However they can be very useful and offer advantages in the right application. They are particularly good for computer control type applications, because they often require less power to switch them than a mechanical relay.

However, while they work differently under the (non-removable) cover, from where we sit as system builders, they do the same thing, and can mostly be wired up the same way...

Gooserider