Relay

Simple electromechanical switch made up of

electromagnet and set of contacts

Two states : open & close

A contact either normally open or normally close
 Relay Construction
Electric current through a conductor will produce
a magnetic field
The greater the current, the greater the
magnetic field
When power is applied the electromagnetic coil
energized
The electromagnetic field pulls the armature
 Relay Function
Allows current flow through the contacts
When power removed
- spring tension pushes the armature
away
Opening contacts
 Movable Movable
Armature
Contacts Contacts

Electromagnet

Stationary Contacts

Control Signals
Fig3 : Relay Function
Relay Function
 USEFULNESS OF RELAY

• Extremely useful when we have a need to

control a large amount of current and/or
voltage with a small electrical signal.
• A relay acts as binary (ON or OFF)
amplifier.
• It is quite likely that the current required to
energize the relay coil will be hundreds of
times less than the current rating of the
contact.
 Disadvantages of relay
 Limited life time.
 arcing
 contact bounce
 Slow speed of operation
 Corrosion of contacts
Solid state Relay (SSR)
• Solid State Relays overcomes problems like limited
lifetime, corrosion of contacts, arcing, contact bounce,
slow speed etc.

• Relays of this type are only capable of controlling ac

operated devices.

• Solid state relays are commercially available in the

industry for its merits and popularity
 Solid state relay (SSR)
 A SSR basically comprises a TRIAC or silicon control
rectifier triggered by an infrared light source.

 SSRs are capable of controlling only AC operate

devices like as motor or heater.

 Here Infrared Emitting Diode is used to trigger silicon

bilateral switch (SBS)
 1 to 10 mA DC 40 Amp AC

IRED SBS

Figure : Functional block diagram of a solid state relay.

 Types
• Basically, two types of SSRs are available.

• The classification of SSR is dependent on

the switching used in the circuitry.

• They are :-
(1) Zero-cross Switching.
and (2) Random Switching.
 Zero-Cross switching
• Zero-cross switching relays do not switch-
on initially.

• When the first zero-crossing of the line

voltage after the control signal is applied,
the relay is switched on.
 Random switching
• Random switching relays switch on
immediately after the receipt of the control
signal.

• A proper type of device should be

selected, depending on the nature of the
application.
 Opto-couplers
Known as opto-isolator.
Provides optical isolation and coupling
between two circuits.
Assembled with traditional semiconductor
packages contains-
a.LED and
b.Photosensitive semiconductor device in the
same housing

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Typical Optocoupler Configurations

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Typical Optocoupler Configurations
(cont.)
In transmitting side LED can be made to emit
light by passing specified amount of forward
current.

In receiving side we can use three types devices

1.Photo diode
2.Photo Transistor
3.Photo Darlington-Pair

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 Drawbacks of optocouplers
Fairly Expensive.

Bulkier and heavier than optical devices.

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 Types of Optocoupler
2 types on packaging:

Slotted Optocoupler:
- has a slot moulded between LED
light sourse and phototransistor
- the slot houses transparent
windows
 Types of Optocoupler
- Application :
detecting applications, limit switching and
liquid level detection.
 Types of Optocoupler
Reflective Optocoupler:
- LED and phototransistor are
optically screened from each other

- is an optocoupled link set up by a

reflective object placed a short distance outside
the package
 Types of Optocoupler
- Application :
tape-position detection, engine-
shaft revolution counting or speed measurement
or smoke or fog detection.