Business > Industrial Devices > Automation Controls Top > Components & Devices > Relays / Couplers > Relay Terminology
To protect from dust, these types are covered, for example, with a plastic case.
We recommend hand soldering, because these relays are not constructed to prevent flux and cleaning fluid from entering during automatic soldering.
The relay is constructed so that flux will not enter inside the relay during automatic soldering. However, cleaning is not possible.
Construction is designed to prevent seeping of flux when soldering and cleaning fluid when cleaning. Harmful substances on the contacts are removed by gas purging before sealing with.
This type is hermetically sealed with ceramic and metal plating. No harmful gas or humidity will ever reach the contacts. This type cannot be washed.
Type | Construction | Characteristics | Automatic Soldering |
Automatic Cleaning |
Dust Resistance |
Harmful Gas Resistance |
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Dust Cover Type |
Most basic construction where the case and base (or body) are fitted together. | Caution | No | Caution | No | |
Flux-Resistant Type |
Terminals are sealed or molded simultaneously. The joint between the case and base is higher than the surface of the PC board. | Yes | No | Caution | No | |
Terminals, case and base are filled with sealing resin. | Yes | No | Caution | No | ||
Sealed Type | Sealed construction including terminals and case. The base is sealed with sealing resin. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes* | |
Sealed capsule type |
Hermetically sealed construction by sealing the metal case and plate, and the terminal and ceramic part, with solder. | No | No | Yes | Yes |
* Since the plastic material is porous, please avoid atmospheric exposure to silicon.
Relay which turns on when the coil is energized and turns off when de-energized.
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Relay with latching construction that can maintain the on or off state with a pulse input.
With one coil, the relay is set or reset by applying signals of opposite polarities.
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Relay with latching construction composed of 2 coils: set coil and reset coil. The relay is set or reset by alternately applying pulse signals of the same polarity.
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Indicates the set and reset states (electrically or mechanically) for easy maintenance. Also available are an LED version (SF relays slim type with LED).
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Type | PC board through hole terminal |
PC board selfclinching terminal |
Plugin terminal | Quick connect terminal |
Screw terminal |
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Typical relay | |||||
Terminal configuration |
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Typical relay type |
GQ relays TX relays DS relays |
TQ relays | SP relays HE relays |
LF relays | HE relays EP relays |
Type | Insertion mount | Socket mount | Terminal socket mount |
TM type | TMP type |
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Mounting configuration |
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Typical relay options |
GQ relays TX relays DS relays |
NC relays | SP relays | EP relays | LF relays |
Note) Sockets are available for certain PC board relays. (S relay, ST relay, etc.)
A single value (or narrow range) of source voltage intended by design to be applied to the coil or input.
As the voltage on an unoperated relay is increased, the value at or below which all contacts must function (transfer).
For latching relays, the voltage at the time of operation from the reset state to the set state is called the set voltage.
As the voltage on an operated relay is decreased, the value at or above which all contacts must revert to their unoperated position.
The operate voltage (set voltage) and the release voltage (reset voltage) are normally specified at a temperature of 20°C, but some relays are 25°C, so check the values in the catalog.
The value of current flow in the coil when rated voltage is impressed on the coil.
This is the DC resistance of the coil in DC type relays for the temperature conditions listed in the catalog. (Note that for certain types of relays, the DC resistance may be for temperatures other than the standard 20°C)
The value of power used by the coil at rated voltage. For DC coils expressed in watts; AC expressed as volt amperes.
Rated operating power (W or VA) = Rated voltage x Rated current.
This is the maximum voltage tolerance that can be applied to the operating coil. However, it is not a continuous tolerance. It depends on the ambient temperature, so please check the catalog value according to the type.
A black coil represents the energized state. For latching relays, schematic diagrams generally show the coil in its reset state.
Therefore, the coil symbol is also shown for the reset coil in its reset state.
Single side stable type | 1 coil latching type | 2 coil latching type | ||
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Nonpolarized | Polarized | 4-terminal | 3-terminal | |
Denotes the contact mechanism and number of contacts in the contact circuit.
Form A contacts (Normally open contacts) |
Form B contacts (Normally closed contacts) |
Form C contacts (Changeover contacts) |
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Abbreviation for make-before-break contacts. Contact mechanism where Form A contacts (normally open contacts) close before Form B contacts open (normally closed contacts).
This value is the combined resistance of the resistance when the contacts are touching each other, the resistance of the terminals and contact spring. The contact resistance is measured using the voltage-drop method as shown below. The measuring currents are designated.
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Rated Contact Current or Switching Current (A) |
Test Current (mA) |
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Less than 0.01 | 1 |
0.01 or more and less than 0.1 | 10 |
0.1 or more and less than 1 | 100 |
1 or more | 1,000 |
In general, for relays with a contact rating of 1 A or more, measure using the voltage-drop method at 6 V DC 1 A.
Material used for relay contacts.
It is a reference value that determines the performance of the relay switching section and is expressed by the combination of the contact voltage and the contact current.
The upper limit of power which can be switched by the contacts. Care should be taken not to exceed this value.
The maximum open circuit voltage which can safely be switched by the contacts.
AC and DC voltage maximums will differ in most cases.
The maximum current which can safely be switched by the contacts. AC and DC current maximums may differ.
This is a current that can be continuously energized to the opening/closing part without exceeding the temperature rise limit of the relay contact terminal and other parts while the contact is closed.
A value that serves as a guide for the lower limit of openable/closable at a small load level. This value depends on the frequency of opening and closing, environmental conditions, required contact resistance change, and absolute value. Use AgPd contact relays if you require analog microload control. Contact our sales representative before use.
The resistance value between all mutually isolated conducting sections of the relay, i.e. between coil and contacts, across open contacts and between coil or contacts to any core or frame at ground potential. This value is usually expressed as "initial insulation resistance" and may decrease with time, due to material degradation and the accumulation of contaminants.
Between coil and contacts | Between coil terminal and all contact terminals |
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Between open contacts | Between different pole contact terminals |
Between contact sets | Between the same pole contact terminals |
Between set coil and reset coil | Between set coil terminal and reset coil terminal |
The maximum voltage which can be tolerated by the relay without damage for a specified period of time, usually measured at the same points as insulation resistance. Usually the stated value is in VAC (RMS) for one minute duration.
The ability of the device to withstand an abnormal externally produced power surge, as in a lightning strike, or other phenomenon. An impulse test waveform is usually specified, indicating rise time, peak value and fall time.
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The elapsed time from the initial application of power to the coil, until the closure of the Form A (normally open) contacts. (With multiple pole devices the time until the last contact closes.) This time does not include any bounce time. In the case of a latching relay, the time from the application of the rated voltage to the set coil in the reset state to the contact of the Form A contact is called the set time.
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The elapsed time from the initial removal of coil power until the reclosure of the Form B (normally closed) contacts (last contact with multi-pole). This time does not include any bounce time.
In the case of a latching relay, this refers to the time from the application of the rated voltage to the reset coil in the set state until the contact Form B comes into contact.
In the case of relay with only Form A contact (1 Form A, 2 Form A), the time until the contact is opened.
Generally expressed in time (ms), this refers to the intermittent switching phenomenon of the contacts which occurs due to the collision between the movable metal parts or contacts, when the relay is operated or released.
Shock resistance is divided into Functional and Destructive, and each of them has the following meaning.
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Vibration resistance is divided into Functional and Destructive, and each of them has the following meaning.
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The minimum number of times the relay can be operated under nominal conditions (coil voltage, temperature, humidity, etc.) with no load on the contacts.
The minimum number of times the relay can be operated under nominal conditions with a specific load being switched by the contacts.
This is listed in the data column for each type of relay as the maximum value of the contact capacity and is an interrelationship of the maximum switching power, maximum switching voltage, and maximum switching current.
The switching current and switching voltage can be obtained from this graph.
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This is listed in the data column for each type of relay. The life (number of operations) can be estimated from the switching voltage and switching current.
For example, for a DS relay operating at:
Switching voltage = 125 V AC
Switching current = 0.6 A
The life expectancy is 300 x 103 operations.
However, this value is for a resistive load. Be sure to carefully check the actual load before use.
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High frequency resonance is generated from the interference between the input signal and reflected (wave) signal. V.S.W.R. refers to the ratio of the maximum value to minimum value of the waveform. The V.S.W.R. is 1 when there is no reflected wave. It usually becomes greater than 1.
At the high frequency region, signal disturbance occurs from self-induction, resistance, and dielectric loss as well as from reflection due to impedance mismatching in circuits. Loss due to any of these types of disturbances is called insertion loss. Therefore, this refers to the magnitude of loss of the input signal. The smaller the magnitude, the better the relay.
High frequency signals leak through the stray capacitance across contacts even if the contacts are separated. This leak is called isolation. The symbol dB (decibel) is used to express the magnitude of the leak signal. This is expressed as the logarithm of the magnitude ratio of the signal generated by the leak with respect to the input signal. The larger the magnitude, the better the isolation.
Catalog Download
Title | Language | File size | Update | |
---|---|---|---|---|
リレー用語説明 各種リレー共通(パワー,安全,シグナル,高周波,高容量,インターフェイスターミナル) |
JP | 276.4KB | May 30, 2022 | |
Definition of Relay Terminology Power Relays(Over 2A), Safty Relays, Signal Relays(2A or less), Microwave Devices, High-capacity DC Cutoff Relays and Interface Terminal. |
EN | 147.5KB | May 30, 2022 | |
继电器用语说明 | CN-Simplified | 847.6KB | August 9, 2019 |
PhotoMOS | |
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Use MOSFETs in output elements. Semiconductor relay for AC and DC load control. |
Power Relays (Over 2A) | |
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Mechanical relay with greater than 2A nominal switching capacity that is ideal for power supply applications. |
Safety Relays | |
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Safety relay ideal for safety circuit construction , with forcibly guided contact structure. |
Solid State Relays | |
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Semiconductor relay ideal for heater control, etc. SSR (Solid State Relay) |
Signal Relays (2A or less) | |
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Mechanical relay ideal for signal control, etc., with less than 2A nominal switching capacity. |
Microwave Devices | |
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Lineup spans from relays to coaxial switches. High-frequency devices that support high bandwidth frequencies. |
Automotive Relays | |
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Relays for automotive electrics that includes plug-in PCB type. |
High-capacity DC Cutoff Relays | |
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400 V DC high voltage switching possible. Up to 300 A current capacity type available. |
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