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Relays
What Is a Relay?
A relay is an electrical switching device that opens or closes a circuit in response to an electrical signal.
Relays are used in a wide range of equipment and machines that are controlled by electrical signals, from familiar products such as home appliances to industrial products and control panels.
There is also a wide variety of relays, and relays suitable for various applications are used in a wide range of situations.
Relays are used in a wide range of equipment and machines that are controlled by electrical signals, from familiar products such as home appliances to industrial products and control panels.
There is also a wide variety of relays, and relays suitable for various applications are used in a wide range of situations.
Definition of electromagnetic relay
In general, an electromagnetic relay is a device that switches electrical circuits on and off by energizing or de-energizing a coil, causing its contacts to open and close through electromagnetic force. They are also referred to as electromagnetic relays or mechanical relays.
Among them, small electromagnetic relays for control are defined as "hinged and reed type electromagnetic relays for use in electric circuits with an AC or DC frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz, a voltage of 250 V or less, and a current of 30 A or less". (See JIS C 5442 (corresponding international standard: IEC 255-7))
The electromagnetic relays we handle are reed type electromagnetic relays that employ the Yaskawa Power Reed Switch (Bestact), which has our original structure.
Among them, small electromagnetic relays for control are defined as "hinged and reed type electromagnetic relays for use in electric circuits with an AC or DC frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz, a voltage of 250 V or less, and a current of 30 A or less". (See JIS C 5442 (corresponding international standard: IEC 255-7))
The electromagnetic relays we handle are reed type electromagnetic relays that employ the Yaskawa Power Reed Switch (Bestact), which has our original structure.
Reed and Hinged Relays
Both "reed relays" and "hinged relays" use the electromagnetic force of the coil to drive the contacts, but the principle and structure are different. A reed relay uses a reed switch as its contact mechanism, and the contacts are opened and closed by the magnetic field generated by the coil. A hinged relay uses a hinge mechanism, and the magnetic force of the coil causes the contacts to rotate about the hinge, opening and closing the circuit.
Features of Reed Relays
The main features of reed relays are as follows:
➀ The contact part is sealed in a glass tube, making the contact mechanism less susceptible to external influences such as dust and organic gas (silicone gas).
② An inert gas is sealed inside the glass tube to prevent oxidation of the contacts.
As a result of the above, the reed type relay has excellent durability and reliability.
The main features of reed relays are as follows:
➀ The contact part is sealed in a glass tube, making the contact mechanism less susceptible to external influences such as dust and organic gas (silicone gas).
② An inert gas is sealed inside the glass tube to prevent oxidation of the contacts.
As a result of the above, the reed type relay has excellent durability and reliability.
Types of Reed Relays
Reed relays are broadly classified into PCB mounting relays and plug-in relays.
PCB-Mount Relays
PCB-mount relays are designed for direct mounting on printed circuit boards (PCBs). They are characterized by their small size, relatively low power consumption, and high operating speed.
PCB-Mount Relays
PCB-mount relays are designed for direct mounting on printed circuit boards (PCBs). They are characterized by their small size, relatively low power consumption, and high operating speed.
1-pole
2-pole
3-pole
4-pole
Plug-In Relays
Plug-in relays are installed by plugging their terminals into a dedicated socket. The socket is secured to a DIN rail or similar surface, making it easy to replace the relay. One feature of this type of relay is that the relay itself can be easily replaced, and depending on the socket, wiring can also be easily changed.
Plug-in relays are installed by plugging their terminals into a dedicated socket. The socket is secured to a DIN rail or similar surface, making it easy to replace the relay. One feature of this type of relay is that the relay itself can be easily replaced, and depending on the socket, wiring can also be easily changed.
3-pole
4-pole
How to Select a Relay
Key factors in the selection process include rated operating current/voltage, electrical life (durability), power consumption, drive power supply, and ambient operating temperature.
Rated operating voltage/current refers to the voltage and current values to be used under specified conditions (on/off, switching frequency, and electrical switching durability). Please check the voltage and current values of the circuit in which you actually want to turn the contacts on and off, and how many V or A they will be. Below are the contact ratings of the aforementioned Yaskawa Power Reed Switch (Bestact).
Electrical life (durability) indicates the number of switching operations a relay can perform under specified voltage, current, and load conditions (resistive or inductive). It is used as a guideline when considering how much load and how many times the relay will be used in the circuit under consideration.
The rated carry current is the maximum current that can continuously flow through closed contacts without exceeding the allowable temperature rise. Please confirm the current that will flow through the contact section.
The drive power supply is the input power supply to the relay coil. Since there are direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) power supplies, please confirm which type is used.
Coil voltage refers to the voltage applied to the coil required to turn the contacts ON and OFF. The relay can be operated accurately by applying the specified coil voltage.
Power consumption is calculated from the voltage and current supplied to the relay coil during operation. Please make sure that the power consumption does not exceed the specified value. The formula is as follows: Power Consumption (W) = Voltage (V) × Current (A) (in the case of direct current)
Ambient operating temperature refers to the temperature of the ambient environment where the relay is actually used. When selecting a relay, please confirm that it is within the range of the ambient operating temperature.
Operating time and release time refer to the time required for the contacts to change state after the relay coil is energized or de-energized. Please confirm that there is no problem in your circuit after considering the time it takes from input to output.
Rated operating voltage/current refers to the voltage and current values to be used under specified conditions (on/off, switching frequency, and electrical switching durability). Please check the voltage and current values of the circuit in which you actually want to turn the contacts on and off, and how many V or A they will be. Below are the contact ratings of the aforementioned Yaskawa Power Reed Switch (Bestact).
| Bestact type | R25 | R15 | Notes | |
| Rated operating current | AC | 220V 0.5A | 220V 1A | inductive load（50/60Hz） |
| DC | 110V 0.3A | 110V 0.5A , 220V 0.2A | Inductive load（R25：L/R=40ms R15：L/R=100ms） | |
Electrical life (durability) indicates the number of switching operations a relay can perform under specified voltage, current, and load conditions (resistive or inductive). It is used as a guideline when considering how much load and how many times the relay will be used in the circuit under consideration.
The rated carry current is the maximum current that can continuously flow through closed contacts without exceeding the allowable temperature rise. Please confirm the current that will flow through the contact section.
The drive power supply is the input power supply to the relay coil. Since there are direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) power supplies, please confirm which type is used.
Coil voltage refers to the voltage applied to the coil required to turn the contacts ON and OFF. The relay can be operated accurately by applying the specified coil voltage.
Power consumption is calculated from the voltage and current supplied to the relay coil during operation. Please make sure that the power consumption does not exceed the specified value. The formula is as follows: Power Consumption (W) = Voltage (V) × Current (A) (in the case of direct current)
Ambient operating temperature refers to the temperature of the ambient environment where the relay is actually used. When selecting a relay, please confirm that it is within the range of the ambient operating temperature.
Operating time and release time refer to the time required for the contacts to change state after the relay coil is energized or de-energized. Please confirm that there is no problem in your circuit after considering the time it takes from input to output.
The relay products we offer incorporate the highly reliable and long-life Yaskawa Power Reed Switch (Bestact). They can be used in a wide range of applications, from low-level signal switching to the switching of high-capacity inductive loads. The long electrical life also contributes to lower running costs by reducing the frequency of replacement. Please feel free to consult with us about improving contact failures, lengthening maintenance cycles, replacing mercury relays, etc. We invite you to explore our relay products featuring built-in Bestact technology, trusted by customers for more than 40 years.
