
When an electric current is passed through the coil it generates a magnetic field that activates the armature, and the consequent movement of the movable contact either makes or breaks a connection with a fixed contact.

Other relays may have more or fewer sets of contacts depending on their function. In this condition, one of the two sets of contacts in the relay pictured is closed, and the other set is open. It is held in place by a spring so that when the relay is de-energized there is an air gap in the magnetic circuit. The armature is hinged to the yoke and mechanically linked to one or more sets of moving contacts. Working of RelaysĪ simple electromagnetic relay consists of a coil of wire wrapped around a soft iron core, an iron yoke which provides a low reluctance path for magnetic flux, a movable iron armature, and one or more sets of contacts. For high voltage applications, they are mainly designed to reduce a phenomenon called arcing. For low voltage applications, more preference will be given to reduce the noise of the whole circuit. One is a low voltage application and the other is high voltage. Relays are mainly used for two basic operations. Relays are also used in our day to day devices like Refrigerators, Washing Machines, Heaters, and Air Conditioning. After the invention of computers, they were also used to perform Boolean and other logical operations. They were used to switch the signal coming from one source to another destination. Relay act as an important role in switching calls in a telephone exchange. The major use of relay started during the invention of telephones. We will look into the details of relay working, types and relay Interfacing with 8051 in this article. The actuation of the relay will change the state of the contacts from open to closed or vice verses, depending on the contact configuration. When a switch can be actuated with an electrical signal, the device is then typically referred to as a relay. When the switch is opened, the circuit is open – or off. When the switch is closed, the circuit is closed – or on. Relays can control currents ranging from 2A – 30A. Relays operate with AC or DC at common voltages like 12V, 24V, 48V, 120V and 230V. Simply, it is used to on/off power circuits using microcontrollers.

It allows digital circuits and digital microcontrollers to high power devices on and off. Because relays are the link between the low power digital electronics and high power devices. Relays are switches that open and close circuits when actuated when an electrical signal. Relay is one of the most interesting and important components.
