Solid state relays have made the lives of many technicians and electrical engineers across the world a lot more comfortable. Almost all mechanical engineers come across a situation when controlling high Voltage load becomes very tough. If the power of the circuit is low, then the case can get out of hand if you do not control it properly. Stable state release can come to your rescue in such a scenario.

All about Solid State Relays

Isolation of many components

They will allow you to form isolated boundaries between the areas where the power is excessively high and the parts with lower energy. Opting for magnetic relays may not always be the smartest way to take things forward. Electromagnetic relays are costly, and their maintenance is a very time making process. However, they also have some critical applications for Electrical as well as mechanical engineers.

The pros of solid state relays

You must bear in mind that the output format of SSRs is straightforward. Using solid state relays to get the results that you want is a natural process. If you have some experience, then you can get the job done without a lot of effort. But you must understand the methodology behind solid state relays before you start using them. The kind of SSR which is suitable for a machine depends on several vital factors.

In-depth analysis is mandatory

An electrical or mechanical engineer must select the most appropriate SSR keeping in view features. If you choose a general purpose SSR, you might make things tough for yourself. Whether you want to switch direct current load or an alternating current load will help you decide the most suitable solid-state relay.

Understanding all the basic principles

You must have complete knowledge about the various components of solid state relays. At the same time, you must know about all the different types of SSRs. DC60 series is one of the most popular solid-state relays. Exceptionally few solid-state relays can be useful for DC as well as AC. If your machine utilizes both of these types of current, then MOS solid state relays can be an ideal option for your device.

It is evident that opting for a ‘horses for courses’ strategy will serve you very well when you are dealing with SSRs. Most experts suggest that solid state relays are better than electromagnetic switches because they operate without making any noise. SSRs are lightweight. You can purchase them at a lower cost.

Read More : The Excellence of Electromechanical Switches

Overview of Solid State Relays

Technology always keeps changing. Earlier there were transistors that led to the use of television in every home. Later the electromagnetic relay came that produced high current and found use numerous operations. Today, there are solid state relays that work on a microprocessor. Solid State Relays have no moving parts. The electromagnetic relay had springs, magnetic field, and mechanical contacts. The SSR has properties of a solid-state semiconductor both optical and electrical. It performs the input to output isolation by using the semiconductor. It performs switching functions very well. There is much more to it and not just changing, that gives it an extensive scope in the future.

It is somewhat similar to the electromagnetic relays as well. For instance, SSR also provides total electrical isolation like it happens in an electromagnetic relay. It provides resistance to some infinite value when nonconduction or the circuit is open. On the other hand, when the circuit is closed, it has negligible resistance producing high current. It has the capability of getting designed as an AC or DC switch both. It uses TRIAN, SCR or switching transistor to make it happen. It is different from the mechanical contacts that were used earlier in a relay.

Fundamentally, there are no differences between an SSR and electromagnetic relay. The main advantage SSR has over the traditional relays is that it operates without the use of any moving part. Hence, the name a solid state relay. There are no issues of contacts get detached from each other due to moving parts. There is no chance of wear and tear happening as only solid parts are present in its construction. The On and OFF function takes places much faster as the chance of contacts get bounced up is very less.

There are no electrical noises produced due to the turn-off and turn on in case of zero current state and zero voltage state respectively. Elimination of electrical sounds is a great relief at times. Therefore SSR is gaining popularity slowly over the electromagnetic relays. One can buy it in its standard form that is an off the shelf pack that has ranges of few amperes of volts to several hundreds of amperes and volts. The output switching capability can be customized or bought in its standard form depending on your requirement. There are plenty of options as there are different current and voltage ranges available in the market.

Companies are making SSR make sure customers have plenty of options in the standard product itself. The operation of SSR is similar to that of the electromagnetic relay where even a small voltage input can result in very high voltage output. SSR takes less room than an electromagnetic relay and is much faster in operation. An SSR can operate by creating an Opto coupling instead of using magnetic fields for providing isolation. The type of switching device used decides whether the output of SSR will be AC or DC. Its functioning could be understood very well by referring to its diagrams. However, the fundamental principle is not hard to understand and can be learned quickly if you operate one.

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