How to check a relay?
In electrical systems, the stable operation of relays is crucial. When a relay fails, it can lead to problems with electrical equipment starting, lighting, signaling, and many other systems. Today, MobikeChip will provide you with detailed information on how to check relays to ensure that they work properly.
Appearance Inspection: Initial Troubleshooting
Appearance check is the first step to check the relay, through visual observation, can find many obvious problems. First of all, check whether the shell of the relay is broken, deformed or cracked. A broken shell may cause dust, moisture and other impurities to enter the interior of the relay and affect its performance. If you find a problem with the housing, you should promptly replace the relay to ensure its proper working environment.
Next, check the pins of the relay. The pins should show no signs of bending, breaking or corrosion. Bent or broken pins can affect the relay's connection to the circuit, resulting in poor contact. Corroded pins, on the other hand, may increase resistance and affect current transfer. If the pins are found to have problems, they need to be handled carefully. Slight bends can be corrected carefully, while serious damage requires the replacement of the relay with a new one.
Coil check: confirm the normal electromagnetic function
The coil of the relay is the key component to generate electromagnetic force. When checking the coil, you can use the resistance gear of the multimeter. Connect the pens of the multimeter to the two pins of the relay coil and measure its resistance. Under normal circumstances, the coil should have a certain resistance value, the specific value can refer to the specifications of the relay.
Contactors (Electromechanical)
If the measurement result shows that the resistance value is infinity, it means that the coil may be open, i.e., the internal wires are broken, in which case the relay can not work normally. If the resistance value is zero or well below the normal range, it may indicate a short-circuit in the coil, which can also cause the relay to fail. As soon as a problem with the coil is detected, the coil or the entire relay should be replaced with one of the same size.
Contact Inspection: Ensuring Reliable Circuit Turn-On and Turn-Off
The contacts of the relay are responsible for controlling the on-off of the circuit, and their working condition directly affects the performance of the relay. When checking the contacts, you can first remove the relay from the circuit and observe with the naked eye whether there is any phenomenon of ablation, blackening or sticking on the surface of the contacts. Eroded and blackened contacts will result in increased contact resistance, affecting the passage of current, which in turn affects the normal operation of the circuit controlled by the relay.
For slightly ablated contacts, sandpaper can be used to gently polish them to remove the surface oxidized layer and impurities, so as to restore good electrical conductivity. However, if the contacts stick together, the relay is damaged and needs to be replaced immediately. In addition, you can also observe the action of the contacts by energizing the relay coil. Under normal circumstances, after the coil is energized, the contacts should be able to close and disconnect quickly and reliably.
Action test: simulated working condition inspection
After completing the above checks, it is also necessary to carry out action tests on the relay to simulate its working condition in the electrical circuit. The relay is correctly connected to the test circuit, apply the rated voltage to the coil, and observe whether the action of the relay is normal.
When the coil is energized, a clear “click” sound should be heard, which is the sound of armature action and contact closure. At the same time, observe whether the circuit controlled by the relay is working properly. For example, if the test is for a light relay, the lights should come on and go off normally. If the relay doesn't actuate or is not sensitive during the test, there may be a problem with the coil, contacts, or other components that require further troubleshooting.
At MobikeChip, we provide high quality relay products and professional technical support. Mastering the correct relay inspection method can help you find the problem in time and ensure the stable operation of the electrical system. If you have any questions about relay inspection, selection or other electronic components, please feel free to visit MobikeChip website, our professional team will be happy to serve you.
Category page: Automotive Relays-Supplier-Buy | Manufacturers-Dealer-Sample-MobikeChip
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