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WEBSITE: www.magnecraft.com EMAIL:info@magnecraft.com FAX ON DEMAND 1-800/891-2957, DOCUMENT 100
SEQUENCE &
LATCHING RELAY
APPLICATION NOTES
WHAT IS A SEQUENCE RELAY:
A Sequence relay is sometimes called an alternator,
stepper, flip-flop, or impulse relay. The relay has the ability
to open and close it's contacts in a preset sequence. All
sequence relays use a ratchet or catch mechanism to
cause their contacts to change state by repeated impulses
to a single coil. Usually, but not always, one pulse will
close a set of contacts, the next will open them, and so on
back and forth. This alternating of open and closed states
has many possible uses.
A Sequence relay requires a pulsed voltage to the coil
of approximately 50 milliseconds for each sequence to
take place. When the coil is pulsed, the relay armature
moves a lever that in turn rotates the ratchet and cams to
the first position in the sequence. This position will remain
as long as another pulse is not introduced to the coil.
The relay is normally comprised of at least two sets of
contacts to allow the contacts to alternate in combinations
of open and closed states, with each pulse of voltage to
the coil.
One example of possible two pole combinations, would be
where one pole remains open and the other pole is closed
with the first pulse applied to the coil. The second pulse
could then reverse the above sequence. The third pulse
could have both poles closed and the fourth pulse could
open both poles. The above example could also have
other sequences, depending upon the amount of teeth in
the ratchet and the amount of lobes on the cams.
Figure 1 shows an example of how cam placement on the
contact blades can change the position of the contacts as
cams are rotated by the ratchet gear.
Closed contact
Open contact
Cam 2
Cam 1
FIGURE 1
SEQUENCE APPLICATIONS:
Some typical applications for sequence relays is turning
one device on and off from a single momentary contact.
SEQUENCE APPLICATIONS CONTINUED:
A typical example is remotely starting and stopping a
conveyer from a single momentary push button. Several
momentary push buttons might be wired in parallel to
control the conveyer from a number of locations.
Another common use for sequence relays is cascade
starting of multiple HVAC or other high start-up load
systems, to limit the high starting current.
WHAT IS A LATCHING RELAY:
Latch relays typically use a permanent magnet or
mechanical catch to hold the contacts in their last
energized position without the need for continued
application of coil power. They are especially useful in
applications where power must be conserved, such as a
battery operated device, or where it is desirable to have
a relay stay in one position if power is interrupted. They
should not be used to control a device that could create
a safety hazard if it were to restart after a power inter-
ruption.
Mechanical latch relays are most often constructed in a
way that will cause them to go to their operate position
when the operate coil is energized regardless of whether
the reset coil is energized or not. This "operate coil
dominant" feature can be useful in applications where a
relay should operate and release like a conventional
relay unless a particular action takes place, at which
time the release coil would drop out, latching the relay in
the operate position. A pallet loader would be a good
example of equipment which might utilize this type of
operation.
Magnetic latching relays are typically designed to be
polarity sensitive. When voltage is momentarily applied
to the coil with a predetermined polarity, the relay will
operate. The relay will remain in the operate position
after power is removed from the coil. A permanent
magnetic is designed to hold the contacts in the operate
position without the need for continued power to the coil.
When the polarity is reversed, and momentarily applied
to the coil, the armature will push away from the coil
overcoming the holding affect of the permanent mag-
netic, causing the contacts to reset. Both single and
dual wound coils use the same principle of operation.
APPLICATION DATA