Article tools sponsored by

New PLC-RELAY Has Current Rating of 10A

Sean Snyder, Associate Editor -- Design News, February 12, 2008

Phoenix Contact’s new PLC-RELAY high-current terminal block features a nominal current rating of 10A. The boost in current is to accommodate for equipment that might require more than the standard rating of 6A and it provides a higher level of security for uncertain load conditions.
 
“If your device requires more than 6 amps and you use a relay rated for 6 amps you’re going to damage it; the contacts would weld together and you would no longer have the ability to open and close them,” says Mike Garrick, product marketing lead specialist for relays at Phoenix Contact.

At 14 mm, the PLC-RELAY is more than twice the size of standard relays, which are typically 6 mm. This additional size is one of the tradeoffs for upgrading to a larger block; the other is they cost more than 6-mm relays.

By virtue of its size, the new relay helps improve the electrical life of the blocks and allows for a longer switching life. “Bigger contacts are going to last longer, and that’s just a property of the contact,” says Garrick. “The surface area of the relay contact is physically bigger in the 10-amp model, so they do it for electrical reliability, which means you can turn it on and off more times than you would be able to with a 6-amp.”

The PLC-RELAY is an alternative to ice cube relays and features a patented plug-in bridging system, which eliminates daisy-chain wiring and can reduce installation time. The PLC-RELAY uses plug-in SPDT contacts and comes with either spring terminals or screw terminals. Also, the high-current terminal block relays can connect to other 6- and 14-mm PLC-RELAYs using a press fit bridge.

	The new PLC-RELAY high-current terminal block from Phoenix Contact is available with either spring terminals (shown here) or screw terminals.

• related stories
• resource center
• by this author

 

 

 

• Knee Brace Generates Electricity

• WRC Glider Uses Thermal Engine to Travel through Water

• Nextreme’s OptoCooler Transforms Heat to Electricity

• Energy-Efficient Microchip Operates at 0.3V

• Littlefuse Provides Reference Designs for Circuit Designers

• School Buses Use Parallel Hybrid System

• Lead-Acid Battery Technology Developed for HEVs

• M2E Delivers Power through Motion at Greener Gadgets Show

View more articles by Sean Snyder

Advertisement

Sponsored Content

Technology Marketplace

Article tools sponsored by

Find a supplier on oemsuppliersearch.com

Talkback

We would love your feedback!

» View All Talkback Threads

» Submit talk back

Advertisement

DN's Resource Center Get Free Information, Made Easy

• 2008 Adhesives Sourcebook - Loctite Products for Design, Assembly, Manufacturing and Maintenance
  Henkel Corporation | Design Guide
  Request Item
• Solutions for the Appliance Industry
  Henkel Corporation | Design Guide
  Request Item

View More >>

View all DN resources >>