Have you ever needed to power a 12-volt relay in a circuit but only had 6 or 9 volts available? This simple circuit will solve that problem. It allows 12-volt relays to be operated from 6 or 9 volts, ...

Pricey, dealer-installed smart-home systems have one thing in common: A wall-mounted panel with a flashy LCD to control everything. This is the feature that’s most difficult for a do-it-yourselfer to ...

Relays usually are driven using optocouplers, which offer isolation between analog and digital grounds to ensure that switching currents in the relay coils do not affect the noise margin of the ...

Rich was the editorial lead for CNET's Home and Wellness sections, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Before moving to Louisville in 2013, Rich ran CNET's desktop computer review section for 10 years in ...

Higher Capabilities for Safety-Rated Control Circuits A truly reliable safety control system must work even when some parts fail. Force-guided relays are unseen components that add another level of ...

This file type includes high resolution graphics and schematics when applicable. According to the research firm IHS Inc., about 54 million relays and timers were purchased in 2013, a number projected ...

Relays and contactors use a variety of technologies to switch signals and power connections. Many devices called relays use similar techniques and topologies, but the terminology can be confusing.

Per 2014 NEC Article 100, short circuit current rating (SCCR) is defined as: “The prospective symmetrical fault current at a nominal voltage to which an apparatus or system is able to be connected ...

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we presented a 3-phase, 480VAC motor circuit with its associated controls (Figure). We stepped through a logical, systematic approach to troubleshoot the main power ...