If you want to use electrical control relays (also called control relays or electrical relays) as a control device in your electrical or electronic system, you must have sufficient knowledge about their types, installation and performance. If you are using a special relay such as a remote control relay, you must have information about other relevant technology such as remote sensing and interlinking of the relay system and the computer.

For industrial control relay distributors and manufacturers, it is always beneficial to train your employees on the latest technology in the field of electrical controls. For electrical relay control suppliers, understanding the relevant standards and compliance regulations is one of the key business factors.

To acquire information about different electrical control relays, you can:

1. Learn about the basics of industrial control relays
2. Search for courses that cover electric relays as a part of their syllabi
3. Read periodicals and journals that provide up-to-date information about electric relays
4. Keep track of updates about technical standards related to electric relays and other electric products

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand the basics of industrial electrical control relays and the relevant technology

If you have very little exposure to industrial electrical control relays and technology, you can learn the basics by browsing through different resources such as websites of electrical control relay manufacturers. Some reputable data publishing companies also provide the basics of industrial electrical control relays.

I recommend: OMRON Corporation, a manufacturer of electrical devices, provides a technical guide about electric relays. All About Circuits and Virtual Institute of Applied Science (VIAS) provide information about electromechanical relays, such as their construction, components and types. teamROCS is another information resource that provides relay basics.

Search for courses that provide information on industrial electrical control relays

Some institutions and associations offer courses for electronic and electrical control devices that cover control relays as a part of their syllabi. You can also search for self-study courses that allow the readers to learn about electric relays on their own.

I recommend: AIT Training and Technology, an industrial training provider, offers a self-study course on electrical relay logic. EandM offers various self-study courses, including a course called ‘Basics of Control Components’. You can also get hands-on training by attending the industrial electronics training course at Orion Technical Solutions.

Refer to different standards related to industrial electrical control relays

For electrical relay control suppliers, it is very important to be aware of updates in the technical standards on electric relays and relevant technology.

I recommend: ANSI (American National Standards Institute) offers technical standards related to various industrial products, including control relays. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) offers standards related to relays in the aircraft and automotive industry. You can also search for the standards related to control relays at IEEE, another organization that establishes and publishes technical standards.

Current control relays guard against disruption in the electricity powering your equipment and allow you to manage your electrical usage to guarantee smooth operations. And keeping the power flowing and machinery running is crucial to a successful business.

Electrical relays monitor and protect by constantly checking the current, frequency or voltage of your electrical system. The two basic purposes for electrical control relays are: to detect defective lines, apparatus or other power malfunctions and to control current and verify conditions in the power system. Protective relays serve the first function; monitoring relays the second.

Today most models of electrical control relays are programmable and monitored through a personal computer. As you plan your purchase of electric relays, be sure to take the following steps:

1. Investigate the key features of different industrial control relays.

2. Select relays that offer user-friendly features.

3. Research your business needs for electrical controls.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine the key features of electrical relays

Protective and monitoring electrical controls function in several different ways: sensing overcurrent, undercurrent, phase disruption or differential changes. Your electrical control relay needs depend on your machinery and system configuration.

I recommend: AutomationDirect.com carries several models of control relays, including ice cube, plug-in, electromechanical and solid state. Check the specifications and applications of each type of relay to compare the features. You can find different relays by maker Smart Relays at Electrical Control Distributors. Compare your findings to note the differences in parameters, styles and prices.

Evaluate the user-friendly features of industrial electrical control relays

Suppliers stock electrical controls with several user-friendly features. Look for devices with automatic reset, visual readout, programmable time delay and latching controls. A remote control relay allows you to monitor and service the system through your personal computer.

I recommend: Check the Omron online catalog for electrical relays for control panels. They also carry solid state, plug in, and special purpose devices. Detrol Controls offers control relays with several mounting options including panel, bracket, socket and PC terminal. The web page includes sizes, specifications and additional details for each relay.

Purchase the right electrical control relays for your business application

Online catalogs contain information on the features and specifications of the wide variety of electrical control relays. Find listings for the ones that fit your needs from several distributors and compare them. Choose the devices that match your business applications.

I recommend: Siemens offers a variety of both protection relays and monitoring relays and a helpful video on substation solutions at its website. Broyce Control supplies four models of time delay relay, including dual and multifunction devices. They also have overvoltage control relays and three-phase relays to monitor voltage phases.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Contact electrical control relay manufacturers and suppliers about free product trials and samples.