ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DRAWING
Department Electrical & Electronic
Engineering
College of Engineering
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Chapter 1: Relays, Contactors, Motor Starters,
Switches and sensors
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Chapter Objectives
• Understand the functions of Relays, Contactors, Motor
Starters, Switches and Sensors.
• Identify the types of Relays, Contactors, Motor Starters,
Switches and Sensors.
• Briefly explain the construction of Relays, Contactors,
Motor Starters, Switches and Sensors.
Chapter Objectives
• Identify how of Relays, Contactors, Motor Starters,
Switches and Sensors are represented on a schematic
diagrams.
• Identify the basic operation of Relays, Contactors,
Motor Starters, Switches and Sensors.
• Explain the differences between of Relays, Contactors,
Motor Starters, Switches and Sensors.
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Relays and Contactors
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Relays and Contactors
• Electrical systems and industrial systems depend on
relays and contactors to enable
o control and switching of electrical circuits,
o control and switching of electrical equipment.
• Relays and contactors are electromechanical switches
which operate on solenoid principle.
• Relays are electrically powered switches that regulate the
movement of mechanical contacts using an
electromagnet.
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Relays and Contactors
• Contactors are robust relays created especially for
high-power applications.
• Compared to relays, contactors have larger contacts
and coils to handle large electrical loads while
maintaining durability and long-term reliability.
Relay Contactor
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Relays and Contactors
• There are two basic methods of constructing a
relay or contactor which include:
o The clapper type uses one movable contact
to make a connection with a stationary
contact.
o The bridge type uses a movable contact to
make the connection between two stationary
contacts.
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Relay and Its Construction
• Relays are electromechanical switches that
contain auxiliary contacts.
• Auxiliary contacts are small and are intended to be
used for control applications.
• A relay will usually have only one coil but may
have any number of different contacts.
• Current ratings for most relays can vary from 1 to
10 amperes, depending on the manufacturer and
type of relay.
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Principle of Operation of a
Relay
• When the coil is energized, the
armature is attracted to the iron core
inside the coil.
• This causes the movable contact
to break away from one
stationary contact and make
connection with another.
• The common (c) terminal is
connected to the armature, which is
the movable part of the relay.
• The movable contact is attached to
the armature.
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Principle of Operation of a
Relay
• The two stationary contacts form the
normally closed and normally
open contacts.
• A spring returns the armature to
the normally closed position when
power is removed from the coil.
• The shading coil is necessary to
prevent the contacts from
chattering.
• All solenoids that operate on
alternating current must have a
shading coil.
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Clapper Type and Bridge Type Relay
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Types of Relays
• Electromechanical Relays
• Solid-State Relays (SSRs)
• Protective Relays
• Timing Relays
• Thermal Relays
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Construction of a Relays
• Construction is largely dependent on whether it will
operate on direct current (DC) or alternating current
(AC).
• Relays and contactors that are operated by direct current
generally contain solid core materials, while those
intended for use with alternating current contain
laminated cores.
• The main reason for the laminated core is the core losses
associated with alternating current caused by the
continuous changing of the electromagnetic field.
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Control Relays
• A control relay switch, is a type of electromechanical relay
specifically designed for control and signalling purposes in
electrical circuits.
• Control relays typically have multiple sets of contacts,
allowing them to switch multiple circuits simultaneously.
• The contacts can be configured as
o normally open (NO),
o normally closed (NC), or both, depending on the
specific requirements of the application
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Control Relays
• The contacts of the control relay are energized by their
coils
• Control relays have the benefit of handling both AC and
DC voltages, making them adaptable for a variety of
applications
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Solid-State Relays
• A solid state relay refers to a non-contact control
device that uses a semiconductor to complete the
ON/OFF action.
• Solid-state relays that are intended to connect
alternating current loads to the line use a device
called a triac.
• The triac is a bidirectional device, which means
that it will permit current to flow through it in either
direction.
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Solid-State Relays
• When energized, the relay contact closes, supplying
power to the gate of the triac that connects the load to the
line
• There are three main types of solid-state relay isolation
methods used in SSRs, i.e., optical, transformer, and
reed.
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Timing Relays
• Timer Relay is a combination of an electromechanical
output relay and a control circuit.
• The contacts will open or close before or after a pre-
selected and timed interval.
• Timing relays offer various timing functions, such as
delay-on-make (delayed closure), delay-on-break
(delayed opening), interval timing, and cycle timing.
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Timing Relays
• Time delay relays can be divided into two general
classifications: the on-delay relay and the off-delay
relay
• The on-delay relay is often referred to as DOE, which
stands for “Delay On Energize.”
• The off-delay relay is often referred to as DODE, which
stands for “Delay On De-Energize.”
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Off-Delay and On-Delay
Timers
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Types of Timing Relays
• Timer relays can be grouped as;
o Pneumatic Timer
o Clock Timer
o Motor-Driven timer
o Electronic timers
o Capacitor limit timer relay
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Pneumatic Timers
• Pneumatic Timers are common industrial parts that
are used in areas where electrical current is
regarded as potentially harmful and
destructive
• Instead of an electrical current, these devices use
a piston and control valve that is powered by a
steady stream of air
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Pneumatic Timers
• They use pneumatic or
compressed air signals to start
and stop a variety of timing
operations
• Pneumatic, or air timers, operate
by restricting the flow of air
through an orifice to rubber
bellows or diaphragms
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Pneumatic Timers
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Types of Timing Relays
• Pneumatic timers are popular throughout the
industry because they have the following
characteristics:
o Unaffected by variations in ambient
temperature or atmospheric pressure.
o Adjustable over a wide range of time
periods.
o Good repeat accuracy.
o Available with a variety of contact and
timing arrangements.
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Clock Timers
• Designed to count down from a specified duration
and alert the user when the time is up.
• Clock timers are devices or features commonly
used to measure and display the passage of
time.
• The time measurement for clock timers is provided
by a small AC synchronous motor that is
identical to the motor found in a wall clock.
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Clock Timers
• The gear ratio connected to the motor would
determine the full range of time for the timer.
• Some advantages of clock timers are:
o They have extremely high repeat accuracy.
o Readjustment of the time setting is simple and can
be done quickly.
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Motor-Driven Timers
• A timing relay that uses a motor to power its
timekeeping mechanism is known as a motor-driven
timer.
• These timers are used in a variety of devices, including
mechanical watches, wall clocks, and other time-
tracking devices.
• It normally consists of a mechanical mechanism with
gears, springs, and a motor that moves the timer's
hands or dials.
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Motor-Driven Timers
• This kind of timer typically comprises a cam-dial
assembly being driven by a tiny, synchronous
motor on a shared shaft.
• A motor-driven timer is typically employed when
a process has definite on-and-off operations or
a series of subsequent operations.
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Capacitor Limit Timer Relay
• A capacitor limit time relay is a type of
electrical switch that regulates the charging
and discharging of capacitors to control the
operation of other electrical devices.
• The relay is made up of a switching
mechanism, a charging circuit, a timing
circuit, and a capacitor.
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Capacitor Limit Timer Relay
• Capacitor limit time relays are commonly used in
various industrial applications, such as motor control,
lighting control, and power distribution systems.
• This timer is highly accurate and is used in motor
acceleration control and in many industrial processes
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Electronic Timer
• Electronic timers are devices or components that make
use of electronic circuitry to monitor and regulate
the passage of time.
• They use electrical devices to precisely measure and
show time intervals, including microcontrollers,
integrated circuits, and digital displays.
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Electronic Timer
• Electronic timers have functions including
programmability, customizable settings, and a
variety of features to meet different timing
requirements.
• Extensively utilized in a variety of settings, including
those requiring exact timing, such as cooking, exercise,
industrial process management, lighting control
systems, and many more.
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Overload Relay
• Overload relays are protection devices used in
electrical system;
o Identity excessive current flow
o Respond and interrupt excessive current flow
through motor or equipment.
• Added to magnetic switch of a motor to create a starter.
• Therefore, the overload relay safeguards the motor
from damage by preventing it from operating beyond
its limits.
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Overload Relay
• Overload relays are widely used in various
applications such as ;
o electric motors,
o Industrial machinery,
o HVAC systems,
o pumps, and
o Conveyors
• There are two major types of overload relays;
o Thermal overload relay and
o Magnetic Overload Relay
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Overload Relay
• Symbols used to represent overload relay on a
schematic diagram are shown below;
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Thermal Overload Relay
• A thermal overload relay is a type of overload
relay that uses heat as a key parameter to
detect and protect electrical equipment
from overloads
• Thermal overloads operate by connecting a
heater in series with the motor.
• The amount of heat produced is dependent on
the motor current.
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Thermal Overload Relay
• They will trip faster when located in a warm area
than they will in a cool area.
• It is commonly used in applications involving motors,
transformers, and other heavy-duty electrical
devices.
• Thermal overloads can be divided into two types: solder
melting type or solder pot, and bimetal strip type.
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Thermal Overload Relay
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Magnetic Overload Relay
• A magnetic overload relay is used to protect electrical
equipment, particularly motors, from overloads.
Operates on the magnetic field generated by the
current passing through the equipment.
• The relay has adjustable trip points that can be set
based on the desired protection level or equipment
rating.
• Generally used in areas that exhibit extreme changes
in ambient temperature.
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Magnetic Overload Relay
• Magnetic overload relays are widely used in motor
control centers and switchboards due to their
reliable and straightforward operation.
• Magnetic overload relays can be divided into two major
types:
o electronic magnetic overload and
o dashpot magnetic overload
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Phase Failure Relays
• A phase failure relay is an electrical
protection device used to detect the
absence or imbalance of phases in a
three-phase electrical system.
• It helps prevent damage to motors,
equipment, and circuits caused by phase
loss or phase asymmetry.
• It recognizes phase loss and sets off
alarms or preventative measures.
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Phase Failure Relays
• When the variation surpasses
predetermined thresholds, they
compare amplitudes or phases and
turn on.
• Circuit breakers may need to be
opened or contactors may need to
trip as preventative measures.
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Phase Failure Relays
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Contactors
• They are electromagnetically operated switches
that provide a safe and convenient means for
connecting and interrupting branch circuits.
• Does not contain overload relays.
• Used with pilot control devices to switch lighting
and heating loads and to control AC motors in
cases where overload protection is provided
separately.
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Contactors-Symbols Used for
Schematic
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End, Thank you
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