Re: Relays

["James H. Nazarian, Ph. D." <microdoc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Another reason relays are used is they allow much lighter guage wire and 
smaller, light duty switches to be used in the confines of the congested 
controls and dashboard area where most vehicle wiring is located.

Jim
microdoc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: <PLPKLT@xxxxxxx>
To: <oilheads@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2004 8:54 PM
Subject: Re: Relays


> the reason for relays is two part, one they allow the heavier current to 
> be switched with really large and hardened contact surfaces.  They are 
> ususally made out of tungsten and some are even coated with silver for 
> very low resistance. These large constact surfaces wouldn't fit very 
> neatly in most switches.
>
> The second reason is that a relay is a very postive, fast acting switch. 
> By switching so quickly they don't leave a lot of time for arc's which 
> tends to burn and pit contacts.   A normal automotive switch doesn't have 
> that wonderful loud click that a high rating switch will have.
>
> A third reason of course is to make it more complex and harder to find the 
> real reason it doesn't work.... just seems that way sometimes.....
>
> paige

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