05/08/14 1:43 PM Relays and Switches

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Relays and Switches
Article : Andy Collinson
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Overview
This article describes conventional naming practises for switches and relays, in
electronic circuits and schematics.
Switches
Switches come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are pretty straight forward to wire,
but problems may arise with multi-pole multi-contact switches. In schematics switches
are always drawn in the OFF position.
Switches can be non-locking, i.e. a single
button that when pressed makes contact
only as long as the switch is pressed, then
breaks the circuit when the button is
released. These switches are called "push-
to-make", see left image. You can also buy
switches that work the opposite way, i.e.
push-to-break, an example is shown on the right.
Many switches are latching, their state
changes permanently depending on the
position of the button or lever.
Common varieties are toggle switches,
slide switches etc. The common on/off
switch has a single contact arm and
one conatct or position, this is known
as single-pole single-single throw or
SPST. A switch with a single contact arm and two postions ( 3 contacts ) is called a
Single Pole Double Throw SPDT switch, see left image. Often a circuit is required with
two sets of contacts. These switches are called Double Pole Double Throw switches (see
right image).
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Rotary Switches
In some circuits, e.g. a power supply with multiple
outlets, a frequency generator with different output
waveforms, a switch with more than two positions is
required. A Rotary Switch (see left image) is a prime
example of a multi-way switch. Rotary switches can
have a single pole (wiper arm) or multiple poles and
multiple outlets. The one shown left has 2 poles and
6 outlets, abbreviated to 2P6W.
An expanded view of the contacts of a 2P6W switch is shown below, right.
Rotary
switches
are
always
drawn in
the OFF
position,
therefore
the wiper
arm will
always be
connected to the first contact. The diagram at left shows a 2 pole 6 way (2P6W) switch.
A switch is designated by the letter "S", so "S1" is the first switch. If a switch has more
than one pole, then a dashed line will be drawn between the poles. The first set of
contacts or arc is designated S1a. The next set S1b, etc. The contacts are numbered 1
through 6, contact 1 being the "OFF" position. The right image shows a close up of a
2P6W contacts, 1a represents first contact on arc a, 4b the fourth contact on arc b, etc.
The actual schematic may just show the position of the first contact or first and last
contact for clarity, see left. With all multi pole switches, the arcs are tracked
simulatneously.
Identifying Rotary Switch Contacts
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The left image shows a 4 pole 3 way (4P3W)
switch, with four arcs, only 1 arc is in use. To
identify the contacts, first turn the switch anti-
clockwise. Using a multimeter on ohms function
take one of the wipers (inner contacts), shown
as a green wire, and tap around the switch with
the other probe. When a reading is obtained,
this is the first contact (red wire) in the picture.
Now move the switch one click to the right. The second contact will be adjacent to the
previous contact (blue wire) in the image. Using different colour wires makes it easier
to identify when wiring rotary switches. It is a similar procedure for all rotary switches,
the right image is a 3P4W switch.
Multiple Gang Switches
Not often seen but they do exist,t are
multiple pole, multiple way switches. The
picture on the left shows a 3 Pole 6 Way
switch, the first pole (also called a Gang)
is seen nearest the top shaft. If a circuit
calls for a 3 Pole 6 Way switch, then one
way to substitue this is by using a 1P6W
and a 2P6W switch. Using separate
switches would require that you turn each
switch individually or couple the switch
shafts mechanically.
Relays
Like switches relays are available in all shapes and sizes.
Some relays are miniature and can fit a standard IC socket.
The left image is a small DIP miniature relay. The right image
shows a DPDT relay that can switch loads of up to 2A at 24
Vdc. Relays that can switch line voltages of 240 VAC and high currents are
generally physically larger than the miniature variety.
Relays and Contacts
As with switches, relays are always drawn in the OFF or un-operated state. Contacts
may be drawn in different ways as shown below; but the middle contact (labeled 2
below) is the wiper arm and will move when the relay is energized. This contact is called
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the changeover contact,
abbreviated CO. The top
contact (labeled 1) is the
normally closed, NC
contact (relay not
energized) and contact 3
known as normally open,
NO. When power is
applied to the relay coil,
the NO contact is then
mechanically moved and
electrically connected to
the CO contact.
Relay Contact Labeling
As shown above, bottom
right hand corner the
relay has two changeover
contacts. The designation
for a relay coil may be,
RL or just R. If there is
more than one relay in a circuit then the usual method is to designate relays as RLA,
RLB, or RA, RB etc. The number of contacts that belong to a particular relay coil is
shown with a forward slash "/" then a number. In this case RLA/2 has two contacts and
these are appropriately labeled RLA1 and RLA2.
Motor Reversing Circuit
I will finish this page with a motor reversing circuit.
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This circuit uses 4 relays and 3 push buttons for Stop, Forward and Reverse control of a
DC motor. RLD has just one changeover contact whereas RLA, RLB and RLC have 2 CO
contacts each. Basically RLD will stop the motor, RLA latches the motor in a forward
direction and RLB latches the motor in the opposite direction, whilst RLC and its
contacts provide the reversing for the motor. This circuit is quite messy and it is
common practice to see the relay coil and its associated contacts separated some
distance in the actual schematic.
The following circuit is identical (electrically) and you should now be able to see that the
circuit uses the conventional naming rules of switches and contacts in this article.
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