NOVEMBER 2023 SWITCHES AND RELAYS Switch – is an electronic component or device that can interrupt the electrical current in one or more circuits.
Also known as make or break device.
Basic Switch Function To open and close a circuit Acts as control devices Does not consume power Switch Action Momentary action – are used to make momentary contact (for a brief period of time or as long the button is pressed). Latched action – maintain the contact until it is forced to the other position. Types of Switches Mechanical Switches – are physical switches, which must be activated physically, by moving, pressing, releasing, or touching its contacts. Electronic Switches – do not require any physical contact in order to control a circuit. These are activated by semiconductor action. POLE – what the switch armature is connected into.
THROW – the closed position of the switch
SINGLE POLE SINGLE THROW (SPST) One pole, one throw. SINGLE POLE SINGLE THROW (SPST) This is the basic ON and OFF switch consisting of one input contact and one output contact. It switches a single circuit and it can either make (ON) or break (OFF) the load. SINGLE POLE DOUBLE THROW (SPDT) One pole, two throws. SINGLE POLE DOUBLE THROW (SPDT)
This switch has three terminals: one is input
contact and remaining two are output contacts. It consist of two ON positions and one OFF position. SINGLE POLE DOUBLE THROW (SPDT)
These switches are used as changeover to
connect the input between two choices of outputs. The contact which is connected to the input by default is referred as normally closed contact and contact which will be connected during ON operation is a normally open contact. DOUBLE POLE SINGLE THROW (DPST) Two poles, one throw. Contact is made at the same time. DOUBLE POLE SINGLE THROW (DPST)
This switch consists of four terminals: two
input contacts and two output contacts. It behaves like a two separate SPST configurations, operating at the same time. It has only one ON position, but it can actuate the two contacts simultaneously, DOUBLE POLE SINGLE THROW (DPST)
such that each input contact will be
connected to its corresponding output contact. In OFF position both switches are at open state. This type of switches is used for controlling two different circuits at a time. DOUBLE POLE DOUBLE THROW (DPDT) Two poles, two throws. 2 separate closed position. DOUBLE POLE DOUBLE THROW (DPDT)
This is a dual ON/OFF switch consisting of
two ON positions. It has six terminals, two are input contacts and remaining four are the output contacts. It behaves like a two separate SPDT configuration, operating at the same time. DOUBLE POLE DOUBLE THROW (DPDT)
Two input contacts are connected to the one
set of output contacts in one position and in another position, input contacts are connected to the other set of output contacts. OTHER TYPE OF SWITCHES SWITCH STYLES TOGGLE SLIDE ROCKER TOGGLE SWITCH A toggle switch is manually actuated (or pushed up or down) by a mechanical handle, lever or rocking mechanism. These are commonly used as light control switches. SWITCH STYLES MICRO SWITCH LIMIT SWITCH LIMIT SWITCH Limit switches are operated by the presence of an object or by the absence of objects or by the motion of machine instead of human hand operation. These switches consist of a bumper type of arm actuated by an object. When this bumper arm is actuated, it causes the switch contacts to change position. SWITCH STYLES PUSH BUTTON NORMALLY OPEN PBNO (red in color) Momentary contact SWITCH STYLES PUSH BUTTON NORMALLY CLOSED PBNC (black in color) Momentary contact ROTARY SWITCHES Used for complex circuits DIP SWITCHES The DIP switch is made up of a set of switches in a single unit, usually mounted on a PCB or breadboard. The switch’s very basic operation, in which the switch’s position must be set manually. RELAYS Electromechanical relay (EMR) is a device that uses an electromagnet to provide the force to close or open switch contacts, hence, it is an electrically powered switch. RELAYS RELAYS Switch is NO Coil is not energized Bulb is off Relay is open RELAYS Switch is NC Coil is energized Bulb is on Relay is closed SENSORS AND TRANSDUCERS
SENSORS - is a device that detects a change in a
physical stimulus and turns it into a signal which can be measured or recorded. SENSORS AND TRANSDUCERS
TRANSDUCERS - is any device that converts
energy in one form to another. The majority either convert electrical energy to mechanical displacement or convert some non-electrical physical quantity, such as temperature, sound or light to an electrical signal. Transducer can be classified according to their application, based primarily on the physical quantity, property, or condition that is measured. The transducer can be categories into: A) Passive transducers: requires an external power output is a measure of some variation, such resistance and capacitance. ex: condenser microphone B) Self generating transducers: not requiring an external power and they produce analog voltage or current when stimulated by some physical form of energy. ex: Thermocouple I. TEMPERATURE TRANSDUCERS 1. THERMOCOUPLES When two wires with dissimilar electrical properties are joined at both ends and one junction is made hot and the other cold, a small electric current is produced proportional to the difference in the temperature. The relationship is nearly linear over the operating range. The actual characteristic and suitable operating temperatures depends upon the metals used in the wires. The various types are designated in international and national standards. Typical linear operating ranges are shown for standard types. It is important that thermocouples are standard so that the same EMF will always represent the same temperature. Thermocouples come in several forms. They may be wires insulated from each other with plastic or fiber glass materials. For high temperature work, the wire pairs are put inside a tube with mineral insulation. For industrial uses the sensor comes in a metal enclosure such as stainless steel. Thermocouple have a wide range of temperature from as low as – 270°C up to as high as 2700°C. Magnitude of the thermal EMF depends on the wire materials used and on the temperature difference between the junctions. Standard metals and pairs for thermocouple constructions
Chromel – Alumel (type K)
Iron – Constantan (type J) Copper – Constantan (type T) Platinum – Rhodium-Platinum (type S, R & B) Thermocouple Alloy composition Chromel - 90% nickel and 10% chromium Alumel - 95% nickel, 2% manganese, 2% aluminium and 1% silicon Constantan - 45 % nickel-55% copper The effective EMF of the thermocouple is given as: E = c (T1 – T2) + k(T²1 – T²2) where c & k = constants of the thermocouple materials T1 = temp of the hot junction T2 = temp of the cold or reference junction Example: During experiments with a copper – constantan thermocouple, it was found that c = 3.75 x 10¯² mV/°C and k = 4.5 x 10¯⁵ mV/°C². if T1 = 100 °C and the cold junction, T2 is kept in ice. Compute for the resulting EMF. 2. RESISTANCE TYPE SENSORS These work on the principle that the electrical resistance of a conductor change with temperature. If a constant voltage is applied to the conductor then the current flowing through it will change with temperature. The resistivity of the conductor change with temperature. This usually means the resistance gets bigger as the conductor gets hotter. A basic temperature sensor is made by winding a thin resistance wire into a small sensor head. The resistance of the wire then represents the temperature. This has an advantage over a thermocouple in that it is unaffected by the temperature of the gauge end. The main type of wire used is Platinum. The sensors are usually manufactured to have a resistance of 100 W at 0°C and a typical operating range of -200°C to 400°C. A special type of resistance sensor is called a Thermistor. They are made from a small piece of semiconductor material. The material is special because the resistance changes a lot for a small change in temperature and so can be made into a small sensor and it costs less than platinum wire. The temperature range is limited. They are only used for a typical range of -20°C to 120°C and are commonly used in small hand held thermometers for every day use. Thermistors are made of oxides of nickel, manganese or cobalt platinum. The output is not linearly proportional to any temperature scale.
2 types of Thermistor NTC – Negative Temperature Coefficient Resistance goes down when temp goes down PTC – Positive Temperature Coefficient Resistance goes up when temp goes up THERMISTOR NTC Thermistor Temperature dependent semiconductor resistors. Operates at a range of -200°C to 1000°C, supplied in glass bead, disc, chips or probe formats. applications: temperature measurement and control temperature compensation surge suppression fluid flow measurement PTC Thermistor Temperature dependent resistors manufactured from barium titanate and should be chosen when a drastic change in resistance is required at a specific temperature or current T level. applications: temperature sensing switching of temperature liquid level sensor The relationship between temperature and resistance of conductors can be calculated by: R = Ro (1 + αΔT) where R = resistance of the conductor at temperature °C Ro = resistance of the reference ΔT temperature, usually 20 °C α = temperature coefficient of resistance ΔT = difference between operating and the reference temperature Example: A platinum resistance thermometer has a resistance of 150 Ω at 20°C. Calculate its resistance at 50°C, if α20 = 0.00392. 3. LIQUID EXPANSION and VAPOUR PRESSURE SENSORS These are thermometers filled with either a liquid such as mercury or an evaporating fluid such as used in refrigerators. In both cases the inside of the sensor head and the connecting tube are completely full. Any rise in temperature produces expansion or evaporation of the liquid so the sensor becomes pressurized. The pressure is related to the temperature and it may be indicated on a simple pressure gauge. The movement may also directly operate a thermostat. These instruments are robust and used over a wide range. They can be fitted with electric switches to set off alarms. 4. BIMETALLIC TYPES It is a well-known principle that if two metals are rigidly joined together as a two-layer strip and heated, the difference in the expansion rate causes the strip to bend. The strip is twisted into a long thin coil inside a tube. One end is fixed at the bottom of the tube and the other turns and moves a pointer on a dial. The outward appearance is very similar to the pressure type. They can be made to operate limit switches and set off alarms or act as a thermostat. II. PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS 1. BOURDON TUBE It is a hollow tube with an elliptical cross section. When a pressure difference exists between the inside and outside, the tube tends to straighten out and the end moves. The movement is usually coupled to a needle on a dial to make a complete gauge. It can also be connected to a secondary device such as an air nozzle to control air pressure or to a suitable transducer to convert it into an electric signal. This type can be used for measuring pressure difference. 2. PISTON TYPE The pressure acts directly on the piston and compresses the spring. The position of the piston is directly related to the pressure. A window in the outer case allows the pressure to be indicated. This type is usually used in hydraulics where the ability to withstand shock, vibration and sudden pressure changes is needed (shock proof gauge). The piston movement may be connected to a secondary device to convert movement into an electrical signal. 3. BELLOWS A bellows is made of several capsules. These are hollow flattened structures made from thin metal plate. When pressurized the bellows expand and produce mechanical movement. If the bellows is encapsulated inside an outer container, then the movement is proportional to the difference between the pressure on the inside and outside. Bellows and single capsules are used in many instruments. They are very useful for measuring small pressures. 4. DIAPHRAGMS These are similar in principle to the bellows but the diaphragm is usually very thin and perhaps made of rubber. The diaphragm expands when very small pressures are applied. The movement is transmitted to a pointer on a dial through a fine mechanical linkage. III. SPEED TRANSDUCERS 1. OPTICAL TYPES These use a light beam and a light sensitive cell. The beam is either reflected or interrupted so that pulses are produced for each revolution. The pulses are then counted over a fixed time and the speed obtained. Electronic processing is required to time the pulses and turn the result into an analog or digital signal. 2. MAGNETIC PICK UPS Uses an inductive coil placed near to the rotating body. A small magnet on the body generates a pulse every time it passes the coil. If the body is made of ferrous material, it will work without a magnet. A discontinuity in the surface such as a notch will cause a change in the magnetic field and generate a pulse. 3. TACHOMETERS Very often the tachometer is built into electric motors to measure their speed. The frequency of the voltage represents the speed of rotation. The frequency must be counted and processed.
