| Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of relay control is proper handling of inductive loads. Inductive loads can best be defined as anything with a magnetic coil, such as a motor, solenoid, or a transformer. Controlling a inductive load using our relay controllers requires the use of a inductive suppression capacitor. The purpose of this capacitor is to absorb the high voltages generated by inductive loads, blocking them from the contacts of the relay. Without this capacitor, the lifespan of the relay will be greatly reduced. Induction can be so severe that it triggers the failsafe of our relay controller, causing a bank of relays to automatically shutdown, protecting itself from misuse. As you can see from the diagram below, a induction suppression capacitor is very easy to install. The capacitor should be located as close to the relay controller as possible, and is connected in parallel with the load you are trying to control. Induction suppression capacitors are NOT polarized, and may be used in both AC or DC applications. |
