RELAYS AND CONTACTORS

Relays: The basics

Like a switch, but instead of the user directly

modifying its on/off state, uses a coil

Contains a coil to turn ON the relay

Has a spring to restore the relay to its OFF position

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Electromechanical relay parts

RETURN SPRING COMMON (COM)

CONTACT

COIL

ARMATURE

NORMALLY-OPEN
CONTACT
NORMALLY-CLOSED
CONTACT

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Symbols

Coil Normally-open Normally-closed

(N.O.) contact (N.C.) contact

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Relay Types

By construction

Electromechanical

Solid-state

Computer (or microprocessor)

By input

Voltage, Current, Power

Temperature, Vibration

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The normal state of a relay

The state of the contacts when the coil is de-

energized (i.e. its OFF position)

N.O. contacts close, and N.C. contacts open, when

the coil is energized

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Relay: OFF Typical for small (control) relays

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Relay: ON Typical for small (control) relays

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Relays, contactors, and auxiliary
contacts

Relay: general term for an electrically-operated

switch

Contactors: specialized relays used to switch high-

voltage/high-current loads

More rugged construction to better withstand the stresses
of electric arcing

Auxiliary contacts: add-on contact/s mechanically

linked to its associated contactor

Normally rated to carry small currents and/or voltages only
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Relay: OFF Typical for contactors (power relays)
TO SOURCE ARMATURE

TO LOAD

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Relay: ON Typical for contactors (power relays)
TO SOURCE ARMATURE

TO LOAD

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LADDER LOGIC DIAGRAMS
Ladder-logic diagrams

Describes interconnections
between coils, akin to an
electrical schematic diagram

Drawn such that there are

two supply buses at each
end, and elements appear in
the middle (illustrated at the
right)

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Additional symbols

Lamp Normally-open Normally-closed

push button push button

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Linking contacts with coils

Multiple relays are almost always used in practice

In ladder-logic diagrams, elements have an identifier

on top

For coils and contacts, elements with the same

identifier are linked together

Only contacts are allowed to have duplicate

identifiers; all such contacts are controlled by the
same coil

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Ladder-logic illustration
PB1 MB0

HMI 1
MB0

HMI 0
MB0

MB0 Out0

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Ladder-logic illustration
PB1 MB0

HMI 1
MB0

HMI 0
MB0

MB0 Out0

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Ladder-logic illustration
PB1 MB0

HMI 1
MB0

HMI 0
MB0

MB0 Out0

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Ladder-logic illustration
PB1 MB0

HMI 1
MB0

HMI 0
MB0

MB0 Out0

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Ladder-logic illustration
PB1 MB0

HMI 1
MB0

HMI 0
MB0

MB0 Out0

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Ladder-logic illustration
PB1 MB0

HMI 1
MB0

HMI 0
MB0

MB0 Out0

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Ladder-logic illustration
PB1 MB0

HMI 1
MB0

HMI 0
MB0

MB0 Out0

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Ladder-logic illustration
PB1 MB0

HMI 1
MB0

HMI 0
MB0

MB0 Out0

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Ladder-logic illustration
PB1 MB0

HMI 1
MB0

HMI 0
MB0

MB0 Out0

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Ladder-logic illustration
PB1 MB0

HMI 1
MB0

HMI 0
MB0

MB0 Out0

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Boolean logic: quick overview

Ladder-logic diagrams are binary systems

Deal with only 1s and 0s

1 = energized, 0 = de-energized

Using coils and contacts, any Boolean logic can be

implemented

How do you think you will implement the basic gates (AND,
OR, NOT, XOR?)

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Boolean logic: AND
A B AB

0 0 0 A
AB
0 1 0 B

1 0 0

1 1 1

How do you think you will implement this logic using coils and/or contactors?

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Boolean logic: OR
A B A+B

0 0 0 A
A+B
0 1 1 B

1 0 1

1 1 1

How do you think you will implement this logic using coils and/or contactors?

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Boolean logic: NOT
A A

0 1
A A
1 0

How do you think you will implement this logic using coils and/or contactors?

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Boolean logic: XOR
A B AB

0 0 0 A
AB
0 1 1 B

1 0 1

1 1 0

How do you think you will implement this logic using coils and/or contactors?

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Ladder-logic equivalents of gates
A B
A B
AND
XOR
A
B A

B
OR

A A

NOT

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END