Relays, Timers & Counters

Contactors are electrical control devices used to switch a circuit on or off. They are considered to be a special type of relay that are used in higher power applications. These heavy-duty relays allow lower currents and voltages to switch a much higher power circuit for many thousands of cycles. This makes them an excellent choice for controlling electric motors.

Electromechanical relays are switches that transfer signals via the connection of mechanical contacts to open and close the output circuit. These relays are used when a low-power signal is needed in order to control one or more circuits. 

Monitoring relays are protective control devices that receive input signals, measure them according to a given parameter and output an alarm signal if a threshold is reached. Monitoring relays are more sophisticated than regular relays because they have adjustable operating conditions that can monitor voltage, temperature, current, and other analog signals.

Safety relays are electromechanical switching devices that are designed to implement safety functions and reduce risk. When an error occurs or a detection zone is violated, the safety relay will initiate a safe and reliable response.

Solid state relays are electronic switching devices that switch on and off with a small input voltage to control a larger output voltage or current. Because solid state relays use semiconductors or electronics to transfer signals, there are no moving subcomponents, resulting in faster performance, less noise emitted and a longer lifespan.

Smart relays are small-scale PLCs designed for simple automation tasks where lower I/O points are required. These tasks include: counting, timing, arithmetic functions, storage, etc. A single smart relay can take the place of many control devices by streamlining and combining controls from many pieces of equipment.