A friend once asked about the block of relays pinned to a board behind my car's dash. To him relays were the mysterious little boxes that some cars inexplicably required to operate a horn. More than ...

These designations spell out the number of contacts and how they behave during operation. For instance, a basic on/off light switch is an example of a single-pole (i.e., one-circuit) single-throw (i.e ...

Relays and contactors use a variety of technologies to switch signals and power connections. Many devices called relays use similar techniques and topologies, but the terminology can be confusing.

Relays are electromechanical devices that use a magnetic solenoid to actual a switch. When current is passed through the solenoid coil, it produces a magnetic field. The magnetic field is strengthened ...

As automation expands, mechanical functions are relying more and more on electronic control. Solenoids provide an electromechanical interface for many of these applications. In addition, many ...