APPLICA
APPLICATION D
TION DA
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LATCHING, SEQUENCE,
STEPPER AND IMPULSE RELAYS
Latching relays are often confused with sequence,
or stepper, and impulse relays. These are in fact
three distinctly different types of devices, although
in many cases one might be used to mimic the
function of another.
LATCHING RELAYS
Latching relays require one pulse of coil power to move
their contacts in one direction, and another, separate
one to move them back. Repeated pulses from the
same input have no effect. Latching relays are useful
in applications where power must be conserved since
they require none to maintain their last position, or
where it is desirable to have a relay that stays where
it was during an interruption of power. They are most
often divided into two sub- categories, magnetic latch
and mechanical latch.
Magnetic latch relays employ either a permanent or
remanent magnet to hold their last set Position.
The permanent magnet type has the advantage,
in that it will not lose its memory no matter how
long it is left in one position, while the remanent
type if left latched will eventually lose its magnetic
charge and drop out. It will also operate backwards if
the reset side is subjected to excessive voltage, while
the permanent magnet types will tolerate extreme
overvoltage to either input without malfunction or
damage. The rest of this discussion will address
only permanent magnet types.
Permanent magnet latch relays can have either single
or dual coils. They will operate in one direction when
power is applied with one polarity, and will reset when
polarity is reversed on the single coil types, or when
properly polarized voltage is applied to the reset coil
of a dual version. Most dual coil types can also be
used as single coil versions if necessary or desirable.
Nearly all AC controlled magnetic latch relays have
single coils that employ steering diodes to differentiate
between operate and reset commands.
Mechanical latching relays use a catch device to hold
their contacts in their last set Position until commanded
to change state, usually by means of energizing a
second coil. These types are often constructed in such
a manner that when the operate coil is energized the
contacts will go to the operated position regardless of
whether the reset coil is energized or not. They will
stay in that position only if the reset coil is not energized
when power is removed from the operate side. This
 operate coil dominant operation can be especially
useful in certain applications where it is desirable to
have the relay function as a non-latching type unless
an event has occurred, at which time the reset coil is
de-energized. Packaging machinery that places several
units into a single container would be a good example.
SEQUENCE RELAYS
Sequence or stepper relays change the state of their contacts
upon successive pulses of power to a single coil. Most employ
some form of ratchet and cam assembly that requires several
pulses to make one revolution of the cams. Many, but not all,
have their cams arranged so that each contact transfers with
each pulse. That is, if a contact is open it will close, if closed
it will open. By utilizing two sets of double-throw contacts,
these devices can perform a number of useful functions.
They are most commonly used to equalize wear on two devices
that are used to perform a single function. As each command
for a device to operate is received, the one that did not operate
last is energized. One of the most common uses of this
function is sewage lift stations where two pumps sit side
by side with only one operating at a time in normal service.
Sequence relays can also be used to perform other repetitive
functions by altering the arrangement or number of lobes on
their cams. For example, a sequence could be set up
controlling two loads with successive pulses where one would
come on, then the other, then both , then both would go off.
Literally any such sequence is possible that has a number of
steps that will divide evenly into the number of pulses required
to rotate the cam one full turn.
OPEN CONTACT
CAM 1
CLOSED CONTACT
CAM 2
FIGURE 1
IMPULSE RELAYS
Impulse relays are a form of sequence relay that will only
perform the first function described earlier, each contact
transfers on each pulse. In many cases the terms
sequence and impulse can be used interchangeably,
but not all.
Many impulse relays are made up of a magnetic latch relay
and a solid state steering circuit that, upon application of
power, determines which position the relay is in and
energizes the opposite coil. The contacts transfer and hold
that position when power is removed. When reenergized
the contacts transfer again and hold that position, and so on.
Impulse relays can be used as wear equalizers. They are
also well suited for applications such as turning a single
device on or off from one or more locations with a single
momentary switch or push button at each station. For example,
a conveyor could be started and/or stopped from multiple
locations by means of a single button at each position.
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9/04