Machine operator protection is one of the most important parts within the machines design process. A smart way to realize this is by using relays with forcibly guided contacts in your electrical design. With these components, load and controlling circuits can be linked and monitored in a simple way, creating a reliable control system for functional safety.
“With the use of forcibly guided contacts, designing electrical safe machinery is no longer a complex task, making these relays a structural component of functional safety switchgears.”
Rule out failure sensitivity in your relay design
In many industries it’s common to use "All or Nothing" spring contact relays. The contacts will switch when the coil of the relay gets powered. Using spring force, the contacts switch back to their normal position when the power is switched off. But what happens when an overload appears and contacts of the switches are welded together? In this situation, standard relay contacts are unable to switch back to their normal position, which means the application keeps on running and won’t recognize the failure in the relay.
Relays with forcibly guided contacts are designed to solve this problem, making them ideal for usage in industrial, mechanical and medical devices. Especially in applications where personal safety or the protection of equipment is most important. Unlike normal relays, this type of relay is able to ‘indicate’ a failure in the contacts switching position. With this feature it’s easy to add a self-monitoring control circuit with a visual or audible alarm into your design.
In force guided relays it is impossible for all circuits to be closed at the same time. To achieve this level of safety, relays with forcibly guided contacts differ from standard industrial relays in various ways, making them a more reliable option. The high minimum insulation voltage for open contacts, a 0.5 mm. contact clearance in fail situations, and a forced guided mechanism make up a safety component where normally open and normally closed contacts are unable to be closed at the same time.
Swiss (custom) made relays according to IEC 61810-3
High built and material quality are essential to guarantee contact guiding over the whole relays’ lifetime and above-average system availability.
High quality components
The renowned Swiss manufacturer ELESTA GmbH is specialized in the development and production of relays with forcibly guided contacts according to IEC 61810-3. Their PCB fitted relays with 2 to 10 contacts form the basis for a large number of relay variants. By using notched crown contacts in their designs, the manufacturer guarantees reliable operation and a long service life. Many of their relays also comply with the EN 50155 standard for use in the railway industry.
Relays with direct DIN-rail mounting for control panel builders
To meet the growing demand for relay safety components in control cabinets, ELESTA GmbH developed a series of preconfigured relays with forcibly guided contacts in a DIN-rail mountable housing. This robust design offers improved protection against vibration and environmental influences compared to a simple relay socket. The modules can be conveniently snapped onto the mounting rail and installation is further simplified through screw and push-in wire terminals for the electrical connections.
Connected with the solutions of Batenburg Applied Technologies
Together with ELESTA’s technical specialists, Batenburg Applied Technologies helps customers choose the right relay for each specific application. With today’s diversity of machinery and equipment, customer-specific relays are more common than before. It is therefore more than logical that we offer custom relay designs that can be developed in short notice and are available for years. Please contact our sales engineers to discuss the possibilities.
Need more information?
Harry Beijering
Sales Engineer
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Roger De Koninck
Sales Engineer
