Re: dc relay
 

These are rated 40Amps. $3 per at Princess Auto...I finally found the one
near me and had a chub the whole time I was there!! haha

I realized the points won't matter....there ARE numbers on the contacts
(5contacts...2-coils, 3-switch {n/o & n/c})....but these numbers don't lead
you to think ones pos or neg!


"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:408EF19B.DA439BAC@cox.net...
> What size are you talking the small 20 amp ones, like for auxiliary
> lights? http://www.kchilites.com/instruction...layHarness.pdf You
> may have to use the plus size in order to see the numbers that both
> Bosch and Radio Shack use. The solenoid coil would be polarized, the the
> power running through the points wouldn't make a nickel's worth of
> difference.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> SB wrote:
> >
> > Hey guys,
> >
> > Having a brain issue. Are automotive relays bipolar? or are they
polarized?
> >
> > I picked up some cheap relays and there's no indication of a pos/neg
pole on
> > the coil....I'm guessing it don't make a difference!
> >
> > sb

Re: dc relay
 

These are rated 40Amps. $3 per at Princess Auto...I finally found the one
near me and had a chub the whole time I was there!! haha

I realized the points won't matter....there ARE numbers on the contacts
(5contacts...2-coils, 3-switch {n/o & n/c})....but these numbers don't lead
you to think ones pos or neg!


"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:408EF19B.DA439BAC@cox.net...
> What size are you talking the small 20 amp ones, like for auxiliary
> lights? http://www.kchilites.com/instruction...layHarness.pdf You
> may have to use the plus size in order to see the numbers that both
> Bosch and Radio Shack use. The solenoid coil would be polarized, the the
> power running through the points wouldn't make a nickel's worth of
> difference.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> SB wrote:
> >
> > Hey guys,
> >
> > Having a brain issue. Are automotive relays bipolar? or are they
polarized?
> >
> > I picked up some cheap relays and there's no indication of a pos/neg
pole on
> > the coil....I'm guessing it don't make a difference!
> >
> > sb

Re: dc relay
 

These are rated 40Amps. $3 per at Princess Auto...I finally found the one
near me and had a chub the whole time I was there!! haha

I realized the points won't matter....there ARE numbers on the contacts
(5contacts...2-coils, 3-switch {n/o & n/c})....but these numbers don't lead
you to think ones pos or neg!


"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:408EF19B.DA439BAC@cox.net...
> What size are you talking the small 20 amp ones, like for auxiliary
> lights? http://www.kchilites.com/instruction...layHarness.pdf You
> may have to use the plus size in order to see the numbers that both
> Bosch and Radio Shack use. The solenoid coil would be polarized, the the
> power running through the points wouldn't make a nickel's worth of
> difference.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> SB wrote:
> >
> > Hey guys,
> >
> > Having a brain issue. Are automotive relays bipolar? or are they
polarized?
> >
> > I picked up some cheap relays and there's no indication of a pos/neg
pole on
> > the coil....I'm guessing it don't make a difference!
> >
> > sb

Re: dc relay
 

Can you take it apart and see what goes to what?
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

SB wrote:
>
> These are rated 40Amps. $3 per at Princess Auto...I finally found the one
> near me and had a chub the whole time I was there!! haha
>
> I realized the points won't matter....there ARE numbers on the contacts
> (5contacts...2-coils, 3-switch {n/o & n/c})....but these numbers don't lead
> you to think ones pos or neg!

Re: dc relay
 

Can you take it apart and see what goes to what?
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

SB wrote:
>
> These are rated 40Amps. $3 per at Princess Auto...I finally found the one
> near me and had a chub the whole time I was there!! haha
>
> I realized the points won't matter....there ARE numbers on the contacts
> (5contacts...2-coils, 3-switch {n/o & n/c})....but these numbers don't lead
> you to think ones pos or neg!

Re: dc relay
 

Can you take it apart and see what goes to what?
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

SB wrote:
>
> These are rated 40Amps. $3 per at Princess Auto...I finally found the one
> near me and had a chub the whole time I was there!! haha
>
> I realized the points won't matter....there ARE numbers on the contacts
> (5contacts...2-coils, 3-switch {n/o & n/c})....but these numbers don't lead
> you to think ones pos or neg!

Re: dc relay
 

Can you take it apart and see what goes to what?
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

SB wrote:
>
> These are rated 40Amps. $3 per at Princess Auto...I finally found the one
> near me and had a chub the whole time I was there!! haha
>
> I realized the points won't matter....there ARE numbers on the contacts
> (5contacts...2-coils, 3-switch {n/o & n/c})....but these numbers don't lead
> you to think ones pos or neg!

Re: dc relay
 

"SB" <chicbearsmook@hotmail.com> writes:

> Hey guys,
>
> Having a brain issue. Are automotive relays bipolar? or are they polarized?
>
> I picked up some cheap relays and there's no indication of a pos/neg pole on
> the coil....I'm guessing it don't make a difference!
>
> sb

The DC polarity of conventional electromechanical relay windings usually isn't
an issue; if they won't work one way, switch the wires to hook 'em up the
other. There are very sensitive relays that have magnetized cotact armatures
and thus the polarity of the winding current is important. But because you say
you got these relays "cheap," I doubt that you'll have trouble with polarity.

Rather than winding polarity, what's important about relays are the voltage and
current ratings of both the winding and the contacts. These ratings are usually
stamped or embossed on the base. Be sure that you don't apply too much voltage
to the winding or you'll burn it out, and make sure that your power source can
supply enough current for it to operate. With a car battery, the winding
current draw won't be an issue as long as the winding voltage is rated for at
least 12-16 volts.

As far as the contacts are concerned, don't exceed their voltage rating or
they'll arc. And (probably most important) make sure that the load doesn't draw
more current than the contacts can handle. If your load current draw exceeds
the contact current capacity, you'll weld the contacts shut, melt them, start a
fire, or all of the above. Automotive applications are by nature
low-voltage/high-current devices, so automotive relays are designed
accordingly; really fat, beefy contacts with a short-throw armature.

Scotty
'99 TJ 4.0L
'99 XJ 4.0L
'03 BMW Z4

*** No animals were harmed during the production of this reply ***

Re: dc relay
 

"SB" <chicbearsmook@hotmail.com> writes:

> Hey guys,
>
> Having a brain issue. Are automotive relays bipolar? or are they polarized?
>
> I picked up some cheap relays and there's no indication of a pos/neg pole on
> the coil....I'm guessing it don't make a difference!
>
> sb

The DC polarity of conventional electromechanical relay windings usually isn't
an issue; if they won't work one way, switch the wires to hook 'em up the
other. There are very sensitive relays that have magnetized cotact armatures
and thus the polarity of the winding current is important. But because you say
you got these relays "cheap," I doubt that you'll have trouble with polarity.

Rather than winding polarity, what's important about relays are the voltage and
current ratings of both the winding and the contacts. These ratings are usually
stamped or embossed on the base. Be sure that you don't apply too much voltage
to the winding or you'll burn it out, and make sure that your power source can
supply enough current for it to operate. With a car battery, the winding
current draw won't be an issue as long as the winding voltage is rated for at
least 12-16 volts.

As far as the contacts are concerned, don't exceed their voltage rating or
they'll arc. And (probably most important) make sure that the load doesn't draw
more current than the contacts can handle. If your load current draw exceeds
the contact current capacity, you'll weld the contacts shut, melt them, start a
fire, or all of the above. Automotive applications are by nature
low-voltage/high-current devices, so automotive relays are designed
accordingly; really fat, beefy contacts with a short-throw armature.

Scotty
'99 TJ 4.0L
'99 XJ 4.0L
'03 BMW Z4

*** No animals were harmed during the production of this reply ***

Re: dc relay
 

"SB" <chicbearsmook@hotmail.com> writes:

> Hey guys,
>
> Having a brain issue. Are automotive relays bipolar? or are they polarized?
>
> I picked up some cheap relays and there's no indication of a pos/neg pole on
> the coil....I'm guessing it don't make a difference!
>
> sb

The DC polarity of conventional electromechanical relay windings usually isn't
an issue; if they won't work one way, switch the wires to hook 'em up the
other. There are very sensitive relays that have magnetized cotact armatures
and thus the polarity of the winding current is important. But because you say
you got these relays "cheap," I doubt that you'll have trouble with polarity.

Rather than winding polarity, what's important about relays are the voltage and
current ratings of both the winding and the contacts. These ratings are usually
stamped or embossed on the base. Be sure that you don't apply too much voltage
to the winding or you'll burn it out, and make sure that your power source can
supply enough current for it to operate. With a car battery, the winding
current draw won't be an issue as long as the winding voltage is rated for at
least 12-16 volts.

As far as the contacts are concerned, don't exceed their voltage rating or
they'll arc. And (probably most important) make sure that the load doesn't draw
more current than the contacts can handle. If your load current draw exceeds
the contact current capacity, you'll weld the contacts shut, melt them, start a
fire, or all of the above. Automotive applications are by nature
low-voltage/high-current devices, so automotive relays are designed
accordingly; really fat, beefy contacts with a short-throw armature.

Scotty
'99 TJ 4.0L
'99 XJ 4.0L
'03 BMW Z4

*** No animals were harmed during the production of this reply ***