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Understanding Relay Circuits in Vehicles

Relays are remote control switches used throughout vehicles that allow low-current circuits to control high-current circuits. They are commonly located in the engine compartment, behind kick panels, or under the dash. Relays come in various designs and are labeled to indicate their position and application. Relays use an electromagnet to open or close switches to control electric circuits. When energized by a control circuit, a relay's electromagnet closes its switch to allow current from a load circuit to flow.

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246 views12 pages

Understanding Relay Circuits in Vehicles

Relays are remote control switches used throughout vehicles that allow low-current circuits to control high-current circuits. They are commonly located in the engine compartment, behind kick panels, or under the dash. Relays come in various designs and are labeled to indicate their position and application. Relays use an electromagnet to open or close switches to control electric circuits. When energized by a control circuit, a relay's electromagnet closes its switch to allow current from a load circuit to flow.

Uploaded by

tai58
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

RELAYS

Relays are used throughout the automobile. Relays which


come in assorted sizes, ratings, and applications, are used as
remote control switches. A typical vehicle can have 20 relays
or more.                                                                                           
RELAY LOCATIONS
Relays are located throughout the entire vehicle. Relay blocks,
both large and small, are located in the engine compartment;
behind the left or right kick panels, or under the dash are
common locations. Relays are often grouped together or with
other components like fuses or placed by themselves.
                                                                                       
RELAY POSITION IDENTIFICATION
Relay / Fuse block covers usually label the location and position
of each fuse, relay, or fuse element contained within.
                                                                                                                   
RELAY APPLICATIONS
Relays are remote control
electrical switches that are
controlled by another switch,
such as a horn switch or a
computer as in a power train
control module. Relays allow
a small current flow circuit to
control a higher current
circuit. Several designs of
relays are in use today, 3-
pin, 4-pin, 5-pin, and 6-pin,
single switch or dual
switches.
RELAY OPERATION
All relays operate using the same basic principle. Our example
will use a commonly used 4 - pin relay. Relays have two
circuits: A control circuit (shown in GREEN) and a load circuit
(shown in RED). The control circuit has a small control coil while
the load circuit has a switch. The coil controls the operation of
the switch.
RELAY ENERGIZED (ON)
Current flowing through the control circuit coil (pins 1 and 3)
creates a small magnetic field which causes the switch to close,
pins 2 and 4. The switch, which is part of the load circuit, is used
to control an electrical circuit that may connect to it. Current now
flows through pins 2 and 4 shown in RED, when the relay is
energized.
RELAY DE-ENERGIZED (OFF)
When current stops flowing through the control circuit, pins 1 and
3, the relay becomes de-energized. Without the magnetic field,
the switch opens and current is prevented from flowing through
pins 2 and 4. The relay is now OFF.
                                     
RELAY OPERATION
When no voltage is applied to pin 1, there is no current flow
through the coil. No current means no magnetic field is
developed, and the switch is open. When voltage is supplied to
pin 1, current flow though the coil creates the magnetic field
needed to close the switch allowing continuity between pins 2
and 4.

                   
 

                   
NORMALLY DESIGN ID
Relays are either Normally Open or Normally Closed. Notice the
position of the switches in the two relays shown below. Normally
open relays have a switch that remains open until energized (ON)
while normally closed relays are closed until energized. Relays are
always shown in the de-energized position (no current flowing
through the control circuit - OFF). Normally open relays are the
most common in vehicles; however either can be use in
automotive applications.

                   
ACTUAL RELAY DESIGN
Current flows through the control coil, which is wrapped around
an iron core. The iron core intensifies the magnetic field. The
magnetic field attracts the upper contact arm and pulls it down,
closing the contacts and allowing power from the power source
to go to the load.

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