ContactContact carrierConductive metal part of the relay where the contact is attached to. Contact erosion Material loss at the contact surfaces, for example due to material ev aporation by an arc. Contact force Force between closed contact surfaces. Contact gap Gap betweeen the contact surfaces of an open contact pair. Contact set All contacts in a relay. Dry switching The relay contact switches no or a very small electrical load (< 1mA, <100mV). Fritting Electrical breakdown which can occur under special conditions (voltage, current) whenever thin contact films prevent electrical conductivity between closed contacts. Fritting is a process which generates (A-fritting) and /or widens (B-fritting) a conducting path through such a semi-conducting film on a contact surface. During A-fritting, electrons are injected into the undamaged film. The electron current alters the condition of the film producing a "conductive channel". During the following B-fritting, the current widens the channel increasing the conductivity. Moveable contact Moving contact during switching operation. The moveable contact is mounted on the armature / spring system. Stationary contact Non moveable contact, mounted on a contact carrier which is directly connected to a relay pin / faston blade. |