In electrical engineering, switching means opening and closing electric circuits. The switch receives the information as a command from the control circuit. Switching can be carried out by contactors, relays, switches and buttons or via a contactless set-up using semiconductor relays and optos.

 

With relays, semiconductor relays and optos, the advantages of modern relay and semiconductor technology can be used. Thanks to their compact design, they can be integrated into control concepts for the mounting rail even when space is tight.

With their electrical isolation of the control circuit and the load circuit, relay and optocouplers are the ideal way to transmit digital signals without interference. This protects the electronic input control circuits from short circuits and feedback caused by inductive appliances.

 

Safe separation of the signals ensures that switching signals are transmitted between different machine components and systems without reference potential. The independent build-up of reference potential guarantees safe decoupling. At the same time, this prevents compensating current from occurring due to different levels of reference potential – in both complex machines and extensive systems.

Safe separation using relay or optocouplers is also to be recommended for indefinable earthing conditions and long instrument leads, allowing the electronic controls to be adapted to suit individual input, processing and output levels.

 

Our relays and optos can switch a wide range of different loads according to model. They boast high volume resistance and insulation strength, and no residual current flows when the contacts are open. It is also possible to switch several separate load circuits simultaneously with a single control signal. Semiconductor relays and optos are also optically decoupled and have the advantage of using no mechanical components. This means they are both bounce-free and free of interference, and can switch all kinds of loads on and off silently without incurring wear and tear or corrosion, and with relatively little power. Semiconductor relays and optos are also resistant to vibrations and have no bouncing time.

 

With its wide range of enclosures, Weidmüller offers the perfect component for every application. Our relay couplers, semiconductor relays and optos switch all kinds of loads and comply with the following requirements:

 

• Interference-free signal transmission
• Feedback-free signal transmission
• Input and output electric circuits are safely separated at the specified isolation voltage
• Several loads can be switched simultaneously
• Switching of all kinds of loads – large or small
• Coupling of different voltages and currents between input and output circuits
• Power amplification (small input power switches large output power)
• Compact design
• Easy installation by clipping onto mounting rails