The study of the simulation control and test system for relay contacts operation with microcomputer

Newly designed test equipment for studying relay contact materials and for testing relay contact performance is described. The equipment not only can simulate various parameters of a relay contact, e.g. contact make and break speeds, contact force at make, contact bounce, but it can also monitor parameters characterizing contact performance automatically, such as voltages across the contacts at make and break, contact welding force, and contact resistance. It can also measure the arcing time of each make and break. Under the same relay operating condition, the influence of contact materials on contact resistance, make and break current and arc time constant on arcing time distribution, and contact structure on arcing time were studied. The results obtained can be used to select contact materials for different relay operating conditions.<>