Switches & Relays

Manual Control
Manual Control circuits use components that
require human interaction in order to operate.

Toggle switch

AC
source

Toggle switch

AC
source
 Automatic Control
Automatic control circuits can operate
themselves without the need for human
interaction.
Float switch

AC
source
 Automatic Control
Automatic control circuits can operate
themselves without the need for human
interaction.
Float switch

AC
source
 Contacts, Switches, and Coils
The most common types of components
found in a control circuit are contacts,
switches, and coils.

Contacts Contacts can be

Normally Open (NO)
or Normally Closed
NO NC (NC).

•Toggle
Switches •Pushbutton
•Selector switch
 Toggle Switches
Toggle switches
are generally used
in 2-wire control
circuits.
 Toggle Switches
2-wire control circuit

Toggle switch

AC
source
 Toggle Switches
2-wire control circuit

Toggle switch

AC
source

SAFETY TIP!
2-wire control circuits should not be used on mechanical
loads due to restart after a loss of power occurs.
 Toggle Switches
2-wire control circuit

Toggle switch

AC
source

SAFETY TIP!
2-wire control circuits should not be used on mechanical
loads due to restart after a loss of power occurs.
 Pushbuttons
Pushbuttons are
generally used in
3-wire control
circuits because of
their momentary
operation.
 Pushbuttons
3-wire control circuit
Start
Stop

AC
source C

C
 Pushbuttons
3-wire control circuit
Start
Stop

AC
source C

C
 Pushbuttons
3-wire control circuit
Start
Stop

AC
source C

C
 Pushbuttons
3-wire control circuit
Start
Stop

AC
source C

C
 Pushbuttons
3-wire control circuit
Start
Stop

AC
source C

C
 Selector
Selector switches
allow manual or
automatic
operation of a
circuit.
 Selector Switch

hand

AC off
source

auto
 Selector Switch

hand

AC off
source

auto
 Selector Switch

hand

AC off
source

auto
 Selector Switch

hand

AC off
source

auto
 Coils
When coils are energized, any contacts
that are controlled by them change from
their normal to energized state.
NO NC

C
 Coils
When coils are energized, any contacts
that are controlled by them change from
their normal to energized state.
NO NC

C
 Switches and Relays
• Switches are crude electro-mechanical devices that connect or seperate
pieces of metal, controlled by a lever or knob.
• Relays are crude electro-mechanical devices that connect or seperate
pieces of metal, controlled by an electromagnet.
• Contacts are rated for current and voltage (due to oxidation, DC is
usually rated lower).
• Available in single or mutiple contacts (poles).
• Relay contacts are “NO” (normally open) and NC (normally closed).
• Limited in frequency, except for specialized relays.
• Relay coils “pull in” at rated coil voltage and current.
• Switches common for power and signalling.
• Relays not common components, often used for motors. 23
 RELAYS
A switch whose operation is activated by an electromagnet is called a
"relay"

• A switch that can be turned

contact on and off by electricity
(instead of by a person)
• Uses magnetic properties of
materials and the magnetic
forces due to electric
coil
current flow

input IN

Relay coil
R1
Output contact R1
The switch is closed iff a High
voltage is applied to the input
 A simple relay circuit
• In a digital
Vcc circuit the
A voltages can
only take on one
of two discrete
values: High and
B C Low

Vcc
OUT
Bulb Switch OUT
GND Bulb
GND
GND
Relay Actuated
Contacts
 Switching Networks
• This switching network implements a
function of its input voltages
• A mapping from the input domain - the set of
possible input voltages - to the output range
- the set of possible output voltages

Throw - number of
states SPD DPST
T
Pole - number of
connecting
moving parts
(number of
individual
circuits).
 Types of switches

DPST
SPDT
 A Switch is a 2-state device
that can be toggled
A relay is a switch built
with an electromagnet

controlled current

controlling current

when the controlling current is 1, the electromagnet pulls the

switch closed, and the controlled current flows through the
switch
Process Actuated Manually Actuated
Switches Switches
 The ladder logic diagram is used to represent the
logic in a PLC control program widely in industry.
The ladder logic diagram makes use of
representations similar to electrical circuits in which
a series connection represents a logical AND, and a
parallel connection represents a logical OR.

The symbols used in a ladder logic diagram

are as shown:
AND

Input Output
Set-Reset Ladder Diagram OR

NOT
 LADDER LOGIC DIAGRAMS
Ladder Logic Elements AND Ladder Logic Elements OR

In this AND gate logic, it can be In this OR gate logic, it can be

said that only if the switches X1 said that if either one of the
and X2 change their states form switches X1 or X2 change its
opened to closed,the current state form opened to closed,the
can go to the lamp. current can go to the lamp.
 LADDER LOGIC DIAGRAMS
Ladder Logic Elements
NOT

From this circuit, it can be said that the current goes to the
lamp provided that the state of the switch does NOT change.
 Wiring diagram
AN EXAMPLE OF
RELAY LOGIC

For a process control, it

is desired to have the
process start (by turning
on a motor) five seconds
after a part touched a
limit switch.
Ladder diagram for the circuit
The process is
terminated automatically
when the finished part
touches a second limit
switch.
An emergency switch
will stop the process any
time when it is pushed.