Inrush Current

NI Switches Help

Edition Date: April 2015

Part Number: 375472H-01

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As current flows through the relay, power is dissipated in the contacts as represented in the following equation:

P=I²R_contact+I²R_arc

where

P = power absorbed by relay contacts

I = inrush current through the module

R_arc = resistance of the arc that exists between the relay contacts during bounce

R _contact = resistance across the relay contacts

R_arc dissipates as heat, raising the temperature of the contacts. Inrush currents momentarily expose the contacts to very high power levels. The energy associated with the inrush current may be sufficient to melt the contact surfaces after bouncing and weld the relay contacts closed. Inrush currents usually decrease rapidly to the steady state levels. Contact bounce, however, can subject the relay to multiple inrushes per activation, causing further damage.

The following figure shows a relay within a switch module connected to a voltage source and a load. C_int1, C_int2 and R_contact always produce an inrush current proportional to the input voltage. The duration of the inrush current increases (as does contact heating) with the addition of external capacitance at the load. Inrush current flows while load capacitance C_int2 and C_ext are being charged.

where = time constant

In this figure, C_{int 2} + C_external = C and = R_contactC > R_contactC_{int 2}

When the voltage across C_{int 2} is not the same as (C_{int 2} + C_external), closing the relay causes momentary inrush current equal to the voltage difference across the relay, divided by the resistance of the relay and associated wiring.

Capacitive Load Switching ( =R_contactC)

To prevent damage to these modules, place a resistor in series with your load as detailed in Switching Capacitive Loads .

Related Topics

Switching Capacitive Loads