Littelfuse has expanded its portfolio of reed relays to extend voltage capabilities of its hermetically sealed switches for systems requiring no-leakage current or operating in harsh environments requiring galvanic insulation. Packaged in single-in-line and dual-in-line configurations, the miniature relays can provide position and speed sensing for applications such as security systems, fire and safety, instrumentation, test equipment and process control.
They include AC ratings, support AC or DC loads up to 300 Vdc, and provide input/output isolation voltage 2500 VRMS. They are capapable of switching speeds up to 1 kHz and billions of operations.
“The expansion of the Littelfuse reed relay portfolio is a reflection of our commitment to meeting our customers’ needs through technology and product development,” said Boris Golubovic, vice president, marketing and strategy. “Reed relays are uniquely suited for a wide range of applications, including process automation, and rapidly growing building technologies segment.”
A reed relay combines a reed switch with a coil into one package to serve as a smaller, more power-efficient alternative to other types of relays. In comparison to solid-state relays, reed relays provide no leakage current and higher robustness against transient spikes. Reed relays also have a much longer life, smaller size, higher switching speeds, and lower power consumption than electromechanical relay switches.
Generally, a reed switch is an electrical switch operated by an applied magnetic field. Typically, it is actuated by an electromagnetic coil, making a reed relay, or by bringing a permanent magnet near it. When the magnetic field is removed, the contacts in the reed switch return to their original position. For more info, see www.littelfuse.com.