Protecting Relays That Control Dc Power; Resistor/Capacitor Network On Relay-Driven Dc Load; Protecting Relays That Control Ac Power; Ac Load With Network Across Relay - Siemens SIMATIC S7-200 System Manual

Protecting Relays That Control DC Power

Resistor/capacitor networks, as shown in Figure 2-15, can be used for low voltage
(30 V) DC relay applications. Connect the network across the load.
Figure 2-15
You can also use diode suppression, as shown in Figure 2-13 and Figure 2-14, for
DC relay applications. A threshold voltage of up to 36 V is allowed if you use a
reverse zener diode.

Protecting Relays That Control AC Power

When you use a relay to switch 115 VAC/230 VAC inductive loads, you should
place resistor/capacitor networks across the relay contacts as shown in
Figure 2-16. You can also use a metal oxide varistor (MOV) to limit peak voltage.
Ensure that the working voltage of the MOV is at least 20% greater than the
nominal line voltage.
Figure 2-16
The capacitor allows leakage current to flow around the open switch. Be sure that
the leakage current, I (leakage) = 2 x 3.14 x f x C x Vrms, is acceptable for the
application.
For example: A NEMA size 2 contactor lists 183 VA coil inrush and 17 VA sealed
coil load. At 115 VAC, the inrush current is 183 VA/115 V = 1.59 A, which is within
the 2-A switching capability of the relay contacts.
The resistor = 0.5 x 115 = 57.5
The capacitor = (17 VA/10) x 0.005 = 0.0085 µF; choose 0.01 µF as the value.
The leakage current = 2 x 3.14 x 60 x 0.01 x 10
S7-200 Programmable Controller System Manual
A5E00066097-02
R C
Inductor

Resistor/Capacitor Network on Relay-Driven DC Load

R
MOV
C
Inductor

AC Load with Network across Relay

; choose 68
Installing an S7-200 PLC
R
where minimum R = 12 Ω
+VDC
C
where K is 0.5 µF/A to 1 µF/A
I
L
R > 0.5 x Vrms for relay
C = 0.002 µF to 0.005 µF for each
10 VA of steady-state load
as a standard value.
-6
x 115 = 0.43 mA rms.
V
DC
I
L
I K
L
2-17