Selection of automotive relays: load test and environmental adaptability considerations

In automotive electrical systems, relays, as key components of control circuits, bear the important responsibility of connecting and disconnecting circuits. In order to ensure that the car can operate stably under various working conditions, it is particularly important to choose a suitable relay.

1. Carry out load test: ensure actual working performance
When selecting automotive relays, load test is an indispensable step. Load test is designed to simulate the working state of the relay in actual application to verify whether it can meet the design requirements and performance standards. This step is crucial to ensure that the relay can work normally under actual load.

The content of load test usually includes testing the key parameters such as contact load capacity, action time and release time of the relay. Contact load capacity refers to the maximum current and voltage value that the relay contact can withstand, which is directly related to whether the relay can control the load safely and reliably. Action time and release time reflect the response speed of the relay, which is particularly important for loads that need to be switched quickly.

When carrying out load test, special attention should be paid to the impact of load type on relay performance. For example, a light bulb load will generate a large surge current at the moment of starting, while a motor load may generate reverse electromotive force when starting and stopping. All of these characteristics may cause damage to the contacts of the relay, so special attention should be paid to them during the test.

Through load testing, we can screen out relays that meet actual working requirements and ensure that they perform well in actual applications. At the same time, this step also helps to discover potential performance problems and provide a basis for subsequent improvements and optimizations.

2. Consider environmental conditions: ensure stable operation
The working environment of automotive relays is often harsh, and they need to face multiple challenges such as high temperature, low temperature, humidity, and vibration. Therefore, when selecting relays, the impact of these environmental factors on their performance must be fully considered.

High temperature environments may cause the aging of internal components of relays to accelerate, and the contact materials to melt or deform, thereby affecting their reliability and life. Low temperature environments may solidify the lubricant inside the relay, resulting in poor operation or failure. Humid environments are prone to cause circuit short circuits or corrosion problems, while vibrations may cause poor contact or mechanical structure damage.

In order to meet these challenges, we should choose relays that can adapt to harsh environmental conditions. For example, choose relay materials with high heat resistance, moisture resistance, and vibration resistance; use sealing or potting processes to improve the protection level of the relay; and optimize the structural design of the relay to enhance its vibration resistance.

In addition, we can also verify the performance of the relay through environmental adaptability tests. These tests usually include high temperature aging tests, low temperature storage tests, damp heat tests, and vibration tests. Through these tests, we can have a more comprehensive understanding of the performance of the relay under different environmental conditions, thereby providing a strong guarantee for its stability in practical applications.