>Good point! Wiping is purely mechanical.
>
>As I recall the pivot point on a relay serves as a fulcrum. If the arm
>swings around the fulcrum, then the extension of the arm travels in an
>arc. Although small, the arm having some flexing, traveling through the
>arc causes the armateur contacts to scrub on the fixed contacts. Hence,
>wiping action.
>
>If the relay does not have a fulcrum, I believe it's then called a
>"contactor". Otherwise, purely up and down motion.
>
>One other point I haven't seen mentioned here, certain type of metals
>will oxidize and thus form an insulation barrier. Although very thin
>and punctured by electron action allowing current to flow, in very low
>voltage applications, the EMF is inadequate to puncture the oxidized
>layer. Silver contacts are especialy bad about this, ......
? Are you saying that silver-oxide is not a conductor?
- Rich..., 805.386.3734, www.vcnet.com/measures.
end
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