Amperite relays are, as you say, bi-metal switches with a heater to make them bend together. They have nice big contacts, but can't really handle the 3A that they're stated to handle, at any practical voltage. The last little bit of travel puts them close enough to arc, and that degrades the contact surfaces. Low currents, very low voltages, fine. Used as timers for relays, they work great and last forever. But they don't last at AC line voltages switching even half an Amp.
All good fortune,
Chris
All good fortune,
Chris
Havering the amperite relay is a neat solution that doesn't require someone to understand the timing for turning on differen tparts of the pwer supply. Could having an Inrush Current Limiter next to the relay mitigate the risk of there being excessive current when it engages?
Not really. I found they just can't switch a capacitive or inductive load very well.
I used to use them to switch a relay, but even that would bounce the contacts sometimes.
Now I use this instead:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/304480853066?hash=item46e4791c4a:g:H~0AAOSw2bReN44u
I used to use them to switch a relay, but even that would bounce the contacts sometimes.
Now I use this instead:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/304480853066?hash=item46e4791c4a:g:H~0AAOSw2bReN44u