GregKelley
Well-Known Member
Anyone have issues with their relay chattering when they mount it vertically? Mine started doing that.
I would be expect any relay coil to have enough pull on the contacts that you can use it in any position. If it is flat, gravity helps pull.on the contacts, works fine. If you rotate it 90 degrees and chatters, as in click - click - click - click - click. How often does it click? Once a second, faster than you can count.
The reasons I can think.of:
You are not applying the correct voltage. Check the rating on the relay, measure the voltage you apply. Verify flavor of voltage too, as in AC or DC.
It is defective and should be replaced.
It is a piece of junk and should be replaced.
Personally, I would not change the orientation to fix it.
What's the relay model # (or link to ordering page), and what voltage and current is it switching?
Brew on
...
As far as I know, NTE does not manufacture anything. They buy components and parts in bulk from various manufacturers, put their part number on it, put it in an NTE box, blister pack or little plastic bag. This relay was made by Potter Brumfield or Omron or somebody and they sold it to NTE. Is it possible that somewhere along the chain, somebody made a mistake and used the wrong part for this NTE device?
In that case, clear pictures of all markings on the relay could be helpful.
Brew on
My wild guess is that the wrong part number was put on the relay.
The factory stamped on the device RLY123-120VAC, but in reality they made a RLY123-240VAC.
I'm switching 23 A (5500W heating element). Using 120V on the coil by using one hot lead and the neutral on my 240V line coming in. This last time I used it, sometimes it would buzz, sometimes do nothing, sometimes chatter. Eventually it did work. I noticed that the contacts did seem loose.
Are you driving this relay with a straight on/off voltage or are you using a pulse width so that you can run the element at less than 100%? If you are doing PWM, you can't use a mechanical relay, it has to be SSR.
A buzz, intermittent contact, and chattering all point to either low relay voltage or a loose contact in your relay base... try wiggling the relay with voltage applied and see if you can make the contacts click at will by wiggling. Make sure you only touch the plastic at the top!
If voltage is good, and contacts are good, you have a bad coil.
Are you driving this relay with a straight on/off voltage or are you using a pulse width so that you can run the element at less than 100%? If you are doing PWM, you can't use a mechanical relay, it has to be SSR.
NO! This is an open frame relay with line voltage exposed all over it. Don't go near it while it's energized.
View attachment 288697
Brew on
Yes, of course. I wasn't about to. I power off the box before playing with it.
NO! This is an open frame relay with line voltage exposed all over it. Don't go near it while it's energized.
View attachment 288697
Brew on
Enter your email address to join: