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Stephenson Rd, Clacton, Essex, England, CO15 4NL

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    • About
      • 10 Key Benefits of Pickering Reed Relays
      • Why Pickering Reed Relays?
      • 50 Years of Quality Reed Relays
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  • Reed Relays
    • By Series No.
      • Single-In-Line (SIL/SIP) Series 100 – 110
        • 100 – Low Thermal EMF Relays
        • 100HV – HV up to 3kV – High Coil Resistance
        • 100HC – 3A High Carry Current / High Coil Resistance
        • 101 – Direct Drive From CMOS
        • 102 – Up to 20W Coaxial RF/High Speed Digital
        • 103 – Low Capacitance – Wide Bandwidth
        • 104 – HV 1kV Switching, 4kV Stand-Off
        • 105 – 20W (Dry) & 50W (Mercury)
        • 106 – 0.2” x 0.8” up to 20W + HV 1.5kV Stand-off
        • 107 – Mu-metal Standard Size up to 20W
        • 108 – 0.15” x 0.8” Mu-Metal Screened Relay
        • 109 – 0.15” x 0.6” – Up to 20W + RF
        • 110 – 0.15” x 0.4” – Up to 20W
      • Single-In-Line (SIL) Series 111-131
        • 111 – 0.15” x 0.4” 10W + 2.5GHz RF
        • 112 – 0.15” x 0.4” 10W High Density
        • 113 – 0.15” x 0.5” 3W (Form C),
          10W (Form A) + 3 GHz RF
        • 114 – 40W High Power SIP
        • 115 – Up to 1 Amp, 20W High Density
        • 116 – 0.5A, 10W Very High Density
        • 117 – 0.5A, 10W Very High Density
        • 118 – High Coil Resistance – Small Size
        • 119 – Up to 3KV Stand-off – Mini High Voltage
        • 131 – 10W 1.5kV Stand-off PCB Smallest HV SIP
      • High Voltage (HV) Relays
        • 62 & 63: 15kV PCB/Chassis Mount Push On Terminals
        • 60 & 65 – 15kV PCB/Chassis Mount Solder Terminals
        • 67 & 68 – 200W 10kV PCB/Flying Lead Connections
        • 100HV – HV up to 3kV – High Coil Resistance
        • 104 – 25W 1kV Switching, 4kV Stand-off PCB SIP
        • 119 – 10W 1kV Switching, 3kV Stand-off PCB Mini SIP
        • 131 – 10W 1.5kV Stand-off PCB Smallest HV SIP
      • Ultra-High Density 4mm Relays
        • 120 – 1 Amp, 20W 4mm X 15.5mm
        • 122 – 0.5 Amp, 10W 4mm X 12.5mm
        • 124 – 0.5A, 10W 4mm X 9.5mm
      • Dual-in-Line (DIL/DIP) Series 97 – 98
        • 97 – Dry 3W (Form C) 10W (Form A), Mercury 50W
        • 98 – 3W (Form C) 20W (Form A) CMOS Direct Drive
      • Legacy / Classic Relays
        • Older Style Relays – Series 80, 85, 88 & 89
        • Older Style Relays – Series 86 and 87
      • Surface Mount
    • By Application
      • High Density
      • High Voltage
        • Cable Testing
        • Mining Gas Analysis
      • General Instrumentation
      • RF Fast / Digital
      • Portable Equipment
      • High Power
      • Data Acquisition
      • Low Thermal EMF
      • Thermocouple Switching
      • Direct Drive from CMOS
      • Low Capacitance
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    • Custom Reed Relays
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Menu
  • About
    • About
      • 10 Key Benefits of Pickering Reed Relays
      • Why Pickering Reed Relays?
      • 50 Years of Quality Reed Relays
      • Reed Relay Timeline
      • Pickering Interfaces
    • Quality Assurance
    • Careers
    • Brexit Statement
    • COVID-19 Notice
    • Ukraine Conflict
  • Reed Relays
    • By Series No.
      • Single-In-Line (SIL/SIP) Series 100 – 110
        • 100 – Low Thermal EMF Relays
        • 100HV – HV up to 3kV – High Coil Resistance
        • 100HC – 3A High Carry Current / High Coil Resistance
        • 101 – Direct Drive From CMOS
        • 102 – Up to 20W Coaxial RF/High Speed Digital
        • 103 – Low Capacitance – Wide Bandwidth
        • 104 – HV 1kV Switching, 4kV Stand-Off
        • 105 – 20W (Dry) & 50W (Mercury)
        • 106 – 0.2” x 0.8” up to 20W + HV 1.5kV Stand-off
        • 107 – Mu-metal Standard Size up to 20W
        • 108 – 0.15” x 0.8” Mu-Metal Screened Relay
        • 109 – 0.15” x 0.6” – Up to 20W + RF
        • 110 – 0.15” x 0.4” – Up to 20W
      • Single-In-Line (SIL) Series 111-131
        • 111 – 0.15” x 0.4” 10W + 2.5GHz RF
        • 112 – 0.15” x 0.4” 10W High Density
        • 113 – 0.15” x 0.5” 3W (Form C),
          10W (Form A) + 3 GHz RF
        • 114 – 40W High Power SIP
        • 115 – Up to 1 Amp, 20W High Density
        • 116 – 0.5A, 10W Very High Density
        • 117 – 0.5A, 10W Very High Density
        • 118 – High Coil Resistance – Small Size
        • 119 – Up to 3KV Stand-off – Mini High Voltage
        • 131 – 10W 1.5kV Stand-off PCB Smallest HV SIP
      • High Voltage (HV) Relays
        • 62 & 63: 15kV PCB/Chassis Mount Push On Terminals
        • 60 & 65 – 15kV PCB/Chassis Mount Solder Terminals
        • 67 & 68 – 200W 10kV PCB/Flying Lead Connections
        • 100HV – HV up to 3kV – High Coil Resistance
        • 104 – 25W 1kV Switching, 4kV Stand-off PCB SIP
        • 119 – 10W 1kV Switching, 3kV Stand-off PCB Mini SIP
        • 131 – 10W 1.5kV Stand-off PCB Smallest HV SIP
      • Ultra-High Density 4mm Relays
        • 120 – 1 Amp, 20W 4mm X 15.5mm
        • 122 – 0.5 Amp, 10W 4mm X 12.5mm
        • 124 – 0.5A, 10W 4mm X 9.5mm
      • Dual-in-Line (DIL/DIP) Series 97 – 98
        • 97 – Dry 3W (Form C) 10W (Form A), Mercury 50W
        • 98 – 3W (Form C) 20W (Form A) CMOS Direct Drive
      • Legacy / Classic Relays
        • Older Style Relays – Series 80, 85, 88 & 89
        • Older Style Relays – Series 86 and 87
      • Surface Mount
    • By Application
      • High Density
      • High Voltage
        • Cable Testing
        • Mining Gas Analysis
      • General Instrumentation
      • RF Fast / Digital
      • Portable Equipment
      • High Power
      • Data Acquisition
      • Low Thermal EMF
      • Thermocouple Switching
      • Direct Drive from CMOS
      • Low Capacitance
    • Reed Relay Selector Tool
    • Custom Reed Relays
  • How to Buy
    • Request a Quote
    • Buy Online
    • Free Evaluation Samples
    • Distributors & Sales Offices
    • Distributor Inventory
  • Resources
    • Application Guides
      • Photovoltaic Efficiency & Fault Detection
      • EV & Charge Point Testing
    • Reed Relay Selector Tool
    • Data Sheets
    • Concise Tech Guide
    • Relay Catalogue
    • RelayMate Book
    • Relay Finder Map
    • 3D Relay Models
    • Videos
  • News
    • Product News
    • Media News
    • Events
  • Support
    • Contact Us
    • General Help
      • Technical Help
      • RelayMate Book
      • SoftCenter ®
      • Connectivity Advice
      • Magnetic Interaction
      • Glossary of Terms
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Now
  • About
    • About
      • 10 Key Benefits of Pickering Reed Relays
      • Why Pickering Reed Relays?
      • 50 Years of Quality Reed Relays
      • Reed Relay Timeline
      • Pickering Interfaces
    • Quality Assurance
    • Careers
    • Brexit Statement
    • COVID-19 Notice
    • Ukraine Conflict
  • Reed Relays
    • By Series No.
      • Single-In-Line (SIL/SIP) Series 100 – 110
        • 100 – Low Thermal EMF Relays
        • 100HV – HV up to 3kV – High Coil Resistance
        • 100HC – 3A High Carry Current / High Coil Resistance
        • 101 – Direct Drive From CMOS
        • 102 – Up to 20W Coaxial RF/High Speed Digital
        • 103 – Low Capacitance – Wide Bandwidth
        • 104 – HV 1kV Switching, 4kV Stand-Off
        • 105 – 20W (Dry) & 50W (Mercury)
        • 106 – 0.2” x 0.8” up to 20W + HV 1.5kV Stand-off
        • 107 – Mu-metal Standard Size up to 20W
        • 108 – 0.15” x 0.8” Mu-Metal Screened Relay
        • 109 – 0.15” x 0.6” – Up to 20W + RF
        • 110 – 0.15” x 0.4” – Up to 20W
      • Single-In-Line (SIL) Series 111-131
        • 111 – 0.15” x 0.4” 10W + 2.5GHz RF
        • 112 – 0.15” x 0.4” 10W High Density
        • 113 – 0.15” x 0.5” 3W (Form C),
          10W (Form A) + 3 GHz RF
        • 114 – 40W High Power SIP
        • 115 – Up to 1 Amp, 20W High Density
        • 116 – 0.5A, 10W Very High Density
        • 117 – 0.5A, 10W Very High Density
        • 118 – High Coil Resistance – Small Size
        • 119 – Up to 3KV Stand-off – Mini High Voltage
        • 131 – 10W 1.5kV Stand-off PCB Smallest HV SIP
      • High Voltage (HV) Relays
        • 62 & 63: 15kV PCB/Chassis Mount Push On Terminals
        • 60 & 65 – 15kV PCB/Chassis Mount Solder Terminals
        • 67 & 68 – 200W 10kV PCB/Flying Lead Connections
        • 100HV – HV up to 3kV – High Coil Resistance
        • 104 – 25W 1kV Switching, 4kV Stand-off PCB SIP
        • 119 – 10W 1kV Switching, 3kV Stand-off PCB Mini SIP
        • 131 – 10W 1.5kV Stand-off PCB Smallest HV SIP
      • Ultra-High Density 4mm Relays
        • 120 – 1 Amp, 20W 4mm X 15.5mm
        • 122 – 0.5 Amp, 10W 4mm X 12.5mm
        • 124 – 0.5A, 10W 4mm X 9.5mm
      • Dual-in-Line (DIL/DIP) Series 97 – 98
        • 97 – Dry 3W (Form C) 10W (Form A), Mercury 50W
        • 98 – 3W (Form C) 20W (Form A) CMOS Direct Drive
      • Legacy / Classic Relays
        • Older Style Relays – Series 80, 85, 88 & 89
        • Older Style Relays – Series 86 and 87
      • Surface Mount
    • By Application
      • High Density
      • High Voltage
        • Cable Testing
        • Mining Gas Analysis
      • General Instrumentation
      • RF Fast / Digital
      • Portable Equipment
      • High Power
      • Data Acquisition
      • Low Thermal EMF
      • Thermocouple Switching
      • Direct Drive from CMOS
      • Low Capacitance
    • Reed Relay Selector Tool
    • Custom Reed Relays
  • How to Buy
    • Request a Quote
    • Buy Online
    • Free Evaluation Samples
    • Distributors & Sales Offices
    • Distributor Inventory
  • Resources
    • Application Guides
      • Photovoltaic Efficiency & Fault Detection
      • EV & Charge Point Testing
    • Reed Relay Selector Tool
    • Data Sheets
    • Concise Tech Guide
    • Relay Catalogue
    • RelayMate Book
    • Relay Finder Map
    • 3D Relay Models
    • Videos
  • News
    • Product News
    • Media News
    • Events
  • Support
    • Contact Us
    • General Help
      • Technical Help
      • RelayMate Book
      • SoftCenter ®
      • Connectivity Advice
      • Magnetic Interaction
      • Glossary of Terms
Menu
  • About
    • About
      • 10 Key Benefits of Pickering Reed Relays
      • Why Pickering Reed Relays?
      • 50 Years of Quality Reed Relays
      • Reed Relay Timeline
      • Pickering Interfaces
    • Quality Assurance
    • Careers
    • Brexit Statement
    • COVID-19 Notice
    • Ukraine Conflict
  • Reed Relays
    • By Series No.
      • Single-In-Line (SIL/SIP) Series 100 – 110
        • 100 – Low Thermal EMF Relays
        • 100HV – HV up to 3kV – High Coil Resistance
        • 100HC – 3A High Carry Current / High Coil Resistance
        • 101 – Direct Drive From CMOS
        • 102 – Up to 20W Coaxial RF/High Speed Digital
        • 103 – Low Capacitance – Wide Bandwidth
        • 104 – HV 1kV Switching, 4kV Stand-Off
        • 105 – 20W (Dry) & 50W (Mercury)
        • 106 – 0.2” x 0.8” up to 20W + HV 1.5kV Stand-off
        • 107 – Mu-metal Standard Size up to 20W
        • 108 – 0.15” x 0.8” Mu-Metal Screened Relay
        • 109 – 0.15” x 0.6” – Up to 20W + RF
        • 110 – 0.15” x 0.4” – Up to 20W
      • Single-In-Line (SIL) Series 111-131
        • 111 – 0.15” x 0.4” 10W + 2.5GHz RF
        • 112 – 0.15” x 0.4” 10W High Density
        • 113 – 0.15” x 0.5” 3W (Form C),
          10W (Form A) + 3 GHz RF
        • 114 – 40W High Power SIP
        • 115 – Up to 1 Amp, 20W High Density
        • 116 – 0.5A, 10W Very High Density
        • 117 – 0.5A, 10W Very High Density
        • 118 – High Coil Resistance – Small Size
        • 119 – Up to 3KV Stand-off – Mini High Voltage
        • 131 – 10W 1.5kV Stand-off PCB Smallest HV SIP
      • High Voltage (HV) Relays
        • 62 & 63: 15kV PCB/Chassis Mount Push On Terminals
        • 60 & 65 – 15kV PCB/Chassis Mount Solder Terminals
        • 67 & 68 – 200W 10kV PCB/Flying Lead Connections
        • 100HV – HV up to 3kV – High Coil Resistance
        • 104 – 25W 1kV Switching, 4kV Stand-off PCB SIP
        • 119 – 10W 1kV Switching, 3kV Stand-off PCB Mini SIP
        • 131 – 10W 1.5kV Stand-off PCB Smallest HV SIP
      • Ultra-High Density 4mm Relays
        • 120 – 1 Amp, 20W 4mm X 15.5mm
        • 122 – 0.5 Amp, 10W 4mm X 12.5mm
        • 124 – 0.5A, 10W 4mm X 9.5mm
      • Dual-in-Line (DIL/DIP) Series 97 – 98
        • 97 – Dry 3W (Form C) 10W (Form A), Mercury 50W
        • 98 – 3W (Form C) 20W (Form A) CMOS Direct Drive
      • Legacy / Classic Relays
        • Older Style Relays – Series 80, 85, 88 & 89
        • Older Style Relays – Series 86 and 87
      • Surface Mount
    • By Application
      • High Density
      • High Voltage
        • Cable Testing
        • Mining Gas Analysis
      • General Instrumentation
      • RF Fast / Digital
      • Portable Equipment
      • High Power
      • Data Acquisition
      • Low Thermal EMF
      • Thermocouple Switching
      • Direct Drive from CMOS
      • Low Capacitance
    • Reed Relay Selector Tool
    • Custom Reed Relays
  • How to Buy
    • Request a Quote
    • Buy Online
    • Free Evaluation Samples
    • Distributors & Sales Offices
    • Distributor Inventory
  • Resources
    • Application Guides
      • Photovoltaic Efficiency & Fault Detection
      • EV & Charge Point Testing
    • Reed Relay Selector Tool
    • Data Sheets
    • Concise Tech Guide
    • Relay Catalogue
    • RelayMate Book
    • Relay Finder Map
    • 3D Relay Models
    • Videos
  • News
    • Product News
    • Media News
    • Events
  • Support
    • Contact Us
    • General Help
      • Technical Help
      • RelayMate Book
      • SoftCenter ®
      • Connectivity Advice
      • Magnetic Interaction
      • Glossary of Terms
  • Home
  • News Archive
  • Media News
  • Seven questions about Reed Relays

Seven questions about Reed Relays

by pickering / Tuesday, 17 November 2015 / Published in Media News

The following interview explains what Reed Relays are, their unique features and what needs to be considered when using them within switching solutions. Graham Dale, Technical Director of Reed Relay manufacturer, Pickering Electronics, explains.

Why should engineers use Reed Relays in switching applications?

Reed Relays remain an attractive solution for switching applications. Having a metallic path, they do not suffer from a relatively high contact resistance and high off-state leakage current usually associated with solid state relays. Having hermetically sealed contacts, reed relays offer a better low level performance than conventional electro-mechanical relays as they do not suffer from oxidization or films building up on the contacts. They also have the advantage of faster operate and release times, critical in today’s instrumentation and test systems.

How do Reed Relays work?

A reed relay consists of two ferromagnetic switch blades that exit the opposite ends of a hermetically sealed glass tube. This tube is filled with an inert gas, usually nitrogen. A vacuum is normally used instead in the case of high voltage reed switches. The overlapping blades are attracted to each other when they become magnetized by the field generated by a coil wound around the switch and the contacts will close. These contacts are plated using various methods and materials appropriate to the application. Pickering favour Sputtered Ruthenium plating for low level switching.

In general, the most common construction for a reed relay offers no magnetic screening, and involves the use of a hard moulded package and an operating coil wound on a plastic bobbin surrounding the reed switch capsule. Pickering offer a technically superior solution including SoftCenter construction, mu-metal magnetic screens and former-less coil winding techniques.

What is SoftCenter technology?

Instead of the more usual hard moulded package, Pickering uses our SoftCenter® technology, whereby a soft inner material is used to protect the delicate glass to metal seal of the reed switch capsule against expansion mismatches. This de-stresses the switch ensuring accurate alignment of the switch blades which in turn gives longer and more reliable life.

What is former-less coil winding?

Relay operating coils are commonly wound on bobbins. The great majority of Pickering relays are manufactured with self-supporting coils, thus avoiding the space required for these bobbins. In the case of the smaller relays types, this gives around 50 percent more room for the coil winding, allowing the use of less sensitive reed switches with their inherent advantages of higher operating and restoring forces. In some ranges, this technique allows Pickering to achieve extremely high coil resistance figures.

What is the purpose of the Mu-metal magnetic screen?

Reed switches are operated by the magnetic field from a coil which is wound around the reed switch capsule. Without a magnetic screen, this field will spread some way outside the confines of the relay package and will de-sensitize other reed relays mounted alongside. As an example, an unscreened relay mounted on 0.2 inches (5.08mm) pitch, will require a coil voltage about 25 percent higher to operate it, when other relays alongside are also in an operated state.

This falls to between 1 and 5 percent, according to type, if magnetically screened. Smaller relays on 0.15 inches (3.81mm) pitch, would have an interaction figure as high as 40 percent if unscreened.

You can view the original article here.

About pickering

Pickering Electronics have been specialising in high-quality instrumentation grade Reed Relay designs for over 50 years and are eager to share their technical expertise. Pickering relays are sold in high volumes to automatic test equipment companies throughout the world.

What you can read next

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Pickering to showcase ultra-high density Reed Relays at Electronica
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Printed circuit board reed relays for test and measurement applications introduced by Pickering

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