8

Reed Switch
Application Notes

Contact Protection

The upper nomograph can be used for

determining contact arc suppression for R
inductive loads. 10000
I Example 1: I = 0,1 A 8000
10 V = 230 V
8 C = 0,001 microfarads
6000
R = 340 ohms
6 Example 2: 4000
If the current inrush is critical use the
lower nomograph to determine the

Resistance in Ω
Current in A

4 minimum resistance.
2000
C I = 0,5 A
1 Rmin = 400 ohms
0,8
0,6
1000
0,4 2 800
0,2 600
Capacitor in mF

400
0,1 1
0,08
0,06 0,8
200
0,04 0,6 56 Load voltage in V
8
2

10
ple

0,02 500
0,4 100
am

20 400
30 50 30 80
Ex

0,01 0
0,008 60
20

0,006
10
0
0

0,004 0,2 1 40
mple
a
0,002 Ex 20 A 300 V
20
0,001 0,1 200 V
10 A
Load voltage

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100 V
max. current inrush

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CRYDOM
0,06 25 V 8
T +44 (0) 1202 897969
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10 V
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4
W www.crydom.co.uk 1A
USA 0,5 A
CRYDOM 0,02 RS 2
I
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R C
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0,01
 9
Reed Switch
When cutting or bending Reed Switches, it is important that the glass body is not
Application Notes damaged. Therefore, the cutting or bending point should be no closer than 3
Capacitive Loads mm to the glass body and the leads should be supported when cutting or
Unlike inductive loads, capacitive and lamp loads are prone to high inrush bending as shown.
currents which can lead to faulty operation and even contact welding. When
Cutting
switching charged capacitors (including cable capacitance) a sudden
unloading can occur, the intensity of which is determined by the capacity and
length of the connecting leads to the switch. This inrush peak can be reduced
by a series of resistors. The value of these resistors is dependent on the
particular application but should be as high as possible to ensure that the
inrush current is within the allowable limits. Bending

The diagram illustrates a resistor/capacitor network for protecting a Reed

Switch against high inrush currents. R1 and/or R2 are used depending
upon circuit conditions.
Actuation of Reed Switches with a Permanent Magnet
Cable Examples of switching with the use of a moving magnet
R1 RS
Direct Actuation:
C Load
V A magnet moved perpendicularly towards closed
R2 N S
and away from a Reed Switch turns it on magnet open
and off once.

A magnet moved parallel to a Reed

With lamp load applications it is important to note that cold lamp filaments Switch operates it from one to three N S
have a resistance 10 times smaller than already glowing filaments. This times.
means that when being turned-on, the lamp filament experiences a current magnet
flow 10 times greater than when already hot. This high inrush current can
be reduced to an acceptable level through the use of a series of current- A magnet swung towards and away from
limiting resistors. Another possibility is to fit a resistor across the switch. a Reed Switch operates it once. magnet N S

This allows just enough current to flow through the filament to keep it warm, closed
S
yet not enough to make it glow.
open N
RS

RS R1 closed open
A ring magnet moved parallel to the
R2
Reed Switches axis operates it from one
V V N S
Lamp Lamp to three times.
ring magnet

Rotation:
Examples of switching through rotational movement:
Lamp load with parallel or current limiting resistor across the switch

Cutting and Bending open

closed N S open N
As the Reed Switch blades form part of a magnetic circuit, shortening the
leads results in increased pull-in and drop-out values. magnet closed closed
S magnet
open
Pull-in and drop-out sensitivity
40 Indirect Actuation: Shielding
With the stationary arrangement of a Reed Switch and magnet, the reed
30 contacts are closed. Should the magnetic field be diverted away from the Reed
Example Switch by a shield of ferro-magnetic material placed between the switch and the
magnet, the contacts will open. When the shield is removed, the reed contacts
20 become magnetically actuated and close.
AT increase in %

t
-ou
op
Dr
10
in
Pull-
open closed
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 N S
magnet magnetic shield
Cut-off length in mm
 10

Reed Switch
Application Notes

Permanent Magnet areas of Operation

y y y
off off
holding
holding

holding

holding
off on on off
on
on

x- x+
x- x+ z- z+
N
x- S x+
N S S
x- x+ z- z+ y
y y

Magnets
The materials used for Reed Switch magnets are generally ALNICO (an For each Reed Switch type the available range of operate sensitivity is
aluminium nickel cobalt alloy), ceramic (barium ferrite or another given in the data table.
metal oxide) or rare earth magnets. Due to their specific magnetic Other operate sensitivities are available on request.
characteristics, the types of magnets differ in shape: ALNICO magnets
are bar magnets with a length/diameter ratio of 3/1 to 5/1; oxide Life Expectancy:
magnets are generally disc or moulded magnets. Also important to 5 6
The life expectancy of a Reed Switch is about 10 ...10 switching cycles
note is the difference in temperature coefficient: with maximum power. With a low load the life expectancy can reach
ALCO: 0.02 %/K, oxide: 0.2 %/K 8
5x10 operations. The mechanical life expectancy can reach at least
9
In General: 10 operations. The Life Expectancy is considerably reduced, through
The sensitivity of a reed switch is a measurement of the magnetic the switching of Inductive, Capacitive and Lamp loads, due to the
energy required to operate the switch. The unit of measurement is maximum current being exceeded.
Ampere-Turns(AT), which is the current in a given coil multiplied the
number of turns on that coil. Pull In Sensitivity Tolerance:
The given operate sensitivity of the Reed Switch has a test equipment
Manufacturers of reed switches will set their machines such that they tolerance of ± 2 AT.
aim to produce a particular operate AT but, due to tolerances in
Approvals:
materials, machinery and operator control, the switches produced will
Similar switch types can be supplied with UL & CSA approvals on
have a range of operate AT. The reed switches are then measured and request.
sorted into bands of AT, and stocked in those bands.

Part Number system

D R A 2 8 2 G / 60-70
Operate Sensitivity band in AT

Switch Size Product variants

C = Compact Contact Materials Contact Variant
D = Standard R = Rhodium 0 = Standard Performance
M = Miniature T = Tungsten 1 = Size variant
S = Subminiature D = Durel Contact Form Switch Pressure 5 = High Insulation
T = Tiny A = N/O 2 = Non-Pressurised 6 = Increased Power Contact
V = Very Tiny C = C/O 5 = Pressurised 8 = High Power Contact
8 = Vacuum 9 = Size variant
Example :
DRA282G = Standard size - Rhodium contact - N/O - Non-pressurised - High Power Contact - Operate Sensitivity 60 - 70 AT.