By combining the solid state and mechanical technologies in so-called hybrid relays, protected by several patents, Crouzet can offer a switching load capacity of up to 20 amperes in half the space and beat all the records for long life-spans: 5 million operations, compared with 100,000 for a standard electromechanical relay!
What is the main wear factor in an electromechanical relay? "The mechanics," most professionals will reply, "because they gradually wear out with each operation". They are wrong: the main cause of wear is quite simply electricity any doubts can be dispelled by operating a relay without passing current through it; in these conditions it will withstand up to 10 million operations!
This little-known fact explains why Crouzet hybrid relays, a cunning combination of solid state and mechanical technologies, reach a record 5 million operations when switching 20-amp currents. In fact, each relay contains two outputs: one solid state and one small mechanical relay. Switching is controlled by a microprocessor with patented software; as soon as the load is connected to the network, the solid state relay is short-circuited by a mechanical relay. Conversely, on opening, the microprocessor sends the power back to the solid state relay, so the current only flows very briefly through it, keeping it cool and removing the need for heat sinks. The mechanical relay is not subjected to wear by the load current, so the hybrid relay fits into a 17.5 mm housing, half the space required by even the smallest of the equivalent products!
