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SPDT and SPST Automotive Relays
SPDT Relay : (Single Pole Double
Throw Relay) an electromagnetic switch, consist of a coil
(terminals 85 & 86), 1 common terminal (30), 1 normally closed terminal
(87a), and one normally open terminal (87) (Figure 1).
When the coil of an SPDT relay (Figure 1) is at rest (not energized), the
common terminal (30) and the normally closed terminal (87a) have continuity.
When the coil is energized, the common terminal (30) and the normally open
terminal (87) have continuity.
The diagram below center (Figure 2) shows
an SPDT relay at rest, with the coil not energized. The diagram below right (Figure 3) shows the relay with
the coil energized. As you can see, the coil is an electromagnet that causes the arm that is
always connected to the common (30) to pivot when energized whereby contact is broken from
the normally closed terminal (87a) and made with the normally open terminal (87).
When energizing the coil of a relay, polarity of the coil does not matter unless there is a
diode across the coil. If
a diode is not present, you may attach positive voltage
to either terminal of the coil and negative voltage to the other, otherwise you must connect
positive to the side of the coil that the cathode side (side with stripe) of the diode is connected and negative
to side of the coil that the anode side of the diode is connected.
SPST Relay : (Single Pole Single
Throw Relay) an electromagnetic switch, consist of a coil
(terminals 85 & 86), 1 common terminal (30), and one normally open terminal (87). It
does not have a normally closed terminal like the SPDT relay, but
may be used in place of SPDT relays in all diagrams shown on this site where terminal
87a is not used.
Dual Make SPST Relay : (Single Pole Single
Throw Relay) an electromagnetic switch, consist of a coil
(terminals 85 & 86), 1 common terminal (30), and two normally open terminals (87 and 87b).
Dual make SPST relays (Figure 4) are used to power two circuits at the same time that
are normally isolated from each other, such as parking lamp circuits on German automobiles.
The diagram below center (Figure 5) shows
a dual make SPST relay at rest, with the coil not energized. The diagram below right (Figure 6) shows the relay with
the coil energized. The coil is an electromagnet that causes the arms that are
always connected to the common (30) to pivot when energized whereby contact is made with the normally
open terminals (87 and 87b).
Diodes
are most often used across the coil to provide a path for current when the current path to the relay is interrupted (i.e. switched off, coil no longer energized).
This allows the coil field to collapse without the voltage spike that would otherwise be generated.
The diode protects switch or relay contacts and other circuits that may be sensitive to voltage spikes.
(JimR, contributor, install bay member)
Why do I want to use a relay and do I really need to? Anytime you want to switch a device which draws more current than is provided by an output of a switch
or component you'll need to use a relay. The coil of an SPDT or an SPST relay that we most commonly use draws very little current (less than 200 milliamps) and the amount of
current that you can pass through a relay's common, normally closed, and normally open contacts
will handle up to 30 or 40 amps. This allows you to switch devices such as headlights, parking lights, horns, etc., with low amperage
outputs such as those found on keyless entry and alarm systems, and other components. In some cases you may need to switch multiple things at the
same time using one output. A single output connected to multiple relays will allow you to open continuity and/or close continuity
simultaneously on multiple wires.
There are far too many applications to list that require the use of a relay, but we do show many of the most popular applications in the pages that follow
and many more in our Relay Diagrams - Quick Reference application.
If you are still unclear about what a relay does or if you should use one after you browse through the rest of this section, please
post a question in the12volt's install bay.
(We recommend Tyco (formerly Bosch) or Potter & Brumfield relays for all of the SPDT and SPST relay applications shown on this site.)
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