X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:37:09 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from www.deskoptional.com ([207.114.199.129] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.2.13) with ESMTP id 3585861 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:51:29 -0400 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=207.114.199.129; envelope-from=marc@verticalpower.com Received: from www.deskoptional.com ([192.168.0.2]) by www.deskoptional.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.1830); Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:50:53 -0600 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.5 Content-class: urn:content-classes:message MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C9C06F.BF07E927" Subject: RE: [LML] Re: spike suppresion diodes X-Original-Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:50:51 -0600 X-Original-Message-ID: In-Reply-To: X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: Thread-Topic: [LML] Re: spike suppresion diodes Thread-Index: AcnAb74FbNzbobKLS7iYMHQ6HJww7w== References: From: "Marc Ausman" X-Original-To: X-Original-Return-Path: marc@verticalpower.com X-OriginalArrivalTime: 18 Apr 2009 21:50:53.0896 (UTC) FILETIME=[BF3A9480:01C9C06F] This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C9C06F.BF07E927 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable We use an SB560-E3/51 diode on the master contactors, which you can get from digikey or mouser. http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=3DSB560-= E 3/51GI-ND Or it is included in the Vertical Power wiring harness kit. =20 Marc Ausman=20 Vertical Power, Inc.=20 317 Commercial St, Suite G-102=20 Albuquerque, NM 87102=20 (505) 715-6172=20 marc@VerticalPower.com =20 www.verticalpower.com=20 =20 From: Tom Gourley [mailto:tom.gourley@verizon.net]=20 Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 5:44 PM To: lml@lancaironline.net Subject: Re: [LML] Re: spike suppresion diodes =20 Just as a clarification - the "spike suppression diodes" do not protect the electrical system from high voltage spikes; they protect the switched device, which in this case is the solenoid coil of the relay being turned off, and the switch itself. The coil really doesn't care, and the switch is designed to tolerate the resulting arc. The normal wiring (I'm no good at putting graphics in an email so I'll do it "verbally.") Goes from the battery and all your expensive electronics to the switch, to the relay coil, and to ground(return). The high voltage spike exists only between the switch and relay coil, no where else. =20 Gary is correct. When current to the relay coil is interrupted the inductance of the coil will cause a voltage spike at the coil. How big depends on the inductance of the coil and the amount of current that was flowing when the switch was opened. Whether or not the switch will tolerate this depends on the switch. Personally I think a diode across the coil is a good idea, just be sure it's installed the right way. I don't see the need for anything fancier than a diode, something like a 1N540x (where x is 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8). If you want to protect larger parts of your electrical system against voltage transients you will need something fancier than a diode. =20 Tom Gourley =20 =20 ------_=_NextPart_001_01C9C06F.BF07E927 Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

We use an SB560-E3/51 diode on the master contactors, = which you can get from digikey or mouser. http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.= dll?Detail&name=3DSB560-E3/51GI-ND Or it is included in the Vertical Power wiring harness = kit.

Marc Ausman

Vertical Power, Inc.

317 Commercial St, Suite G-102

Albuquerque, NM 87102

(505) 715-6172

marc@VerticalPower.co= m

www.verticalpower.com

From:= Tom = Gourley [mailto:tom.gourley@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 5:44 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: spike suppresion = diodes

Just as a clarification - the "spike = suppression diodes" do not protect the electrical system from high voltage = spikes; they protect the switched device, which in this case is the solenoid = coil of the relay being turned off, and the switch itself. The coil really doesn't care, and the switch is designed to tolerate the resulting arc. The normal wiring (I'm no good at putting graphics in an email so = I'll do it "verbally.") Goes from the battery and all your expensive electronics to the switch, to the relay coil, and to ground(return). = The high voltage spike exists only between the switch and relay coil, no = where else.

Gary is correct. When current to the relay coil is interrupted the = inductance of the coil will cause a voltage spike at the coil. How big = depends on the inductance of the coil and the amount of current that was flowing = when the switch was opened. Whether or not the switch will tolerate this = depends on the switch. Personally I think a diode across the coil = is a good idea, just be sure it's installed the right way. I don't see the = need for anything fancier than a diode, something like a 1N540x (where x is 4, 5, = 6, 7, or 8). If you want to protect larger parts of your electrical = system against voltage transients you will need something fancier than a = diode.

Tom Gourley

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