Mechanical Relay Guide
Mechanical relays can switch a power or signal line by physically moving metal contacts with an electromagnet. Learn more here.
Products for USB Sensing and Control
The REL2001 is a simple, easy to use, mechanical relay. This Phidget connects to your computer through a VINT Hub.
This Phidget can be controlled by a VINT Hub or any other device with a digital output. You can use a Phidget Cable to simply and easily connect the two devices. Here's a list of all of the different VINT Hubs and Phidget InterfaceKits that can be used with this device:
| Product | Board Properties | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part Number | Price | Number of VINT Ports | VINT Communication Speed Max | Controlled By |
 VINT Hub Phidget
|
$40.00 | 6 | 1 Mbit/s | USB (Mini-USB) |
 1-Port VINT Hub Phidget
|
$24.00 | 1 | 1 Mbit/s | USB (USB-A) |
 VINT Hub Phidget
|
$35.00 | 6 | 1 Mbit/s | USB (Mini-USB) |
 VINT Hub Phidget
|
$30.00 | 6 | 100 kbit/s | USB (Mini-USB) |
 Wireless VINT Hub
|
$60.00 | 6 | 100 kbit/s | Local Network (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) |
 PhidgetSBC4
|
$120.00 | 6 | 100 kbit/s | — |
| Product | Voltage Inputs | Digital Outputs | Digital Inputs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part Number | Price | Number of Voltage Inputs | Number of Digital Outputs | Number of Digital Inputs |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8
|
$80.00 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 2/2/2
|
$50.00 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8
|
$80.00 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 Mini-Format
|
$70.00 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 w/6 Port Hub
|
$110.00 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
 PhidgetTextLCD 20X2 : White : Integrated PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8
|
$70.00 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Use a Phidget cable to connect this device to the hub. You can solder multiple cables together in order to make even longer Phidget cables, but you should be aware of the effects of having long wires in your system.
| Product | Physical Properties | |
|---|---|---|
| Part Number | Price | Cable Length |
 Phidget Cable 10cm
|
$1.50 | 100 mm |
 Phidget Cable 30cm
|
$1.75 | 300 mm |
 Phidget Cable 60cm
|
$2.00 | 600 mm |
 Phidget Cable 60cm
|
$2.00 | 600 mm |
 Phidget Cable 90cm
|
$2.00 | 900 mm |
 Phidget Cable 120cm
|
$2.25 | 1.2 m |
 Phidget Cable 150cm
|
$2.50 | 1.5 m |
 Phidget Cable 180cm
|
$2.75 | 1.8 m |
 Phidget Cable 350cm
|
$3.00 | 3.5 m |
 Phidget Cable Kit
|
$10.00 | 80 mm |
The REL2001 is a mechanical relay suitable for both AC and DC applications. You interact with the REL2001 through the Digital Output Channel Class to turn on and off power to your circuit or device.
Double click on the Digital Output channel class under the port your REL2001 is connected to.
Before you open a Phidget channel in your program, you can set these properties to specify which channel to open. You can find this information through the Control Panel.
1. Open the Control Panel and double-click on the red map pin icon:
2. The Addressing Information window will open. Here you will find all the information you need to address your Phidget in your program.
See the Phidget22 API for your language to determine exact syntax for each property.
This relay is an electrically-controlled switch. For more information about how mechanical relays work and how to use them, visit the Mechanical Relay Guide.
| Board Properties | |
|---|---|
| Controlled By | Digital Output |
| Relay Properties | |
| Switch Type | SPDT |
| Load Current Min | 100 mA |
| Turn-off Time Max | 5 ms |
| Turn-on Time Max | 8 ms |
| Contact Resistance Max | 50 mΩ |
| Dielectric Strength | 1.5 kV AC |
| Electromagnet Coil Resistance | 70 Ω |
| Electrical Properties | |
| Load Voltage Max (DC) | * 30 V DC |
| Load Current Max (DC) | 7 A |
| Load Voltage Max (AC) | 277 V AC |
| Load Current Max (AC) | 12 A |
| Switching Power Max (Real) | 210 W |
| Switching Power Max (Apparent) | 1.8 kVA |
| Current Consumption Min | 0 A |
| Current Consumption Max | 70 mA |
| Physical Properties | |
| Recommended Wire Size | 12 - 24 AWG |
| Operating Temperature Min | -40 °C |
| Operating Temperature Max | 70 °C |
| Customs Information | |
| Canadian HS Export Code | 8536.41.00 |
| American HTS Import Code | 8536.41.00.50 |
| Country of Origin | CN (China) |
*Note: Switching this relay at voltages higher than 30V will result in a reduced product lifespan.
Please Note: This relay cannot be switched at its maximum AC voltage and current at the same time. Ensure that total power of the load does not exceed the switching power for the relay. For example, you can switch this relay at 277V AC and 6.3A (1750VA), or at 145V AC and 12A (1750VA), but not at 277V and 12A (3324VA).The lifespan of the relays on this Phidget vary depending on how much current you're switching and whether it's AC or DC. The following graph illustrates the relationship between load current and relay lifespan:
The vertical axis is the lifespan of the relay (number of actuations) and the horizontal axis is load current in amps. As you can see, increasing load current from 5A to 10A can reduce relay life by more than half.
| Date | Board Revision | Device Version | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2017 | 0 | N/A | Product Release |
This device doesn't have an API of its own. It is controlled by opening a DigitalOutput channel on the Phidget that it's connected to. For a list of compatible Phidgets with Digital Outputs, see the Connection & Compatibility tab.
You can find details for the DigitalOutput API on the API tab for the Phidget that this sensor connects to.
| Product | Electrical Properties | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part Number | Price | Load Current Max (AC) | Load Voltage Max (AC) | Load Current Max (DC) | Load Voltage Max (DC) |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 0/0/4
|
$55.00 | 12 A | 277 V AC | 7 A | * 30 V DC |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 0/0/8
|
$85.00 | 2 A | 250 V AC | 2 A | 120 V DC |
 16x Isolated Solid State Relay Phidget
|
$50.00 | — | — | (per channel) 8 A | (per channel) 30 V DC |
 4x Isolated Solid State Relay Phidget
|
$25.00 | — | — | (per channel) 8 A | (per channel) 30 V DC |
 4x Relay Phidget
|
$30.00 | 12 A | 277 V AC | 7 A | * 30 V DC |
 Relay Phidget
|
$10.00 | 12 A | 277 V AC | 7 A | * 30 V DC |
 Signal Relay Phidget
|
$12.00 | 2 A | 240 V AC | 2 A | 120 V DC |
 Solid State Relay Phidget
|
$15.00 | 10 A | 30 V AC | * 10 A | 30 V DC |
 Dual Relay Board
|
$17.00 | 12 A | 277 V AC | 7 A | * 30 V DC |
 Dual SSR Relay Board
|
$30.00 | (per channel) 9 A | 28 V AC | (per channel) 9 A | 40 V DC |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 0/16/16
|
$95.00 | — | — | — | — |
 SSR Relay Board 2.5A
|
$15.00 | 2.5 A | 28 V AC | 2.5 A | 40 V DC |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 0/0/4
|
$55.00 | 12 A | 277 V AC | 7 A | * 30 V DC |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 0/0/8
|
$85.00 | 2 A | 250 V AC | 2 A | * 120 V DC |
 SSR Relay Board 0.5A
|
$10.00 | 500 mA | 28 V AC | 500 mA | 40 V DC |
For applications with a higher switching power, Hockey Puck style relays are the more robust choice:
| Product | Electrical Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part Number | Price | Control Voltage Min | Control Voltage Max | Load Voltage Min (DC) | Load Voltage Max (DC) | Load Voltage Max (AC) |
 AC Solid State Relay - 280V 20A Random Turn-on
|
$15.00 | 4 V DC | 32 V DC | — | — | 280 V AC |
 AC Solid State Relay - 280V 20A Zero-Cross Turn-on
|
$15.00 | 4 V DC | 32 V DC | — | — | 280 V AC |
 DC Solid State Relay - 120V 75A
|
$45.00 | 3 V DC | 32 V DC | 5 V DC | 120 V DC | — |
 DC Solid State Relay - 30V 100A
|
$30.00 | 4 V DC | 32 V DC | — | 30 V DC | — |
 DC Solid State Relay - 30V 50A
|
$20.00 | 4 V DC | 32 V DC | — | 30 V DC | — |
 DC Solid State Relay - 50V 80A
|
$25.00 | 4 V DC | 32 V DC | — | 50 V DC | — |