Card Access Relays

[mensub]

Hi C4 guys,

I was doing a research on the relays and contacts that can be integrated with control4.

When i was going through the card access relay specifications i saw the load specification as 0.5A at 50V and 1A at 24V or less.

As far as i know a relay completes the circuit once the voltage is applied.So what significance have the load specifications have or what does it mean?

Also, i didnt find any load specification for the relays in the controllers?

Can u guys please throw light into this?

Thanks in advance

[RyanE]

The load specification is on the *output* terminals.

The terminals in a relay are not that beefy, I'd guess the Control4 relay specs are similar.

If you need high voltage, or high current outputs, you can slave a high current relay on the output of a low voltage relay. I do that to control 3 pumps in my radiant heating system at home.

RyanE

[CFUG]

^^What is it you are trying to control? That might make a difference if we knew that info CA high-current relay is not cheap... Many other OTS relays can be piloted by a CA relay and are far cheaper until you get into motor starters.

[Garp]

In many cases you can use the CA relay to run another stronger relay, like a 12V car relay I use for my sprinklers.

[Godzilla]

you can also use a control4 switch to operate a 120v relay...........not sure which is cheaper route , you would need power to feed the switch

[Cyknight]

Relay Ratings for controllers is 36V AC 2A for everything EXCEPT the i/o extender (this might just be an error in documentation, but I/O extenders have no rating for AC) and 24V DC 2A for all - this is from the old MC/HTC to the new 800's

Understand that these relays are intended to control low-voltage contact closures such as gas fireplaces, motor contacts etc. Should you feed more through them, you're likely to fuse the relay shut or even melt it (I've seen it do both - we messed with some old HTC's for fun ).

But yes you can easily pick up an "industrial" 120 or higher VAC magnetic contact relay (I think I buy them for a 2.50), and control THAT relay with a C4 controller or Card Access or Axxess relay and a low current 12V power supply (or the 12V of the contacts on controllers). These relays usually fit nicely in a square exterior electrical box (I prefer a "plastic" due to exposed screws/contacts - plus they look more finished and are paintable) for clean install.