Arc Suppression Circuit Calculation Explained. The capacitor charges at a rate faster than the contacts open which prevents an arc from forming across the contacts.
Spark Suppression circuits are designed to reduce arcing and noise generation produced in switches and relays. When a switch or relay is opened, an arc can develop across the contacts, which over time can erode the contacts. To prevent this phenomena, an RC network is placed across the contacts. Arc Suppression Circuit Calculation Explained 1.
What is an electronic power contact arc suppressor?
An electronic power contact arc suppressor attached in parallel across the contact of a relay or contactor (Fig. 1 of issued patent U.S. 8,619,395 B2) The circuit diagram is part of an issued patent for an electronic power contact arc suppressor intended to protect the contacts of electrical relays or contactors.
Which devices are effective arc suppressors?
Common devices that may be reasonably effective arc suppressors in applications operating below 2 Amperes include capacitors, snubbers, diodes, Zener diodes, varistors, and transient voltage suppressors. Contact arc suppression solutions that are considered effective in applications operating at more than 2 Amperes include:
Transient Suppression, 1965 — Researchers Rilling and McDiarmid, published a paper titled “A Transient Suppression Guide” and stated: “Arc Suppression has three purposes: (1) It protects relay contacts from erosion. (2) It protects electronic devices by reducing transient energy in a controlled manner.
Arc Suppression, 1958 — Ragnar Holm, the scientist who “wrote the book” on contacts, documented his investigation of arc suppression (or minimization) methods. Holm's “Electric Contacts Handbook” termed his efforts using RC combinations as “arc quenching” and established that there are differences between MAKE arcs and BREAK arcs.
Does contact protection equal arc suppression?
His article includes Rilling and McDiarmid equations, albeit defing the RC components for “arc suppressor” applications. In addition, he explicitly states that “contact protection” equals “arc suppression” while implicitly equating both with “transient suppression”.