Power Relay Buying Tips You Should Know

Power relays are an important part of your home’s electrical system. They help control the flow of electricity from one location to another, as well as from one device to another so that energy isn’t wasted or over-consumed and you don’t get an electric shock or a blown fuse or circuit breaker in your home. Here are power relay buying tips that you should know before you go out and buy your home’s electrical system.

1. Get the Right Size

Most relays come with a label or marking on them that lets you know how much electricity they can safely handle. For example, a relay might say it is a 15-amp fill relay, which means it can safely handle up to 15 amps of electricity. If you try to plug a 20-amp appliance into this relay, you are risking blowing the fuse or circuit breaker for that part of your electrical system.

If you are not sure how much electricity your electrical appliances consume when they are running, check the labels on the back of them that tell you what the voltage and frequency of electricity they use, and then multiply those two numbers to find out how many watts they consume. One amp is 1/100th of a watt. So a 15-amp power relay could handle up to 1500 watts if it is rated for 20 amps, 1000 watts if it is rated for 30 amps, and so forth.

2. Get the Right Marking on the Power Relay

Power relays are marked by their Amps (the amount of electricity they can safely handle) and Watts (the amount of electricity they can handle using only just enough power to operate, not over-consume). So if you are looking to use a 20-amp relay, you should see that label or mark on it. If you look at a 20-amp relay and that label is missing or it says something other than 20 amps, then you will want to get a different one.

3. Get the Right Voltage Rating

Power relays are rated by their voltage rating. If you have a 120-volt electrical system in your home, the maximum voltage any relay should have is 120 volts. The same goes with 220-volts as well. Check the label or marking on the relay packaging to make sure it is rated for the same voltage as your electrical system.

4. Get a Good Warranty

Any relay you buy should come with a warranty. The warranty should cover any defects that may happen during the use of the relay, and it should also cover damage to your electrical system if the relay is not used properly. If a defect happens, it may be covered by your home’s warranty, but check with your home’s electrician or building contractor, or maintenance specialist before using this as an excuse not to get the relay repaired or replaced.

Power relays are an important part of your home’s electrical system. They help you to control the flow of electricity and they keep your home safe from over-consumption and electrical shock or blown fuses and circuit breakers. Make sure to get the right size power relay, the right voltage rating, and a good warranty before you go out to buy one.