Inductive Load Switching Suppression Methods: Increasing Military and Aerospace Applications Reliability

This paper will illustrate how the increasing electrical demands of military and aerospace applications can successfully be met by high performance electromechanical relays. To meet these higher demands engineering compatibility between the intended application and relay switching performance parameters must be properly understood.

One of the critical parameters are inductive loads which generate transients that can adversely effect relays at the component level and the military or aerospace application at the higher systems levels. In this paper the impact of several methods of inductive suppression are explored.

Diode, zener diode, transient voltage suppressors all provide methods to control polarity and voltage levels generated by collapsing magnetic fields in deenergized inductive devices. Each has strengths and benefits that will be further understood by expanding upon their construction, functionality and electrical performance parameters during implementation in switching inductive relay coils in military and aerospace applications.