Seneca troubles pt2

[Rankin A. Curtis, Jr.]

Chuck...

Are you CERTAIN that the relay is indeed rated for 110 Volts "AC", and not
DC?  An AC rated relay will have a "shading coil" on the core, normally a
copper loop that looks like a short on one half of the core. It acts to
change the phase of the magnetic field on half the core, so the attraction
force is more constant through the AC waveform. A DC rated relay will not
have this coil, and will chatter if used on AC. Also, if the AC relay has
lost it's shading coil for some reason, it will also cause it to chatter.

If it is indeed an AC rated relay, then all I can suggest is to measure the
voltage at the coil when energized to insure no voltage drop along the way.
Sometimes connections can look okay when they're not, and they can drive you
crazy.

Hope this helps.

Army - AE5P
Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas


Chuck Penson wrote:

> Many thanks to all who responded to my inquiry.
>
> Most of you recommended cleaning the contacts or replacing the relay. A
> few of you also has some more exotic suggestions, and those will be
> pursued if need be.
>
> The relay in question uses a 110 VAC coil. Replacement with a compatible
> unit has been tried, but chattering persists.
>
> Hmmm. Any other thoughts would be appreciated. Until then, hand me the
> soldering iron :)
>
> Cheers,
>
> --
> Chuck Penson
> WA7ZZE
>
> penson at sci.mus.mn.us
> 612.221.4510 voice
> 612.224.5092 fax
> http://comped.sci.mus.mn.us/staff/chuck
>
> "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
>   --Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment
> Corp., 1977
>
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