Here's a breakdown of the key differences between force-guided relays and normal relays:

Normal Relay:

• Operation: A traditional relay uses an electromagnetic coil to generate a magnetic field. This magnetic field attracts an armature, which then switches the contacts, opening or closing the circuit based on the coil's energization.
• Contact Mechanism: The Normally Open (NO) and Normally Closed (NC) contacts are separate and independent.
• Failure Modes: In some failure scenarios, like a welded contact, a normal relay could end up in a state where both NO and NC contacts are stuck, leading to unpredictable circuit behavior.

Force-Guided Relay:

• Operation: Similar to a normal relay, a coil generates a magnetic field. But in a force-guided relay, this magnetic field actuates a mechanism that physically connects the NO and NC contacts.
• Contact Mechanism: The key difference is the mechanical linkage between the NO and NC contacts. This linkage ensures that when one contact is forced to move (due to coil energization), the other contact is physically pushed in the opposite direction.
• Failure Modes: A key benefit of force-guided relays is their inherent fail-safe design. Even in case of a welded contact, the physical linkage prevents both NO and NC contacts from being closed simultaneously. This provides a predictable and safe response in case of relay malfunctions.

Here's a table summarizing the key points:

Applications:

• Normal Relays: Widely used for various control applications due to their simplicity and affordability. They are suitable for situations where fail-safe operation is not a critical concern.
• Force-Guided Relays: Primarily used in safety circuits and critical applications where a single point of failure in the relay could lead to hazardous consequences. They are often employed in conjunction with light curtains, emergency stop buttons, and safety interlocks.

Additional Notes:

• Force-guided relays generally have slower switching times compared to normal relays due to the added mechanical linkage.
• Force-guided relays might have a slightly higher cost due to their more complex design.