Electrical contacts

An electrical contact is an electrical circuit component found in

electrical switches, relays, connectors and circuit breakers.[1] Each
contact is a piece of electrically conductive material, typically
metal. When a pair of contacts touch, they can pass an electrical
current with a certain contact resistance, dependent on surface
structure, surface chemistry and contact time;[2] when the pair is
separated by an insulating gap, then the pair does not pass a Schematic for an electromechanical
current. When the contacts touch, the switch is closed; when the relay showing a coil, four pair of
contacts are separated, the switch is open. The gap must be an normally open and one pair of
insulating medium, such as air, vacuum, oil, SF6 . Contacts may be normally closed contacts
operated by humans in push-buttons and switches, by mechanical
pressure in sensors or machine cams, and electromechanically in
relays. The surfaces where contacts touch are usually composed of metals such as silver or gold alloys[3][4]
that have high electrical conductivity, wear resistance, oxidation resistance and other properties.[5]

Contents
Contact states
Contact form
Form A contacts
Form B contacts
Form C contacts
Form D contacts
Form K contacts
Form X contacts
Form Y contacts
Form Z contacts
Make break order
Electrical ratings
Arc snuffing
Materials
Electrical contact theory
See also
References
Further reading

Contact states
A normally closed (NC) contact pair is closed (in a conductive state) when
it, or the device operating it, is in a deenergized state or relaxed state.

A normally open (NO) contact pair is open (in a non-conductive state)

when it, or the device operating it, is in a deenergized state or relaxed state.

Contact form
The National Association of Relay Manufacturers and its successor, the
Relay and Switch Industry Association define 23 distinct forms of
electrical contact found in relays and switches.[6] Of these contact forms,
the following are particularly common:

Form A contacts
Light switch with a normally
open contact pair
Form A contacts ("make contacts") are normally open contacts. The
contacts are open when the energizing force (magnet or relay solenoid) is
not present. When the energizing force is present, the contact will close.
An alternate notation for Form A is SPST-NO.[6]

Form B contacts

Form B contacts ("break contacts") are normally closed contacts. Its operation is logically inverted from
Form A. An alternate notation for Form B is SPST-NC.[6]

Form C contacts

Form C contacts ("change over" or "transfer" contacts) are composed

of a normally closed contact pair and a normally open contact pair that
are operated by the same device; there is a common electrical
connection between a contact of each pair that results in only three
connection terminals. These terminals are usually labelled as normally
open, common, and normally closed (NO-C-NC). An alternate
notation for Form C is SPDT.[6]

These contacts are quite frequently found in electrical switches and

relays as the common contact element provides a mechanically
economical method of providing a higher contact count.[6]
A small relay using a Form C
contacts
Form D contacts

Form D contacts ("continuity transfer" contacts) differ from Form C in only one regard, the make-break
order during transition. Where Form C guarantees that, briefly, both connections are open, Form D
guarantees that, briefly, all three terminals will be connected. This is a relatively uncommon
configuration.[6]

Form K contacts
Form K contacts (center-off) differ from Form C in that there is a center-off or normally-open position
where neither connection is made. SPDT toggle switches with a center off position are common, but relays
with this configuration are relatively rare.[6]

Form X contacts

Form X or double-make contacts are equivalent to two Form A

contacts in series, mechanically linked and operated by a single
actuator, and can also be described as SPST-NO contacts. These
are commonly found in contactors and in toggle switches designed
to handle high power inductive loads.[6]

Form Y contacts

Form Y or double-break contacts are equivalent to two Form B Toggle switch with one Form X
contacts in series, mechanically linked and operated by a single contact. When actuated, the moving
contact swings left to bridge the gap
actuator, and can also be described as SPST-NC contacts.[6]
between the two fixed contacts.

Form Z contacts

Form Z or double-make double-break contacts are comparable to Form C contacts, but they almost always
have four external connections, two for the normally open path and two for the normally closed path. As
with forms X and Y, both current paths involve two contacts in series, mechanically linked and operated by
a single actuator. Again, this is also described as an SPDT contact.[6]

Make break order

Where a switch contains both normally open (NO) and normally

closed (NC) contacts, the order in which they make and break may
be significant. In most cases, the rule is break-before-make or B-B-
M; that is, the NO and NC contacts are never simultaneously
closed during the transition between states. This is not always the
case, Form C contacts follow this rule, while the otherwise
equivalent Form D contacts follow the opposite rule, make before
break. The less common configuration, when the NO and NC
contacts are simultaneously closed during the transition, is make-
before-break or M-B-B. Types of make and break

Electrical ratings
Contacts are rated for the current carrying capacity while closed and the voltage breaking capacity when
opening (due to arcing) or while open. Opening voltage rating may be an A.C. voltage rating, D.C. voltage
rating or both.[7]

Arc snuffing
When relay contacts open to interrupt a high current with an
inductive load, a voltage spike will result, striking an arc across the
contacts. If the voltage is high enough, an arc may be struck even
without an inductive load. Regardless of how the arc forms, it will
persist until the current through the arc falls to the point too low to
sustain it. Arcing damages the electrical contacts, and a sustained
arc may prevent the open contacts from removing power from the
system being controlled.[8]

In AC systems, where the current passes through zero twice for

each cycle, all but the most energetic arcs are extinguished at the
zero crossing. The problem is more severe with DC where such
zero crossings do not occur. This is why contacts rated for one
voltage for switching AC frequently have a lower voltage rating
for DC.[9] Contacts of a high-voltage switch
employing open air as an insulating
medium
Materials
Contacts can be produced from a wide variety of materials. Typical materials include:[5]

Silver alloys
Gold
Platinum-group metals
Carbon[10]

Electrical contact theory

Ragnar Holm contributed greatly to electrical contact theory and application.[11]

Macroscopically smooth and clean surfaces are microscopically rough and, in air, contaminated with
oxides, adsorbed water vapor, and atmospheric contaminants. When two metal electrical contacts touch, the
actual metal-to-metal contact area is small compared to the total contact-to-contact area physically touching.
In electrical contact theory, the relatively small area where electrical current flows between two contacts is
called the a-spot where "a" stands for asperity. If the small a-spot is treated as a circular area and the
resistivity of the metal is homogeneous, then the current and voltage in the metal conductor has spherical
symmetry and a simple calculation can relate the size of the a-spot to the resistance of the electrical contact
interface. If there is metal-to-metal contact between electrical contacts, then the electrical contact resistance,
or ECR (as opposed to the bulk resistance of the contact metal) is mostly due to constriction of the current
through a very small area, the a-spot. For contact spots of radii smaller than the mean free path of electrons
, ballistic conduction of electrons occurs, resulting in a phenomenon known also as Sharvin resistance.[12]
Contact force or pressure increases the size of the a-spot which decreases the constriction resistance and the
electrical contact resistance.[13] When the size of contacting asperities becomes larger than the mean free
path of electrons, Holm-type contacts become the dominant transport mechanism, resulting in a relatively
low contact resistance.[2]

See also
Contact bounce
Latching relay
Wetting current
 Wetting voltage
Electrical splice

References
1. Relay Basics; Omron. (https://components.omron.com/relay-basics)
2. Zhai, C.; Hanaor, D.; Proust, G.; Gan, Y. (2015). "Stress-Dependent Electrical Contact
Resistance at Fractal Rough Surfaces" (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/27798141
4) (PDF). Journal of Engineering Mechanics. 143 (3): B4015001.
doi:10.1061/(ASCE)EM.1943-7889.0000967 (https://doi.org/10.1061%2F%28ASCE%29EM.
1943-7889.0000967).
3. Matsushita Electronics, "Relay Techninal Information: Definition of Relay Terminology", §
Contact,
http://media.digikey.com/pdf/other%20related%20documents/panasonic%20other%20doc/sma
4. "Mech Eng Term" (http://www3.panasonic.biz/ac/e_download/control/relay/common/catalog/
mech_eng_term.pdf) (PDF). Panasonic.biz.
5. "Electrical Contact Materials" (http://www.pepbrainin.com/technical-resources/electrical-cont
act-materials/). PEP Brainin. 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
6. Section 1.6, Engineers' Relay Handbook, 5th ed, Relay and Switch Industry Association,
Arlington, VA; 3rd ed, National Association of Relay Manufacturers, Elkhart Ind., 1980; 2nd
Ed. Hayden, New York, 1966; large parts of the 5th edition are on line here (http://www.esterl
ine.com/powersystems/DesignReference/RelayHandbook.aspx) Archived (https://web.archi
ve.org/web/20170705143411/http://www.esterline.com/powersystems/DesignReference/Rel
ayHandbook.aspx) 2017-07-05 at the Wayback Machine.
7. "Potter Brumfield kuep-11d15-24" (http://www.newark.com/te-connectivity-potter-brumfield/k
uep-11d15-24/power-relay-dpdt-24vdc-10a-plug/dp/17M0223). Retrieved 22 November
2012.
8. "Contact Arc Phenomenon" (http://www.pickercomponents.com/pdf/application%20note/Con
tact_ARC_Phenomenon.pdf) (PDF). PickerComponents.com. Picker Components.
9. Chapter 4 (https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/digital/chpt-4/switch-contact-design/),
Volume IV, Lessons in Electric Circuits (https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/), EETech
Media, retrieved June 2017.
10. Beurskens, Jack. "Contacts - Shin-Etsu Polymer Europe B.V." (https://www.shinetsu.info/con
tacts) www.shinetsu.info. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
11. "IEEE Holm Conferences on Electrical Contacts" (http://ieee-holm.org/). ieee-holm.org.
Retrieved 2017-03-04.
12. Zhai, C; et al. (2016). "Interfacial electro-mechanical behaviour at rough surfaces" (https://ha
l.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02307660/file/Interfacial%20electromechanical%20EML%20autho
rs%20version.pdf) (PDF). Extreme Mechanics Letters. 9: 422–429.
doi:10.1016/j.eml.2016.03.021 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.eml.2016.03.021).
13. Holm, Ragnar (1999). Electric Contacts: Theory and Applications (4th ed.). Springer.
ISBN 978-3540038757.

Further reading
Pitney, Kenneth E. (2014) [1973]. Ney Contact Manual - Electrical Contacts for Low Energy
Uses (http://www.deringerney.com/techpapers/abstract/?DocumentId=pnk8SYvTdl5PBEYgy
lFWFjQO5IfWmXnrKiYltdIYKjM%3d) (reprint of 1st ed.). Deringer-Ney, originally JM Ney Co.
ASIN B0006CB8BC (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006CB8BC). (NB. Free download after
registration.)
 Slade, Paul G. (2014-02-12) [1999]. Electrical Contacts: Principles and Applications.
Electrical and Computer Engineering. Electrical engineering and electronics. 105 (2 ed.).
CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Inc. ISBN 978-1-43988130-9.
Holm, Ragnar; Holm, Else (2013-06-29) [1967]. Williamson, J. B. P. (ed.). Electric Contacts:
Theory and Application (reprint of 4th revised ed.). Springer Science & Business Media.
ISBN 978-3-540-03875-7. (NB. A rewrite of the earlier "Electric Contacts Handbook".)
Holm, Ragnar; Holm, Else (1958). Electric Contacts Handbook (3rd completely
rewritten ed.). Berlin / Göttingen / Heidelberg, Germany: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-
66223790-8. [1] (http://www.gbv.de/dms/ilmenau/toc/176968075.PDF) (NB. A rewrite and
translation of the earlier "Die technische Physik der elektrischen Kontakte" (1941) in
German language, which is available as reprint under ISBN 978-3-662-42222-9.)
Huck, Manfred; Walczuk, Eugeniucz; Buresch, Isabell; Weiser, Josef; Borchert, Lothar;
Faber, Manfred; Bahrs, Willy; Saeger, Karl E.; Imm, Reinhard; Behrens, Volker; Heber,
Jochen; Großmann, Hermann; Streuli, Max; Schuler, Peter; Heinzel, Helmut; Harmsen, Ulf;
Györy, Imre; Ganz, Joachim; Horn, Jochen; Kaspar, Franz; Lindmayer, Manfred; Berger,
Frank; Baujan, Guenter; Kriechel, Ralph; Wolf, Johann; Schreiner, Günter; Schröther,
Gerhard; Maute, Uwe; Linnemann, Hartmut; Thar, Ralph; Möller, Wolfgang; Rieder, Werner;
Kaminski, Jan; Popa, Heinz-Erich; Schneider, Karl-Heinz; Bolz, Jakob; Vermij, L.; Mayer,
Ursula (2016) [1984]. Vinaricky, Eduard; Schröder, Karl-Heinz; Weiser, Josef; Keil, Albert;
Merl, Wilhelm A.; Meyer, Carl-Ludwig (eds.). Elektrische Kontakte, Werkstoffe und
Anwendungen: Grundlagen, Technologien, Prüfverfahren (in German) (3 ed.). Berlin /
Heidelberg / New York / Tokyo: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-642-45426-4.

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