Newbie here, just wanted to ask some clarification regarding reading datasheet since i don't quite find a standard way to determine switching speed. I already had surf and the closest one was the question by Glavić What does CPM unit mean in relay specification?. This means its maximum operation is 1 cycle every 10 seconds.
I have a school project where I need my relay to have a switching frequency of at least 1 cycle a second and my current relay that i have is this: https://www.digikey.com.au/products/en?keywords=alf1p05. Upon reading its datasheet, i find a max. operating speed 20 times/minutes (does this mean 1 time = 1 cycle = 1 on & off operation?? meaning 1 cycle every 3 seconds?)
then i find this other relay https://media.digikey.com/pdf/Data%20Sheets/Panasonic%20Electric%20Works%20PDFs/jm.pdf having a max.operating speed of 180cpm. (does this mean 180 on & off operation every minute? 1 cycle every 33ms?)
I hope you can help me at least understand this one clearly, sorry if I'm somewhat indecisive with this one.
edited: i canvas all relays on digikey, mouser, etc and every relay detasheet don't have this 'max.operating speed' spec info like this one https://www.mouser.com/ds/2/418/NG_DS_RT1_1014-729126.pdf, how can i determine the speed of this relay or other relays w/o relying on the max.operating speed spec info?
Best Answer
This Panasonic relay should easily be able to switch with a 1 second cycle.
The actual maximum switching speed is not listed in the datasheet, at least, I could not find it.
I know for a fact that most relays like can switch at about 5 times per second of faster.
The numbers you did find in the datasheet are not the limits but the conditions for which other specifications are given. Note how it says "Conditions" in the first column.
So I think this relay will just work for what you want.
If you want to see that in the specification as well then I suggest looking at a different relay, for example from Omron as I have seen datasheets from them where the maximum switching speed is listed.