How Often Do Relays Go Bad? Detailed Answer

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Relays are used in almost every electrical circuit in your car. Their job is to act as a switch that is activated by power. Once activated, the relay opens its contacts and allows the circuit it is wired to be completed.

The problem is that electrical circuits are used for a lot of different things. From the ignition to the power windows, relays are used everywhere. So, it’s no surprise that they go bad often.

The frequency that a relay will go bad will depend on the load.

The higher the load, the quicker the relay will fail. The brand of the relay will also play a factor in how often they fail.

High-quality relays made by reputable companies will often last far longer than low-quality relays.

Why do relays go bad?

The main reason most relays go bad is due to extreme heat. Think about it this way: A relay is like a small switch that is activated when power is applied to it. The same power that activates it can also damage it if it gets too hot. There are also a few other factors that can cause or contribute to a relay going bad.

The relay is connected to a circuit that has an excessive load. The excessive load causes the relay to heat up and eventually fail.

The relay is connected to a circuit that has a low load. The low load causes the relay to be on all the time. As a result, the relay overheats and fails. The relay is connected to a circuit that has a low-impedance load.

A low-impedance load causes the relay to heat up and eventually fail. The relay is connected to a circuit that has a high-impedance load. A high-impedance load causes the relay to stay off all the time. As a result, the relay overheats and fails.

Signs of a bad relay

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How can I tell that my electrical relay has gone bad? There are various signs and symptoms of a bad relay.

They include

No Power to the Relay – This is the most common sign that a relay is bad. If you are experiencing issues with some electrical feature in your car, like the power windows or headlights, check the fuse to see if it is blown. If it isn’t, then it could be the relay that’s causing the issue.

The Relay is Hot to the Touch – This is another common sign that a relay is bad. When a relay is bad, it will draw electricity. The extra current will heat up the relay, causing it to get very hot.

The Voltage is Fluctuating – If your voltage is fluctuating, it could be caused by a bad relay. When a relay is bad, it will cause the voltage to fluctuate.

Switches are Cracked – If one of your switches is cracked, it could be due to a bad relay. When a relay goes bad, it will cause the switch to get extremely hot. When the switch is cooled down, it will shrink and crack. 

How to fix a bad relay?

Unfortunately, when a relay goes bad it is usually considered a throw-away part. There is no easy way to repair a relay.

When it shorts out, it draws a lot of current. This causes the contacts in the relay to overheat and melt. There are a few things you can try to fix a bad relay.

Try wiggle the relay – If the relay is bad in the closed position, you should be able to wiggle it and get it to open. If you can, then the relay is probably fine and just stuck.

Try adding extra resistors – If the fault is caused by a heavy load, you can add some resistors to lower the load. You can also add some capacitors to the low-impedance circuit to increase the load.

For electrical tasks, it will be safer to involve a qualified technician to do the job.

When should you replace a bad relay?

If you have verified that a relay is bad, you should replace it immediately. By doing so, you prevent the circuit from flipping back on once the failed relay resets.

If you have a bad relay, turn off the circuit it controls.

This will prevent it from flipping back on and damaging the new relay as well.

Once you have replaced the relay, you can turn the circuit back on.

In short, don’t wait for too long. Once you have discovered that your electric relay is faulty, it will be wise to consider doing the replacement immediately.

Things to look for when replacing a bad relay

There are a few things to keep in mind when you are replacing a bad relay.

First, make sure you replace the relay with one that has the same amperage and voltage as the original. If you don’t, you will end up causing more problems than you solve.

Choose a relay that has the same type of contact as the original. Some relays use screw terminals while others use push-in terminals. If you use the wrong type, you will have to break the relay apart to fix it.

When you are installing the new relay, make sure you include a fuse in the circuit. It doesn’t matter what the circuit does. You should always have a fuse in every circuit.

Buy quality relay in China

When you are replacing a bad relay, you want to make sure that you are using a quality part. We recommend that you go to a Chinese supplier and purchase a quality relay. These are usually cheaper than the ones you can buy at an auto parts store, but they are just as good.

When you are looking for a relay supplier in China, you want to make sure that they use good quality control. A supplier that has a good QC process can help you ensure that every relay you get is working properly.

And that’s exactly what you get from ICRFQ. We are a reputable supplier of  electric relays in China.

Conclusion

Relays have been in use for a very long time and have proven to be an excellent and reliable way to control multiple circuits.

These devices are mechanical and therefore need to be replaced every once in a while. The best way to tell if you need to replace a relay is to test it. If it fails the test, it is time to replace it.

There are many reasons why a relay goes bad, but they can be easily replaced.

And when it comes to replacement, ensure that you get it from a reputable relay distributor.

If you want to find more Electronic Components Distributors, please check out the following articles:

Electronic Components Distributors In the USA

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Electronic Components Distributors In China

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