Reed Relays contain a reed switch, a coil for creating a magnetic field, an optional diode for handling back EMF from the coil, and an encapsulating package with connection terminals. Learn more in this video.
Pickering Electronics has launched its Series 125 reed relay, currently the industry’s smallest two-pole DPST (dual-pole, single-throw) relay, capable of switching up to 1 Amp and 20 Watts while fitting into a compact 5 x 5mm pitch.
This high-density design optimizes PCB space, making it ideal for dense applications like automated test equipment (ATE) switching. The relay performs well in mixed-signal environments (ideal for EV charging), with high insulation resistance (>10¹² Ω) and low contact resistance, using sputtered ruthenium instrumentation-grade switches for durability.
The Series 125 relays, featuring 2 Form A (DPST) normally open contacts, offer 3, 5, or 12 V coils with two switch types. Switch type 1, rated up to 20 W, is suited for general-purpose applications with improved inrush handling while switch type 2 is optimized for low-current, low-voltage applications, rated at 10 W. Both switch types incorporate sputtered ruthenium contacts for reliability.
Mu-metal, known for its high permeability and low magnetic remanence, provides effective magnetic shielding. This eliminates issues that would otherwise be caused by magnetic interaction, typically measured as the percentage increase in the voltage needed to operate a relay when two additional relays, positioned on either side, are also in operation.
By comparison, an unshielded device placed next to another would typically exhibit an interaction figure of around 40%. Therefore, without magnetic shielding, even relays of this small size would be unsuitable for applications requiring dense packing. Series 125 relays typically achieve an interaction figure of only 1%.
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