Three Phase Solid State Relays with ZVS

In electrical and electronic circuits, an electronic component often used to make or break a circuit is
called as a switch. Electrical switches are typically used to operate, switch OFF or ON the power
supply to the circuits or devices. In general, a switch is used to cut off the current flow in the circuit or
deviate it from one conductor to another conductor. There various types of switches such as
electronic switches, light switch, reversing switch, foot switch, knife switch, mercury switch, relays,
etc.,. In this article, let us discuss about a special type of switch, relay.

What is a Relay?
The relay is a special type of switch that can be operated electrically. In general, a relay switch is
used for controlling a circuit or device by a low power signal such that the control and controlled
circuits are completely electrically isolated.

Relay
In most of the relays, an electromagnet is used to operate a switch mechanically and the other major
type of relays is solid state relays. In fact, there are various types of relays such as solid state relays,
electromagnetic relays, latching relays, reed relays, vacuum relays, mercury relays, and so on.

Different Types of Relays

Solid State Relays

Solid State Relays

The solid state relays are termed as electronic switching devices, these solid state relays are turned
on or off by applying a small external voltage supply across the control terminals. Even though
function of solid state relays and electromechanical relays is same but the solid state relays dont
have any moving parts like electromechanical relays. The three phase solid state relays can be
differentiated as single phase solid state relays and three phase solid state relays. The functioning of
single solid state relays and three phase solid state relays is similar but the applications are different.
Three individual single phase solid-state relays are combined together in a single housing with
common input functioning as three phase solid state relay. The applications of three phase solid
state relays significantly vary from single phase solid state relays due to the characteristics of three
phase power and demands of three phase loads, especially inductive loads. Here in this article, let
us discuss about three phase solid state relay with ZVS.

Three Phase Solid State Relay with ZVS

Three Phase Solid State Relay with ZVS Project by www.edgefxkits.com

There are various types of 3 phase solid state relays, let us discuss about three phase solid state
relay with ZVS. In this project, the three phase units are incorporated and these single phase units
are controlled individually using TRIAC and RC snubber circuit for ZVS (zero voltage switching). The
block diagram of 3 phase solid state relays with zero voltage switching is shown in the below figure

which consists of different types of blocks such as a power supply block, microcontroller, zero
crossing, switches, Opto-isolator, Triacs, etc.,.

Three Phase Solid State Relay with ZVS Project Block Diagram by
www.edgefxkits.com
The power supply block of the relay circuit diagram shown above consists of various components
such as transformer, bridge rectifier, voltage regulator. The power supply required for the project
circuit is provided by this power supply block. The transformer is used to step down voltage from
230V AC to 12V AC. This stepped down AC voltage is fed to bridge rectifier which is used to rectify
the voltage (convert AC voltage into DC voltage using four diodes connected in the form of bridge).
The rectified output DC voltage is fed to voltage regulator IC 7805 which consists of three pins
(input, output and ground). The IC 7805 voltage regulator is used to give a constant output voltage of
5V required for the project circuit.
The input required to the microcontroller is given from this power supply block, this microcontroller is
one of the 8051 family. The microcontroller is programmed for generating output pulses after zero
voltage pulse such that at the zero crossing of supply waveform the load gets switched on.
The zero-crossing feature of an Opto-isolator (TRIAC driver) ensures low noise generation and thus,
sudden inrush of current can be avoided on inductive and resistive loads. There are two push
buttons in the project used to randomly generate output pulses from the microcontroller such that not
coincides with zero voltage supply voltage. We can use a CRO (Cathode Ray Oscilloscope) or a
DSO (Digital Storage Oscilloscope) to see the supplied voltage waveform in order to verify the
switching of the load at zero voltage point.
For heavy load switching used in industries we can use this project relay circuit by connecting two
back to backSCRs (Silicon Controlled Rectifier). To achieve higher reliability, overload protection and
short circuit protection can also be incorporated.