Control System Components 215

other. The E-P switch is a solenoid three-way air valve. It is used

in applications when an electric circuit is used to control a pneu-
matically operated device. An example would be outside air
dampers interlocked with the operation of the fan. When the fan
is turned on, the E-P switch, which is wired to the fan, is ener-
gized. This allows control air piped to the normally closed port to
connect to the common port and go on to the damper actuator,
opening the dampers. When the fan is turned off, the plunger
blocks the NC port and connects the C port to the normally open
port. This allows air in the actuator to bleed off through the NO
port, closing the dampers.

Diverting Relay
A diverting relay is a device used to switch air signals. A
diverting relay is a three-way air valve used primarily to convert
a signal, at a predetermined setpoint, into a signal for a controlled
device. For example, a diverting relay can be used as either a high
or low limit control in an economizer application. As a high limit
control it would be used to control the outside and return air
dampers. A typical application would be for the high limit divert-
ing relay to be set at 70 degrees. This allows the mixed air control-
ler to control the outside and return air dampers up to 70 degrees.
The sequence is: the output from the mixed air controller is piped
into the NO port of the diverting relay. As long as the outside air
temperature is below 70 degrees this signal is passed along to the
dampers through the common port to the damper actuators. At
this point, the outside dampers would be open and the return air
dampers closed. When the OA temperature reaches 70 degrees the
diverting relay switches and blocks the NO port and connects the
common port to the NC exhaust port to allow the air pressure to
be exhausted from the damper actuators. This closes the outside
air dampers and opens the return air dampers.

Pneumatic-electric Relay
A pneumatic-electric relay, or P-E switch, is an air actuated
device used to make or break electrical contacts. Pneumatic-elec-
216 HVAC Fundamentals

tric relays are used to start or stop fans, pumps or other electri-
cally driven equipment and can be wired either normally open or
normally closed. Note: when using electrical terms normally open
means the circuit is de-energized and normally closed means that
it is energized.

Positive Positioning Relay

A positive positioning relay is an auxiliary device which is
fitted to the damper motor or valve actuator. Positive positioning
relays are piped with both branch pressure and main air and are
used to position the motor or actuator accurately with respect to
signal pressure from the controller regardless of the load on the
damper or valve.

Selector Relay
A selector relay is a device used to compare, select and trans-
mit proportional signals. The relay may be either a low select,
high select or a hi-lo select. The relay receives two or more sig-
nals, compares them, then selects and transmits either the lowest
signal, the highest signal or both the lowest and the highest sig-
nals. For example, a hi-lo select on a multizone air handling unit
receives the input from five direct-acting zone thermostats. The
pressures are 6 psig, 7 psig, 9 psig, 8 psig, and 10 psig. The highest
pressure, 10 psig, is sent to the cooling valve to allow only enough
chilled water into the coil to cool the zone with the greatest cool-
ing requirement. The lowest pressure, 6 psig, is sent to the heating
valve to allow only enough hot water into the coil to heat the zone
with the greatest heating requirement.
The selector relay is used as an energy management retrofit.
If none of the zones in a multizone unit is calling for the coldest
temperature air (for example 55°F) or the warmest temperature
air (105°F), then the cooling coil and heating coil can be set for
lesser conditions. In the example, the zone at 10 psig is receiving
62°F air and the zone at 6 psig is getting 85°F air. The 7, 8, and 9
psig zones are getting some 62°F air and some 85°F air to satisfy
the temperature required of their respective zone thermostats.