I'm thinking of adding a diode to my yet to be installed grapple control circuit but electronics are confusing to me. The micro switch in my control has a rating of 5 amp's but the cycle life curve falls dramatically after 1/4 - 1/2 amp. As my solenoid is 3 amp's I'm going to use a relay but I'm thinking that I should still use a diode on the relay to protect the switch from the relay. The Hirschmann connector already appears to have a diode in it to protect the relay. Clear as mud. Is this a good idea? And if so what do I get ? Thanks in advance for your help
Hmm. There's already a diode in the connector? If you add another, won't it really not do anything that the diode that is already there do?
I'm scratching my head because I'm good enough to hurt myself. But my understanding of relays is they take the power and protect the switch. I say this with the example of ford headlight switches melting down/circuit breaker tripping because they can't take the load on them over time. So most people will install a relay and this stops all that. But yea I have no idea without seeing and being hands on.
In that case the relay is used to shield the headlight switch from the high current. But headlights are a resistive load. In my case the load is inductive so when the power is cut the magnetic field collapses and causes a voltage spike (flyback) that erodes the switch contacts. Think of how a ignition coil works. The diode acts like a check valve stopping the reverse current from reaching the switch.
My brother and I installed this kit for my Kubota and I don’t see and diodes. https://messicks.com/uploads/assets/380-168A_Install_Instructions.pdf
I wonder if it is built into the valve. My valve came with one built in but I'm looking to add a second one on the relay.
some relays and solenoids have a diode built into the coil winding, but are not always accessible to replace by themselves. Others with a matching base have them installed, molded in, in the base. high voltage but almost zero amp they can be very small, almost like a small lump in a wire coating. on the other hand one for 50 amps can look like a nut and bolt arrangement plus 1 terminal.
Thanks Chris. I have some Omron ice cube relay bases with it built in and I could take one out if I had to. I'm definitely not using a industrial style relay base on the tractor. I have a bunch of new water resistant relays with bases that have one spdt contact that are perfect except they have no diode. I'm trying to figure out what diode I need so I can pop open the relay and solder it directly in. Just like oem. I'll buy a package of them as I'd like to do the others also. Just figured there would be a chart or something. I do have some for repairs on welder rectifiers a bit too much though.
A good rule of thumb is to have a reverse diode with a rating of 3X both the amperage or the voltage. Bigger will not make a difference either.
