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What are snubbers used for?

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How Do Snubber Circuits Protect Relay Contacts? Working Principle, Benefits, and Design Tips. Explained the Snubber analogy with a shock absorber. 

What is 'Snubber'?

RC Snubber




Snubber Circuit:

A snubber circuit is a combination of a resistor and a capacitor.

RC Snubber


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Why switch contact wears out that controls the inductive load?

Relay contacts tend to wear out more if it is used to switch an inductive load.

When the relay contact opens, the falling magnetic field generates a high voltage spike that results in a spark across the relay contact.

Sparking across relay contact due to inductive load

A snubber is connected in parallel to the contact. The snubber absorbs the voltage spike. The resistor dissipates the energy stored in the capacitor when the contact closes.

Analogy of Snubber: 

A Snubber can be compared with the shock absorbers of a car. A spring acts like a capacitor that absorbs shock by compressing, and a damper acts like a resistor that dissipates energy stored in the spring into heat. Both in combination absorb shocks.

Analogy of Snubber RC Circuit with Shock Absorber

FAQ Set:

Q1: What is a snubber circuit?

A snubber circuit is an electronic circuit designed to suppress voltage spikes and transient currents, protecting sensitive components like relay contacts and semiconductors.

Q2: How does a snubber protect relay contacts?

It absorbs the energy generated by inductive loads during switching, reducing arcing and contact erosion.

Q3: What are the common types of snubber circuits?

RC (Resistor-Capacitor) snubbers and diode snubbers are most commonly used for AC and DC relay protection, respectively.

Q4: Can every relay benefit from a snubber circuit?

Yes, especially relays switching inductive loads such as motors, solenoids, and transformers, where voltage spikes are significant.

Q5: How do I design an effective snubber circuit?

Choose appropriate resistor and capacitor values based on the relay voltage, load type, and desired suppression efficiency.

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