Relay Clicking Sound

[88mjblue]

Is it normal for relays to make a click sound when turned on/off?

I just installed the headlight harness upgrade, and while the lights work fine and are noticeably brighter, I hear a click when I turn both the low beams and high beams (separate relay for each) on. This is done why engine is off (I don't think I would be able to hear them with engine on)

Is this just how relays work, or should I be worried about something?

[daking]

Normal, to hear a click. I'd be concerned if you hear no click. 

 

A relay is like a remote switch. Think of it as a little man in a box, in that box is a big ON/OFF switch. When you switch on a switch( light switch in your cab, for example), that tells the little man in the box to flip his BIG switch "Click". It moves a high load off a switch in the cab, to a safer spot. Also, shortens the path of the high load. DC power does not like long runs. 

 

 

Simple relay has 4 connections. 2 connections are for the coil, and the other 2 connections for the Power/Load. The coil takes very little power to energize. When power is applied to the "coil", it magnetizes and pulls a contact towards it. But before that contact reaches the coil, it tags another contact. Making a connection for the load. Its that action you are hearing.   

 

Tech Tip, Most people use a positive based relay system. That is, they connect one side of the coil to ground, and then supply a positive feed to the other side of the coil, via a switch for example. Depending on application, I'll do it reverse. That is, I'll connect the Load (BATT for example) to the load of the relay, and jump a wire from that to one end of the coil. Then connect my device (Light, compressor, example) to the other load end of relay. then I'll use a grounded switch. The switch is grounded when turned on. This makes a simpler wiring, and is safer. cause if the switch fails, or if that wire gets damaged, nothing bad will happen. I'll just be full ground.  I use both methods, just depends on application. in any event, ALL WAYS use fuses, or breakers. I want the value of my Comanche to increase, but not at you all's loss of fire...

 

For any circuit thats critical, you may want to use self resetting breakers.  

 

Continuous duty solenoid is like a relay, but MUCH more heavy duty. It can switch much larger loads. I'll use this when I'm need to control something that eats a lot of power. I have also used these for equipment that I can't have fail. Like dual electric air compressors, or engine cooling fans. These items, for example, could be ran off a large 50amp Relay. But put them on a 200amp Solenoid, and they won't fail. I only run my engine cooling fans off solenoids. over kill... yea, but thats the good over kill.  

[Eagle]

Is it normal for relays to make a click sound when turned on/off?

Yes.

[88mjblue]

Ok, thanks for info, especially the relay background info from daking.

One more question on my headlight harness install: Is it okay to get power from the bolt in the "relay center" instead of going directly to the battery?

 

Like this:

[yxmj]

If that red wire with the green and white tag runs to the positive battery terminal......then you are all good

[gogmorgo]

The headlight harness DIY I link to whenever the topic comes up uses this bolt for exactly that purpose. So yes. It's fed directly from the battery. It's not a bad idea to throw a fuse in there somewhere, though.

[88mjblue]

Put fuses in, ran power from renix relay center/power distribution center, everything running fine, relays clicking nicely, overall good upgrade, even with the old sealed-beam headlights.