Measurements of Both Energy and Duration of Switching Arcs Between Pd Contacts on Wire Spring Relays

An apparatus which measures simultaneously the energy and the duration of switching arcs was constructed. The energy W and the duration T of switching arcs which occur between Pd electrical contacts on wire spring relays are related by W = PT for the case of a constant dc power source with inductive loads from 2.1 to 4 A. P depends on the closed contact current and not on the number of switching operations.