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General-purpose Relay Topic: Difference between Twin Contacts and Single Contact

FAQ No. FAQ02783

Question

How do the characteristics of twin contacts or cross-bar twin contacts compare with those of a single contact?

Answer

When used for microloads, twin contacts offer higher reliability than a single contact. Because the twin contacts simply have two contact locations, there is a lower probability of malfunction due to faulty contact. The structure of cross-bar twin contacts makes them even more reliable at microload levels. This idea does not apply to more powerful load levels, though, for which single contacts (without gold plating) should generally be used.

Contact Reliability for Microload Applications:

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