Relay contact ratings.

**Unlikely. In fact, IME, TRIACs (appropriately rated ones) are vastly more reliable than relays when driving highly inductive loads. In fact, I've been using several for around 30 years, without issue. That is not to say that TRIACs cannot fail. They can and do and usually shorted. Which, in Sylvia's case, may prove inconvenient.

and since fridges are turned on for

**IME, the vast majority of lightning problems occur via TV antennas. Power line issues are massively over-stated. Again, the only time I can pin point a power line "surge" as the direct cause of a problem was a very long time ago, when a 5kV bearer fell across the 240VAC main overhead lines. The damage was considerable and affected several blocks. **I agree. However, in terms of longevity, TRIACs win hands down.

-- Trevor Wilson

**Tapco CP500 anyone? Crap design, with useless relay protection.

-- Trevor Wilson

"Trevor Wilson"

** Plus the telephone line - modems and TAMs drop like flies when there is a thunderstorm. ** It's an issue in many rural areas - the solution to which is fitting varistors in the power box. ** Funny how microwave ovens all seem to have relays turning on the big tranny.

... Phil

I would not use a 12V automotive relay to switch mains voltage, particularly inductive loads.. coil-to-contact dielectric strength of those POS relays is

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Is the house (hosting the fridge) required to be fire retarded?

**Quite true.

**I'm a city boy. I don't see many country products.

**Might be something to do with the different failure modes of the two devices.

-- Trevor Wilson

"Trevor Wilson"

** Thinking about it - it is more to do with failure mode in the oven itself.

If a diode or high voltage cap goes west, or there is an internal short the HRC fuse in the AC will blow.

The current surge during such events would destroy any low cost triac - but not a relay.

Also, a relay provides high isolation from the control PCB to the AC supply.

... Phil

**Good points.

**All academic now anyway. I've noticed that MOs are starting to employ SMPS nowadays. I scored a broken, high end model from a neighbour. Lots of IGBTs, but no relays to be seen. Naturally, the fault lies with the IGBTs. :-(

-- Trevor Wilson

**Irrelvant. Whilst I don't know the specific legislation pertaining to relays, here in Australia, ALL mains connected components (from transformers to power leads) MUST have the requisite approval numbers and, usually, fire retardant protection, or specific materials used in their construction. Other jurisdictions may not have such legislation, for whatever reason. Sylvia resides in Australia. As such, connecting non-approved components may carry an insurance liability risk.

-- Trevor Wilson

Come to think of it, do you really need two contacts? If the heater is just a few watts maybe it could be connected in series with the compressor and shorted out to turn the compressor on.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

--
"it's the network..."                          "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com

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You are missing the point. Once they (insurance co) determined that the fire is caused by mis-speced component, they will deny the whole claim. They will tell you to sue the manufacturer, or whoever made the modification. It is utterly irrespondable to use auto components for house main.

**No, I am not, but continue....

Once they (insurance co) determined that

**I believe that is pretty much what I said.

-- Trevor Wilson

In such socialist societies as Australia (and coming soon to the US), you'd better use the exact replacement and have it done by a certified technician... otherwise no insurance coverage at all. ...Jim Thompson

--
| James E.Thompson, CTO                            |    mens     |
| Analog Innovations, Inc.                         |     et      |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems  |    manus    |
| Phoenix, Arizona  85048    Skype: Contacts Only  |             |
| Voice:(480)460-2350  Fax: Available upon request |  Brass Rat  |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com |    1962     |
             
I love to cook with wine.     Sometimes I even put it in the food.

**Idiot. EXACTLY the same situation exists in the US. And the US, like all Western Democracies, is, in part, a socialist nation. Always has been.

-- Trevor Wilson

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Then, why is the fire/insurance issue "**Irrelvant"?

**I never said it was. I said that the flammability of the house was (irrelevant).

-- Trevor Wilson

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I think the problem is your language. You called my post irrevant when we are agreeing on the same thing. You called JT Idiot (He may or may not deserve it) when he is really saying the same thing: The US is getting more socialist, like AU.

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=A0 =A0 ...Jim Thompson

=A0 =A0| =A0 =A0mens =A0 =A0 |

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Wouldn't it be more correct to call the USA a fascist Nation ?

The definition of Fascism is the merger of corporation and state IIRC.

The recent laws pushed through that allow any US citizen to be grabbed and held indefinitely without trial or any legal process is pretty much cut and paste 1930s Germany. Not to mention the "super congress" crap that is a copy of the German "enabling act of 1933". These sort of underline the fascism theory.

Not that it matters, whether you set up that or socialism, there is only one result mountains of dead bodies, economic collapse, lack of work ethic or interest, decay, poverty those at the top of the tree are rich and powerful and the people are nothing.

This is why those in power and the mega rich love to push socialism.

[snip]

Flattery will get you nowhere with me ;-)

...Jim Thompson

--
| James E.Thompson, CTO                            |    mens     |
| Analog Innovations, Inc.                         |     et      |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems  |    manus    |
| Phoenix, Arizona  85048    Skype: Contacts Only  |             |
| Voice:(480)460-2350  Fax: Available upon request |  Brass Rat  |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com |    1962     |
             
I love to cook with wine.     Sometimes I even put it in the food.