Relay

A relay is an electromagnetic switch that operates using a small electric current to control a much larger current. The key component of a relay is an electromagnet, which is a coil of wire that becomes magnetized when an electric current passes through it. When the current flows through the coil, it generates a magnetic field, which attracts a contact and activates a secondary circuit. When the current is interrupted, a spring returns the contact to its original position. If the current flows in the opposite direction, the magnetic field shifts, allowing another contact to be connected, thereby activating a different circuit. Many sensors in electronic devices generate only small electric currents, but often these currents need to control larger systems that require higher power. Relays are essential in such cases because they can amplify or switch these smaller currents to operate larger devices.