What are the basic operating principles of relays in protecting electrical equipment? Overcurrent Relays Protection for electrical equipments can be found in many form. Overcurrent relays, perhaps the simplest of the many protective relays, close their contacts when the current flowing in the circuit or equipment reaches a predetermined value. The principle of operation of each of the several types is described below; the variations in their characteristics are illustrated by the curves in Figure 13.3.
Understanding Loss in Electrical System