by GlassWolf » Tue May 17, 2005 7:46 am
by the way, if relays seem confusing just keep this in mind.
a relay is basically just a junction for two circuits. one circuit is low current (the trigger) and the other circuit is your high current circuit (devices, etc driven from the battery/alternator)
when the low curent line gets voltage, it closes a switch in the relay to complete the second circuit, allowing whatever you're using the relay for to have it's 12 volt power delivered directly from the car's electrical system for more current, instead of being fed through the trigger circuit, like a head unit's REM wire, which can only supply around 250mA of current as opposed to the heavier wire from the battery that can supply several amperes.
by the way, if relays seem confusing just keep this in mind.
a relay is basically just a junction for two circuits. one circuit is low current (the trigger) and the other circuit is your high current circuit (devices, etc driven from the battery/alternator)
when the low curent line gets voltage, it closes a switch in the relay to complete the second circuit, allowing whatever you're using the relay for to have it's 12 volt power delivered directly from the car's electrical system for more current, instead of being fed through the trigger circuit, like a head unit's REM wire, which can only supply around 250mA of current as opposed to the heavier wire from the battery that can supply several amperes.