[sdiy] (OT) help with DEC branded relays

[The Peasant]

Hi again, Ben,

Hmmm, this sounds like just a sticky relay to me, maybe just gummed up with 
age. If you can somehow get the cover off without doing too much damage, then a 
light alcohol wash may fix the problem. The cover is not really neccesary, so 
if you have to break it to get it off then that's OK. Just drilling a small 
hole in the top and spraying some contact cleaner inside may solve the problem.

> My first problem is finding the current rating of the device, the amplifier
> is rated at 2x200W into 4ohms (which is my speaker impedance), but it is
> supposed to be happy driving 2ohm loads (280W if I remember) so I guess it
> would have to be reasonably large (12A min so the contacts don't burn out?)

You have to be careful here, as high current relays usually don't do well with 
the smaller signals that make up most of the audio signal. A special audio type 
or wide current-range relay would be best. As 280W @ 2ohm is a peak value not 
normally sustained, you can use a significantly smaller contact rating than 12A 
as well.
 
Take care,
Doug
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