A vehicle and a method of controlling the vehicle are provided. The method of controlling the vehicle includes detecting, by an excitation voltage computational measuring device, an excitation voltage applied to an excitation coil of a relay provided to regulate power supply of a battery; calculating, by a logical determination device, a temperature of the relay based on the excitation voltage; and calculating, by the logical determination device, a remaining life of the relay based on the calculated temperature of the relay.

A system may include a relay device that includes armatures associated with phases of voltage signals. The system may also include relay coils, such that each relay coil may receive a respective voltage that magnetizes a respective relay coil, thereby causing the respective armature to move from a respective first position to a respective second position. The system may also include a control system that receive an indication that a fault condition is present, identify a first phase of the phases of voltage signals that is expected to be the next phase of the phases to cross zero, and send a signal to the relay device in response to identifying the first phase. The signal is configured to cause a first relay coil of the relay coils to energize or deenergize.

A system may include a relay device that includes armatures associated with phases of voltage signals. The system may also include relay coils, such that each relay coil may receive a respective voltage that magnetizes a respective relay coil, thereby causing the respective armature to move from a respective first position to a respective second position. The system may also include a control system that receive an indication that a fault condition is present, identify a first phase of the phases of voltage signals that is expected to be the next phase of the phases to cross zero, and send a signal to the relay device in response to identifying the first phase. The signal is configured to cause a first relay coil of the relay coils to energize or deenergize.

Disclosed is a method for closing the contacts of an electrical switching device during a switch-on process, wherein for a fixed first time period, the first time period and the first voltage being selected in such a way that the armature is not set into motion during the first time period, or the first voltage is applied to the coil until a certain current value is reached, the first time period being the time period until said certain current value is reached, and the first voltage being selected in such a way that the armature is not set into motion during the first time period, wherein a suitable second voltage is defined, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage and being applied to the coil during a second time period in order to move the armature from the open position into the closed position.

A contactor apparatus and method for operating the contactor apparatus can include a contactor assembly with a contactor coil operably coupled to a contactor switch. One or more sensors can be provided in the contactor assembly adapted to measure one or more aspects of the contactor assembly. Based upon the measured aspects, a controller can initiate operation of the contactor switch to effectively toggle the contactor switch at a zero-crossing point along an alternating current waveform.

A contactor apparatus and method for operating the contactor apparatus can include a contactor assembly with a contactor coil operably coupled to a contactor switch. One or more sensors can be provided in the contactor assembly adapted to measure one or more aspects of the contactor assembly. Based upon the measured aspects, a controller can initiate operation of the contactor switch to effectively toggle the contactor switch at a zero-crossing point along an alternating current waveform.

A contactor apparatus and method for operating the contactor apparatus can include a contactor assembly with a contactor coil operably coupled to a contactor switch. One or more sensors can be provided in the contactor assembly adapted to measure one or more aspects of the contactor assembly. Based upon the measured aspects, a controller can initiate operation of the contactor switch to effectively toggle the contactor switch at a zero-crossing point along an alternating current waveform.

A contactor apparatus and method for operating the contactor apparatus can include a contactor assembly with a contactor coil operably coupled to a contactor switch. One or more sensors can be provided in the contactor assembly adapted to measure one or more aspects of the contactor assembly. Based upon the measured aspects, a controller can initiate operation of the contactor switch to effectively toggle the contactor switch at a zero-crossing point along an alternating current waveform.

A system controls high power devices according to ambient light levels. The system includes a latching relay, a latching relay driver, an ambient light sensor and a relay bulk power supply. The latching relay switches power on and off to the high power devices, and the latching relay driver energizes the latching relay, using power from on-periods when the latching relay is closed. The ambient light sensor controls when the latching relay driver energizes the latching relay, and the relay bulk power supply stores power from the on-periods to be used to energize the latching relay during off-periods when the latching relay is open.

A system controls high power devices according to ambient light levels. The system includes a latching relay, a latching relay driver, an ambient light sensor and a relay bulk power supply. The latching relay switches power on and off to the high power devices, and the latching relay driver energizes the latching relay, using power from on-periods when the latching relay is closed. The ambient light sensor controls when the latching relay driver energizes the latching relay, and the relay bulk power supply stores power from the on-periods to be used to energize the latching relay during off-periods when the latching relay is open.