Educate me on Solid State

[Bandit’s Lair]

Explain this to me please. To my understanding solid state switch relays do not have standard type fuses. Is this correct? If so, how is the switch below solid state?

This is not a dig on the vendor associated with the link. I’m truly trying to understand the differences.

https://www.nachooffroadtechnology.com/products/nacho-switch-system

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[Jammin jimmy]

Solid state means the switch or relay has no moving parts. You still need fuses to limit current flow in case of a short or any overload of the circuit.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Solid state means the switch or relay has no moving parts. You still need fuses to limit current flow in case of a short or any overload of the circuit.

That makes sense. So the reason it’s preferable is that there are less moving parts that are likely to break inside the switch? What are the limitations for this type system where the solid state connection is? Or are they all pretty much the same?

 

[Jammin jimmy]

Yes on the less moving parts. On the limitations I would be sure that the design is large enough to handle what they say it will.

 

[steven1955]

High current solid state relays generate enough heat when "ON" that they can require a heat sink. Low current ones still generate heat but usually don't need a heat sink.

Very low current loads may not turn "OFF" without the addition of a pull down resistor.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

So would a solid state switch panel like the one above be superior to something like an AuxBeam switch panel? I can see how it may last longer in vibration environments like off road stuff. Just doing my research before I pick something up in about a year or so.

 

[kb5zcr]

Regular old school relays have an electro-magnet that pulls physical contacts closed, then releases the magnet when its turned off and a spring pulls the contacts open. Its all mechanical.

Newer solid-state relays dont have a mechanical electro-magnet in them, and no spring to pull the contacts open, they use something like a high-current Mosfet (electronic component) to do the switching. They don't make a clicking sound when they operate.

Either way is fine for things that don't need super-fast switching (solid state relays switch much faster than traditional relays).

I happen to prefer the old school mechanical relay only because I like keeping things simple, but they both work fine.

 

[CKayaks]

So would a solid state switch panel like the one above be superior to something like an AuxBeam switch panel? I can see how it may last longer in vibration environments like off road stuff. Just doing my research before I pick something up in about a year or so.

The Auxbeam switch has solid state relays, at least the AS series I bought. Quick glance through their site, I think they all are.

One pro/con I have heard discussed about mechanical vs solid state relays, in the context of offroad rigs, is that if a mechanical relay goes bad, it is a quick trip to the auto parts store for a $10 part. If a solid state goes bad, no repair. That said, failure rate seems to be low on the solid states and I cannot ever recall having a mechanical relay go bad either. (I had a Voswitch 8channel with mechanical relays in my Xterra for years and over 100k miles.) The solid state boxes are smaller, easier to find a place to mount.

 

[CKayaks]

https://www.nachooffroadtechnology.com/products/nacho-switch-system

That Nacho looks like a rebranded Auxbeam. Even the sticker pack looks the same.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

The Auxbeam switch has solid state relays, at least the AS series I bought. Quick glance through their site, I think they all are.

One pro/con I have heard discussed about mechanical vs solid state relays, in the context of offroad rigs, is that if a mechanical relay goes bad, it is a quick trip to the auto parts store for a $10 part. If a solid state goes bad, no repair. That said, failure rate seems to be low on the solid states and I cannot ever recall having a mechanical relay go bad either. (I had a Voswitch 8channel with mechanical relays in my Xterra for years and over 100k miles.) The solid state boxes are smaller, easier to find a place to mount.

Im eyeing the AuxBeam pretty hard. I like the slim switch panel on those. Nowhere near ready to throw down cash on anything yet. The DSwitch is pretty cool but is it really worth the couple extra $100 for ease of wiring? I honestly don’t think so. I’d just wire up lights as normal with the DRL to a buss bar and throw it on an Add a Fuse to an ACC circuit. I have a few extra laying around here. I’m a huge fan of DRLs on full time. Anything that catches people’s eye so they see me is a good thing in my book. Not for vanity, but for the “hey there’s a vehicle there, maybe I SHOULDNT pull out in front of it”.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Im eyeing the AuxBeam pretty hard. I like the slim switch panel on those. Nowhere near ready to throw down cash on anything yet. The DSwitch is pretty cool but is it really worth the couple extra $100 for ease of wiring? I honestly don’t think so. I’d just wire up lights as normal with the DRL to a buss bar and throw it on an Add a Fuse to an ACC circuit. I have a few extra laying around here. I’m a huge fan of DRLs on full time. Anything that catches people’s eye so they see me is a good thing in my book. Not for vanity, but for the “hey there’s a vehicle there, maybe I SHOULDNT pull out in front of it”.

I have used the AuxBeam stuff before and after my initial impression - I'd buy their stuff for any future projects of my own.

 

[D_JT]

Aux Beam makes some good stuff. I have their switch panel in my TJ for 6 years no. No issues. But the other benefit to solid state relays is the size. They are substantially smaller than old school mechanical relays. The down side is they aren't as easy to replace, depending on your soldering skills.

 

[CKayaks]

Im eyeing the AuxBeam pretty hard. I like the slim switch panel on those. Nowhere near ready to throw down cash on anything yet. The DSwitch is pretty cool but is it really worth the couple extra $100 for ease of wiring? I honestly don’t think so. I’d just wire up lights as normal with the DRL to a buss bar and throw it on an Add a Fuse to an ACC circuit. I have a few extra laying around here. I’m a huge fan of DRLs on full time. Anything that catches people’s eye so they see me is a good thing in my book. Not for vanity, but for the “hey there’s a vehicle there, maybe I SHOULDNT pull out in front of it”.

Ditto here on the visibility, being visible. Lights for backing up and for night offroading. Running lights front and sides and (soon) more in the rear for visibility in fog, snow storms, dust on the trail.

I went with the AuxBeam box because of price. I have a pricy Voswitch I bought years ago, but at 8 circuits and mechanical relays, hard to find a decent place to mount it under the hood of the Glad. Would not repeat the purchase at the price points for it, the DSwitch, or others.

 

[Wageslave]

Solid state relays have an advantage on higher amperage loads in that you will not burn the contacts over time like you would with a mechanical relay. They are also good if you are doing fast switching. The tradeoff is heat so they can't be but in an enclosed box if you are running them near their max current rating.

Solid state would be better for things like cooling fans or high amperage halogen aux lights. Mechanical relays would be better for things like LED light bars or fuel pump relays.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Aux Beam makes some good stuff. I have their switch panel in my TJ for 6 years no. No issues. But the other benefit to solid state relays is the size. They are substantially smaller than old school mechanical relays. The down side is they aren't as easy to replace, depending on your soldering skills.

Well I buy wiring connectors with the solder already in them. That should be an indication of soldering skills. I can, I just don’t enjoy it very much. My hands aren’t as steady as they could be when doing intricate stuff. Frustrating but that’s how it goes.

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