[TowerTalk] relay ratings at RF

[Pete Smith]

I've just finished rebuilding my 80m array antenna switch, which uses DPDT 
relays.  The previous edition used big, plug-base Radio Shack relays rated, 
I believe for 15 amps at 220VAC.  After  seeing the tiny 10amp sealed 
relays that TopTen and others use in their remote switches, in the rebuild 
I used some DPDT sealed relays made by P&B, which are rated at 8 amps at 
220VAC (the heaviest DPDTs I could find of the type).

  I have not had any problem with the 10amp relays in the topten boxes 
despite occasionally running them into severely reactive loads, so my 
question is mainly curiosity -- how can you calculate how much such relay 
contacts should be derated when used with reactive loads at low HF?

73, Pete N4ZR
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