I'm with those people who have used the 120-901 for a few years with no
apparent problems (nothing's caught on fire, no smell of baking
insulation, etc.) so I expect that I'll be okay, but if I'd-a known then
what Wes has discovered I'd-a ordered the 902.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
Bend, OR
KG6RCR

On 3/18/2009 11:13 AM pickle vanagon wrote:

> I've now ordered the 120-902, which is identical to the 901 except it
> has the higher voltage rating (15v, with pickup at a minimum of
> 11.25v).  This is what Stancor intends to be used in battery charging
> situations (see their sheet on choosing relays:
> http://www.stancor.com/wrdstc/pdfs/Catalog_2006/Pg_094.pdf)
>
> As mark points out, the 901s have been used in lots of peoples vans and
> there haven't been any reports of problems, but I figure that for people
> that are going to use one of these relays in the future, the 902 is the
> "correct" choice.
>
> If anyone thinks otherwise and wants to buy my leftover 120-901, drop me
> a line!
>
> -Wes
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 12:02 PM, Rocket J Squirrel
> <camping.elliott@gmail.com <mailto:camping.elliott@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>     Hey Wes,
>
>     Good catch on the Stancor's coil rating.
>     --
>     Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>     84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>     74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>     Bend, OR
>     KG6RCR
>
>
>
>
>     On 3/17/2009 4:10 PM pickle vanagon wrote:
>
>         I know the stancor 120-901 relay is popular among listmembers for
>         dual-battery setups, so I ordered one when I was preparing to do
>         my big
>         electrical project.
>
>         I finally got around to looking at the detailed spec sheet, and
>         see that the
>         relay is rated for 12v of coil voltage, and is suited to take up
>         to 10% more
>         than that.  (The spec sheet is here:
>         http://www.stancor.com/wrdstc/pdfs/Catalog_2006/Pg_052_53.pdf).
>           Of course,
>         10% more than that is just 13.2 volts, which is below what
>         you'll see in
>         your van when driving around.  In fact, at the bottom of the
>         spec sheet,
>         Stancor has printed the warning:
>         "Note: Caution must be used in coil selection for use in 12 volt
>         systems
>         where battery charging may expose coil to continuous,
>         higher-than-rated
>         voltage. Stancor will not be responsible for consequences of
>         misapplied
>         solenoids."
>
>         So, is this relay not such a good choice after all?
>
>         On the other hand, it seems they have another relay (120-914)
>         intended for
>         automotive use and rated up to 15volts (its on the same spec
>         sheet).  If I
>         read the spec sheet, this will come online at 11.25 volts (75%
>         of 15), which
>         should be fine.  Maybe this is an acceptable choice?
>
>         Thoughts?
>         -Wes
>
>