L.V lighting controls/ mechcanical relays and Arc faults

[Riograndeelectric]

working on a remodel of a older home built in 1959 and has touch plate lighting control.
I am having to run new home runs to refeed exsting lights controlled by the touch plate lighting control system. As the system use mechcanical relay's has any one had any problems with Arc faults tripping due to the mechcanical relay's.

I relize the relays are the same thing as a switch expect that some times the relays stick or do not open or close quickly. it is possible some one could hold the push button in too long instead of jjust tapping the switch?

 

[Palmbay]

Upgrade that stuff. If your replaceing the wire, what makes you think a mechanical device is going to last longer?

We replaced an old ge relay system, last year, from the 70's, and 90% of it still worked, but for how long? We used lutron homeworks, but ra2 works great to, if you dont want alot of switches on the wall, and its got built in time clocks and stuff.

 

[ActionDave]

I love those GE relays. I do work on an apartment building that has those relays. They were put in sometime in the 40's or early 50's. Very little trouble with them. Replace one now and then, but they are very rugged and reliable IMO.

@ Riograndeelectric I don't know if these things play well with AFCI's. I don't think holding down the button would cause any problems. My guess is they are impedance protected. Fellow member Gar is fan of these things and can probablly tell you more about them than you can absorb.

 

[iwire]

Upgrade that stuff. If your replaceing the wire, what makes you think a mechanical device is going to last longer?

We replaced an old ge relay system, last year, from the 70's, and 90% of it still worked, but for how long? We used lutron homeworks, but ra2 works great to, if you dont want alot of switches on the wall, and its got built in time clocks and stuff.

It is ridiculous to pull it out, it is a great system rugged and easily repaired.

Usually people pull it out because they don't understand it.

 

[Palmbay]

Had issues finding additional parts to add lighting loads for renovation. Not to mention dial codes in small writing on control locations. This is dated stuff, and not as user friendly. Plus i was to stupid to figure out how the relays worked..... :?

So can you find new dual dial switches for those?

 

[kwired]

Holding the button is only a potential problem with the low voltage control circuit. The controlled power circuit is no different from any wall switch - it is on or off (equating to open or closed). Just like a wall switch - if it is anything besides open or closed - it has a problem.