Easy PCB-relay assembly and replacement with surface-mountable sockets

OMRON Electronic Components Europe has released P6K surface-mount sockets, designed for G6K through-hole PCB relays. The sockets enable relay insertion during board assembly and removal for servicing or repair.

The OMRON G6K series, with coil voltage ratings from 3V to 24V DC, is employed in industrial machinery, inspection systems, test instruments, office equipment, telecom boards, and security equipment. The compact, 6.5mm × 10mm × 5mm-high relays offer a selection of packages including the through-hole version with straight pins, as well as two surface-mount options with inside- or outside-facing terminals.

The new P6K surface-mount sockets are employed with the through-hole G6K package style and allow easy insertion of the relays, without soldering, during board manufacture. The sockets can be placed on the board and reflowed alongside other components using standard surface-mount equipment. The terminals can be soldered to ordinary solder pads, reducing PCB complexity and cost by eradicating plated-through holes and streamlining board assembly by stopping pin-in-paste, wave soldering, or hand soldering off-line.

If a relay must be replaced while the board is in service, the P6K socket allows rapid removal without desoldering, thereby easing repair and quickly restoring operation. Relays can be replaced remotely in the field, if necessary, as minimal tooling is required.

The socket design ensures low contact resistance with relay pins when inserted, confirmed as 30mΩ in standard tests. Durability is also assured, with no increase in resistance recorded after 50 insertion/removal cycles. The sockets can handle up to 1A per contact, with insulation resistance of 1,000MΩ (min. at 500V DC) and operate at ambient temperatures from -40C to 85C.