Relay product attributes

Relay records go wrong when the contact rating is stored as a single number. A relay rated 16 A for a resistive load at 250 VAC may be rated far lower for motor, lamp or DC loads, and electrical life depends on the same conditions. Supplier summaries often keep the headline amps and drop the load type and voltage, which leads to relays being specified for loads they were not rated to switch.

Coil and contact data use different vocabularies. Contact form can appear as SPDT, 1 Form C, 1C or changeover, and coil voltage can be written with or without AC or DC. Must-operate and must-release voltages, coil power and latching behavior matter to a designer driving the coil from a controller output, and they are often only in the full datasheet.

Mechanical fit and approvals complete the record. Termination style decides whether the relay goes on a board, a socket or quick-connect wiring, and seal ratings affect whether it survives wave soldering and cleaning. Agency recognition and pilot duty or motor ratings are what panel builders check, so they need to be stored as evidence rather than left in a PDF.

The relays attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 8 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN) manufacturer_part_number_mpn	Identifier	Core	PR-1C-24D-16
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Channel / evidence	00614141000180

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Coil Voltage (Nominal) coil_voltage_nominal	Number · V	Core	24 VDC
Contact Rating (Current) contact_rating_current	Number · A	Core	16 A at 250 VAC, resistive
Max Switching Voltage max_switching_voltage	Text · V	Core	250 VAC / 30 VDC
Coil Power (Nominal) coil_power_nominal	Number · mW	Buyer decision	400 mW
Must Operate / Must Release Voltage must_operate_must_release_voltage	Text · %	Buyer decision	Operate ≤ 75 %, release ≥ 10 % of nominal
Electrical Life at Rated Load electrical_life_at_rated_load	Number · operations	Buyer decision	100,000 ops at 16 A, 250 VAC, resistive
Operating Temperature Range operating_temperature_range	Text · °C	Buyer decision	-40 °C to +85 °C

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Relay Type relay_type	Controlled list	Core	Power relay (over 2 A)
Contact Form (Contact Arrangement) contact_form_contact_arrangement	Controlled list	Core	1 Form C (SPDT)
Coil Type coil_type	Controlled list	Core	Non-latching
Termination Style termination_style	Controlled list	Buyer decision	PCB pins (solder)
Contact Material contact_material	Controlled list	Buyer decision	AgSnO2 (silver tin oxide)

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Mounting Type mounting_type	Controlled list	Core	Through hole (PCB)

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Contact Rating Code (Pilot Duty / TV / HP) contact_rating_code_pilot_duty_tv_hp	Text	Channel / evidence	B300 pilot duty; 1/2 HP at 120 VAC
Agency Approvals & File Number agency_approvals_file_number	Text	Channel / evidence	UL Recognized (file number as listed); CSA C22.2 No. 14; EN 61810-1
RoHS / REACH Status rohs_reach_status	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	RoHS compliant; no SVHC above 0.1% w/w

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Seal Rating (IEC 61810-7 category)
• Must Operate / Must Release Voltage
• Contact Rating by Load Type (pilot duty, motor, lamp)
• Coil Power at Nominal Voltage
• Load Conditions for the Electrical Life Figure

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing relays ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Can this relay switch a 1/2 HP motor at 120 VAC, or only resistive loads?
• Will a 24 VDC controller output pull this coil in reliably?
• Does this relay fit the socket already in my panel?
• Is this relay UL recognized with a pilot duty rating?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ