Switches and Relays
"Pressing the start button and nothing happens? Maybe the switch isn't the issue."
The Power of Control
Switches activate or break circuits. Relays are electrically operated switches that handle heavy loads with light switches — like starting the bike or turning fog lights on.
Your starter button doesn't directly power the starter motor - it would melt! Instead, it activates a relay that handles the heavy current needed to crank the engine.
🎙️ Listen to Explanation
In this lesson, you'll learn:
- How switches and relays work in your motorcycle
- Why relays are essential for high-current applications
- Common relay failures and how to diagnose them
- How to test switches and relays with a multimeter
🧩 Relay Operation Simulation
Press the switch to see how it activates the relay, which then powers the high-current load.
The relay is inactive. No current is flowing to the load.
The switch only handles a small control current (0.2A), while the relay handles the much larger load current (15A). This is why your small starter button can control the powerful starter motor.
❓ Quiz
What does a relay do?