Fixing a freightliner cascadia. Tracked down the problem to a pcb mounted relay.
Panasonic part# actc56a13
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Finding a relay for this is pretty straightforward, but the key term you’re looking for is a 220 VAC coil with ‘dry’ (voltage-free) contacts.
the relay acts as a bridge where the high voltage (220V) triggers the switch, but the switch itself doesn’t pass any of that voltage through to your controller.
On DigiKey, I’d suggest filtering for these specs to narrow it down:
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Coil Type: AC, 220V or 230V
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Contact Form: SPST (Single Pole Single Throw) or SPDT
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Mounting Type: DIN Rail or Panel Mount (these are usually easiest for mains wiring)
Brands like Omron or TE Connectivity have solid options that are industry standards. I actually picked up some of these tips from some detailed teardowns and guides over at All About Circuits—they have a great breakdown on how to safely isolate high-voltage signals from low-voltage controllers:
All About Circuits: Relays and Contactors Guide
Just a heads-up: Since you’re dealing with 220V, make sure your enclosure and wiring are properly rated. If you can share exactly what voltage/current your controller is expecting on the ‘dry’ side, I can probably help you find a specific part number..
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The expected voltages/current on the “dry side”…which is what I believe would be the “control” side of the relay, is likely going to be proprietary and unobtainable information.
This is an automotive body control computer. Supply voltage to the unit is 12 vdc, output on the “load” side of this relay is 12 vdc with about a 20 amp load.
There is a microprocessor that controls the “control” side of the relay. And it does it with 220 vac? Thats wild…
How did you get that data you got? I’d like to find a quality relay rather than a no name off aliexpress.
Im working on this on a computer desk in my home office…
I suspect it came out of an AI chatbot. They’re well-known for spewing nonsense with the appearance of confidence in this very manner…
The datasheet here would appear to represent similar parts, but unfortunately doesn’t account for the part number shown exactly. I’ve not found a document that does at this point.
That said, the pin configuration looks a lot like that shown for the 2-coil latching type products described. These are used in instances where it’s desired that the relay can remain in either state, without continuous application of a control signal. 12VDC coil very likely for automotive applications.
Current listings that follow this line of thought can be found here, though that particular series/family is unfortunately not among them. Small relays of the type are quite notorious for coming in a variety of slightly different pin configurations that are cumbersome to match up across product lines; narrowing the options by selecting for other known factors (coil voltage, contact form, etc) first and then checking dimensional drawings by series is where a person usually ends up.
A bit more sleuthing to ascertain relay characteristics may be useful, whether by inference from the trace patterns on the board and the function under control, autopsy, or other means. Getting such things off a board without collateral damage can be tricky in any case, so considering the options and having a backup plan prior to hacking away is recommended.
75 ohm coils, dual coils. Measured from component.
Think an actc66 or another variant will probably do it.