> Yup.  A vacuum relay, oil-filled relay, reed relay, or a big power
> contactor with very large air gaps would not exibit this behaviour.  The
> relays that do this are the compact, cheap  PC mounted type that are
> ubiquitous in  oven controllers and the like.  Also, a relay switching
> lower voltage would probably not do this, and a relay switching lower
> power.

Also can get "magnetic sniggers" and arc "ladders" (can't remember correct
name) which cause arc to rise thermally and extend its length to cause it to
extinguish. You could fit several hundred toasters inside some of those :-)


        RM

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