# Mini Relay FeatherWings ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/031/451/medium800/feather_2895_top_ORIG.jpg?1459365668) A Feather board without ambition is a Feather board without FeatherWings! These are the **Mini Relay FeatherWing.** They will give you power to control, and control over power. Put simply, you can now turn on and off lamps, fans, solenoids, and other small appliances that run on up to 250VAC or DC power using any Feather board. Using our [Feather Stacking Headers](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2830) or [Feather Female Headers](http://www.adafruit.com/products/2886) you can connect a FeatherWing on top of your Feather board and let the board take flight. [Check out our range of Feather boards here.](https://www.adafruit.com/feather) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/031/448/medium800thumb/feather_2923gif.jpg?1459365161) The are two 'flavors' of these FeatherWings, the first is the simple **Non-Latching** relay. This Wing has a single Set pin. Normally, the **COM** pin is connected mechanically to the **NC** pin and the **NO** pin is disconnected. When the SET pin is pulled high, the relay switches and the internal switch changes so that the **COM** pin is mechanically connected to the  **NO** pin and  **NC** is then disconnected When the relay is active, a red LED is lit, and about 50mA of current is used to keep the coil switched on. Note, if power is lost, the relay will go back 'open' ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/031/449/medium800/feather_2923_top_ORIG.jpg?1459365492) Now, you might be thinking "wow I really don't want to waste 50mA of current, that will really sink my battery life!". OK good news, we have another type of FeatherWing, the **Latching FeatherWing**. This one requires two pins, a **SET** and **UNSET** and instead of keeping the SET pin high, you only have to pulse each pin high for 10ms to latch the relay open or closed. You need two pins but save power. A red and green LED is tied to each control transistor so you will see the LEDs blink when you set and unset the relay Note, if power is lost, the relay will stay in the last setting. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/031/452/medium800/feather_2895_iso_ORIG.jpg?1459365963) Both FeatherWings use the same family of relay. You can switch up to 2A of resistive current at 30VDC or ~40VAC or lower. At 110VDC you can switch up to 0.6A, at 120VAC up to 0.5A, and at 250VAC you can switch up to 0.3A. Check the datasheet for the relay for the exact switching capacity, and of course, for reactive/inductive loads you will need to derate. This isn't a relay you can use to turn on and off your washer/dryer, stick to 60W or less. The coils for the relays are controlled through transistors with flyback diodes so you do not have to worry about sourcing current from the control pin. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/031/453/medium800/feather_2895_quarter_ORIG.jpg?1459366325) Each FeatherWing comes with a fully assembled and tested PCB, header you can use to attach to your feather. You also get a 3-pin terminal block you can use to wire up whatever you are going to be relay-controlling. Some light soldering is required ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/031/454/medium800/feather_2895_kit_ORIG.jpg?1459366606) **Please note:** If using with high voltages (\> 24V) use care and common sense! High voltages require experience, and are only for use by engineers who are comfortable with guidelines and know how to use safely! - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-relay-featherwings/pinouts.md) ## Related Guides - [MP3 Feather - Gordon Cole](https://learn.adafruit.com/mp3-feather-gordon-cole.md) - [Bluetooth-Controlled Matrix LED Sign using Bluefruit Connect](https://learn.adafruit.com/bluetooth-controlled-matrix-led-sign-using-bluefruit-connect.md) - [Pip-Boy 2040 Wrist-Mounted Prop](https://learn.adafruit.com/pip-boy-2040.md) - [TVA Pruning Baton from Loki](https://learn.adafruit.com/tva-pruning-baton-from-loki.md) - [Sketch Drawing Toy with CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/sketch-drawing-toy.md) - [CircuitPython displayio Setup for TFT FeatherWings](https://learn.adafruit.com/using-circuitpython-displayio-with-a-tft-featherwing.md) - [BLE Synth with the Feather nRF52840 and Circuit Playground Bluefruit](https://learn.adafruit.com/ble-synth-with-the-feather-nrf52840-and-circuit-playground-bluefruit.md) - [BLE Beacon NeoPixels](https://learn.adafruit.com/ble-beacon-neopixels.md) - [Mystery Box: Remote Chess Board Puzzle Lock](https://learn.adafruit.com/mystery-box-remote-chess-board-puzzle-lock.md) - [IoT Motion and Temperature Logger with the Analog Devices ADXL343 + ADT7410 Sensor FeatherWing and Adafruit IO](https://learn.adafruit.com/iot-motion-and-temperature-sensor-with-adxl343-adt7410-sensor-featherwing-and-adafruit-io.md) - [reef-pi Guide 2: Power Controller](https://learn.adafruit.com/reef-pi-power-controller.md) - [LO-LA59 Droid](https://learn.adafruit.com/lola-droid.md) - [Square NeoPixel Display with Black LED Acrylic](https://learn.adafruit.com/sqaure-neopixel-display-with-black-led-acrylic.md) - [Adafruit IO IOT Hub with the Adafruit FunHouse](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-io-hub-with-the-adafruit-funhouse.md) - [Adafruit MicroSD SPI or SDIO Card Breakout Board](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-microsd-spi-sdio.md)