Recent thread about SSR vs mechanical relay got me thinking. I have been replacing mechanical contactors for 40 years and find they die at about 250,000 cycles from pitting of the contacts. Apparently a solid state relay has an estimated lifetime of infinity because it has no contacts.
On the other hand, I've replaced 3 or 4 mercury bulb thermostats in 40 years but I've replaced 3 or 4 digital thermostats in ONE year and they aren't the most commonly used thermostats...yet.
I think this bears discussion in this chat forum. Why should I believe an SSR has an estimated lifetime far in excess of a mechanical relay when SS thermostats have such a miserable track record?
Anybody with real world experience?
On the other hand, I've replaced 3 or 4 mercury bulb thermostats in 40 years but I've replaced 3 or 4 digital thermostats in ONE year and they aren't the most commonly used thermostats...yet.
I think this bears discussion in this chat forum. Why should I believe an SSR has an estimated lifetime far in excess of a mechanical relay when SS thermostats have such a miserable track record?
Anybody with real world experience?