Technical Data · Publication 700-TD003 · Rockwell Automation
Bulletin 700 Type R and RM Relays — Technical Data (700-TD003)
Technical and application data for the Allen-Bradley Bulletin 700 Type R (electrically held) and Type RM (magnetically latched) industrial control relays. Covers sealed contact cartridges, operating coil ratings, contact ratings, operate/release timing, environmental limits, and accessories.
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Specifications
Electrical — Contact Ratings
| NEMA AC rating (120 V) | 8300: 30 A make, 3.0 A break, 5 A continuous, 3600/360 VA |
|---|---|
| NEMA AC rating (240 V) | 8300: 15 A make, 1.50 A break, 5 A continuous, 3600/360 VA |
| NEMA AC rating (480 V) | C600: 3.75 A make, 0.375 A break, 2.5 A continuous, 1800/180 VA |
| NEMA AC rating (600 V) | C600: 3.00 A make, 0.30 A break, 2.5 A continuous, 1800/180 VA |
| NEMA DC rating (125 V) | P300: 1.1 A make, 5.0 A continuous, 138 VA |
| NEMA DC rating (250 V) | P300: 0.55 A make, 5.0 A continuous, 138 VA |
| Continuous current per pole | 5 A |
| AC coil voltages | 24, 110, 120, 220, 240 V AC (50/60 Hz) |
| DC coil voltages | 12, 24, 28, 32, 48, 115, 125, 230, 250 V DC |
| AC coil tolerance | Operates at 85% of rated, withstands 110% of rated |
| DC coil tolerance | Operates at 80% of rated, withstands 110% of rated |
| Surge suppression (AC) | Internal MOV molded into rectifier circuit; no external suppressor required |
| Surge suppression (DC) | Optional external protectors 700-N10 through 700-N17 (Type R/RM) |
Mechanical & Timing
| Contact construction | Sealed tungsten-tipped contacts, hermetically sealed in glass envelope with controlled gas atmosphere |
|---|---|
| Cartridge identification | Green = NO (700-CR5), Yellow = NC (700-CR6), Blue = RM NO (700-CR7), Red = RM NC (700-CR8), Black = dummy (700-CR9) |
| Poles per relay | 1–4 (front deck only); 5–8 (front + rear deck); any NO/NC combination |
| Type R operate time (1–4 pole AC, 100% V) | ~20–30 ms (see Figure 1) |
| Type R release time (1–4 pole AC, 100% V) | ~10–20 ms |
| Type R operate time (5–8 pole AC, 100% V) | ~25–45 ms (see Figure 2) |
| Type RM latch/reset time (1–4 pole AC) | ~10–25 ms depending on mode (A/B/C) |
| Contact overlap (4-pole Type R, 120 V rms) | Max operate non-overlap 3 ms; max operate overlap 8 ms; typical release non-overlap/overlap 6 ms |
| Min release time (4-pole Type R) | 12 ms |
| Terminal wire capacity | Two AWG #12 through AWG #18 (within one wire size of each other) |
| Field expandability | Rear deck can be added to any relay for up to 8 poles total |
Environmental
| Ambient operating temperature | -20 °C to +60 °C (0 °F to +140 °F) |
|---|---|
| UL 508 temperature rise | Designed for 40 °C ambient per UL 508 |
| Vibration (5–60 Hz) | Max acceleration 5.5 G; abnormal contact operation <10 µs |
| Shock (Type R) | 50 G vertical, 50 G horizontal perpendicular to plate, 30 G horizontal parallel |
| Shock (Type RM) | 40 G vertical, 40 G horizontal perpendicular to plate, 10 G horizontal parallel |
| Hazardous location rating | UL/CSA Class I Division 2, Groups A, B, C, D; temperature code T4A |
Operating Modes (Type RM Latched)
| Mode A | Relay reset, both coils de-energized at rest; latch coil energized momentarily to latch; reset coil energized momentarily to reset |
|---|---|
| Mode B | Reset coil continuously energized; latch coil energizes while reset de-energizes within 1 ms (and vice-versa for reset) |
| Mode C | Both coils energized continuously at rest; transition by de-energizing one coil while the other stays energized |
| Minimum coil energization | Must be held for at least the maximum time on the latch/reset curve, else contact state is indeterminate |
Catalog Number Format
How to read an Allen-Bradley 700 catalog number. Each position encodes a specific configuration attribute.
Position
Meaning
Example
700
Bulletin 700 industrial control relay family
700
R or RM
Type: R = electrically held (contacts held by coil flux); RM = magnetically latched (bistable, retains state through power loss)
R = electrically held
Pole count / NO-NC mix
1–4 poles in front deck, 5–8 require rear deck; any combination of NO and NC cartridges
4-pole, 2 NO + 2 NC
Coil voltage
AC: 24 / 110 / 120 / 220 / 240 V, 50 or 60 Hz. DC: 12 / 24 / 28 / 32 / 48 / 115 / 125 / 230 / 250 V
120 V AC 60 Hz
Cartridge catalog (replacement)
700-CR5 = NO (green), 700-CR6 = NC (yellow), 700-CR7 = RM NO (blue), 700-CR8 = RM NC (red), 700-CR9 = dummy (black)
700-CR5 for NO replacement
Accessories
700-N7 manual actuator (24–120 V AC/DC), 700-N10–N17 DC surge suppressors, Bulletin 852S solid-state timer
700-N7 manual actuator
Certifications & Compliance
UL 508 Listed (industrial control equipment)
UL Listed for Class I Division 2, Groups A, B, C, D hazardous locations (temperature code T4A)
CSA Certified
Document Contents
Full PDF covers the following topics in detail:
- Construction and operating principle of Type R electrically-held and Type RM magnetically-latched relays, including sealed tungsten-tipped contact cartridge design
- Contact cartridge catalog numbers and color coding (NO/NC/dummy) for field replacement and reconfiguration
- AC and DC operating-coil tables with catalog numbers, current draw, and VA burden for every rated voltage
- NEMA contact-rating tables (8300, C600, P300) for 120 V through 600 V AC and 125/250 V DC service
- Operate and release timing curves for 1–4 pole and 5–8 pole configurations on both AC and DC coils
- Type RM latch and reset timing curves with three distinct operating modes (A, B, C) documented
- Contact-overlap behavior and minimum release times for safety-critical interlock circuits
- Environmental ratings: temperature range, vibration (5–60 Hz), and shock (vertical/horizontal) tolerances
- Field accessories: Bulletin 852S solid-state timer, 700-N7 manual actuator, 700-N10–N17 DC surge suppressors, and recommended short-circuit fuses
- Physical dimensions for 2–4 pole, 5–8 pole, and timer-equipped relay configurations
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Bulletin 700 Type R and Type RM relays?
Type R is an electrically-held relay \u2014 the coil must stay energized to keep the contacts in their operated state. Type RM is a magnetically-latched (bistable) relay with separate latch and reset coils; once pulsed, it retains its contact state through a power loss, providing memory. Both share identical mounting footprints and sealed contact cartridges.
How many poles can a Bulletin 700 Type R or RM relay have?
From 1 to 8 poles in any combination of normally-open and normally-closed contacts. Relays ship with a front deck (1\u20134 poles); a rear deck can be factory- or field-installed to expand up to 8 poles total. Unused cartridge slots are filled with black 700-CR9 dummy cartridges to keep contaminants out.
What coil voltages are available for Bulletin 700 Type R and RM?
AC coils: 24, 110, 120, 220, and 240 V at 50 or 60 Hz. DC coils: 12, 24, 28, 32, 48, 115, 125, 230, and 250 V. AC coils operate down to 85% of rated voltage and withstand 110%; DC coils operate down to 80% and withstand 110%. There is no inrush current on either type.
Are the sealed contacts on Bulletin 700 R/RM relays replaceable?
Yes. Each pole uses a plug-in sealed contact cartridge that can be swapped in the field: 700-CR5 (green) for Type R NO, 700-CR6 (yellow) for Type R NC, 700-CR7 (blue) for Type RM NO, and 700-CR8 (red) for Type RM NC. After any cartridge change, energize the coil (or latch/reset coil on RM) to condition the contacts to a known state.
What are the maximum contact ratings for Bulletin 700 Type R/RM?
Per pole: NEMA 8300 at 120 V AC (30 A make, 3.0 A break, 5 A continuous, 3600 VA make / 360 VA break); NEMA 8300 at 240 V AC (15 A make, 1.5 A break); NEMA C600 at 480 V AC (3.75 A make, 0.375 A break) and 600 V AC (3.0 A make, 0.30 A break). DC is NEMA P300: 1.1 A make at 125 V DC, 0.55 A make at 250 V DC, 5 A continuous, 138 VA. Continuous current per pole is 5 A regardless of voltage class.
Is surge suppression required for Bulletin 700 R/RM coils?
For AC coils, no \u2014 an internal MOV is molded into the rectifier circuit and protects both the rectifier and external wiring from transients. For DC coils, external suppression is recommended in certain applications; the 700-N10 through 700-N17 contact-protector / surge-suppressor catalog covers 24, 48, 115/125, and 230/250 V DC coils on both Type R and Type RM. Note: adding DC suppression can increase release and reset times by up to 75%.
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