What is a characteristic of a relay that is held in with its own contact?

A relay that is held in with its own contact is described as self-holding. This terminology indicates that once the relay is energized and closed, it maintains its own state by creating a parallel path through its own contacts. This allows the relay to stay closed even after the initial actuating signal is removed, as long as the current through the relay continues to flow.

This characteristic is essential in many applications, such as control circuits, because it ensures that the relay remains in an "on" position until another signal is sent to turn it off. The design effectively allows for sustained operation without the need for constant external power, provided the relay's contacts are configured correctly to hold the circuit. This feature distinguishes self-holding relays from others that may require a continuous input signal to remain active.

While terms like self-needing power, self-locking, and self-resetting may sound similar or related, they do not accurately define the specific operation and functionality of a relay that maintains its state through its own contact configuration.