Properties:

An electromechanical device which interrupts the direct current input by means of a coil-driven vibrating armature (reed) whose contacts alternately open and close the direct current circuit. It is equipped with a second set of contacts which operate in synchronism with the first set and are mounted on either the same or a separate (split) armature to rectify the stepped-up alternating current voltage obtained from an external transformer secondary to produce a pulsating direct current output. For items designed to operate over a wide and comparatively high frequency range and whose coil may be excited from either an alternating current or a direct current, see chopper, electronic.