Do I need to use a diode with the following setup ? What i want to do is activate a relay which then closes the positive side of a nema 5-15 portable receptacle and allows electricity to flow. When a switch is pressed . My aim is to avoid having to come into contact with the AC and use relay do it .
The receptacle I'm using is similar to the leviton Snap-In Single Receptacle Outlet Black 1374-1. My setup consists of using a 12 volt battery to drive an Inverter and then using the Leviton 1374-1 as as the receptacle.
I want to use the following wireless relay to act as the AC switch :
OrangeTag Wireless relay . This will be used between the Leviton 1374-1 and the inverter .
I've read about issues concerning relays damaging connected devices due to voltage spikes when the power source is removed and want to know if I need a diode to protect against this issue ?
if so where do I connect the diode on the relay ? The diagrams Ive seen appear to to connect the diode across the pos/ neg points of the relay which in my mind means a short circuit What am I missing ?