Electromechanical relays, often used for their robustness, typically last for about 100,000 to 500,000 cycles depending on operational conditions. When requirements change, the relay functionality can be easily modified or the software upgraded to extend the lifetime of the protection solution. Typically, the electrical life expectancy of general-purpose and power relays is rated at a minimum of 100,000 operations. Although failure of a protective relay system may have severe local or regional impacts, most protective relay systems are not required to operate to prove they are in working order. They are often easy to maintain and repair because replacement parts are still widely available.
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