Relay

A method for operating a relay, comprising:

• connecting a first branch circuit of the relay and a second branch circuit of the relay in parallel;
• applying, based at least in part on first branch circuit and the second branch circuit being connected in parallel, a supply voltage to the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit, wherein:
• a first capacitor of the first branch circuit and a second capacitor of the second branch circuit are charged based at least in part on the applying,
• a first current of the first capacitor flows through a first exciter coil of the first branch circuit and a second current of the second capacitor flows through a second exciter coil of the second branch circuit based at least in part on the first capacitor and the second capacitor being charged, and
• a magnetic field attracts an armature of the relay into a contact position based at least in part on the first current flowing through the first exciter coil and the second current flowing through exciter coil;
• and
• connecting, based at least in part on the armature being in the contact position, the first exciter coil and the second exciter coil in series, wherein a third current flows through the first exciter coil and the second exciter coil, the third current being reduced relative to the first current and the second current, and wherein the armature is retained in the contact position based at least in part on the third current.