Relay drive systems

A switch system, comprising:

• a switch having a contactor coil and an armature;
• and
• a drive system for driving the switch between a first state and a second state, the drive system comprising:
• a control module configured to control, via a control signal, a state of the switch between the first state and the second state;
• a transition timing system configured to measure, via a timer module, a transition time that the switch is in transit between the first state and the second state;
• and
• a health monitoring module configured to receive the transition time and to determine a wear condition of the switch based on the transition time.

A method, comprising:

• measuring, via a transition timer, a transition time between a first state of a switch and a second state of the switch;
• and
• determining a health of the switch based on the transition time;
• wherein measuring the transition time includes:
• starting a transition timer;
• after starting the transition timer, waiting until voltage turn-on transients subside for a blanking time period;
• after the blanking time period has concluded, detecting a voltage spike;
• stopping the transition timer when the voltage spike is detected;
• and
• reporting a turn-on transition time.