Method and apparatus for controlling a relay

A method for controlling a relay, said relay having a relay contact, wherein the following steps are carried out:

• switching as an opening operation or as a closing operation at said relay is temporally captured with respect to an accurate opening or an accurate closing of said relay contact in comparison with a switching voltage zero crossing of a switching voltage to be switched,
• a period between control of said relay using a switching trigger signal and an actual opening or an actual closing of said relay contact with stopping or starting of a switching current flow is determined as a switching delay,
• said switching voltage to be switched by said relay is monitored,
• after enabling a command to switch, said relay is controlled to switch using said switching trigger signal in a manner moved forward in terms of time by said switching delay before a subsequent switching voltage zero crossing,
• a switching time actually carried out is captured in addition to said switching voltage zero crossing,
• a check is carried out in order to determine whether said actual switching time was too late or too early by a switching difference relative to said switching voltage zero crossing, wherein said switching delay is corrected with said switching difference for subsequent identical switching:
• by adding said switching difference to said switching delay if said actual switching time was too late by said switching difference relative to said switching voltage zero crossing, or by subtracting said switching difference from said switching delay if said actual switching time was too early by said switching difference relative to said switching voltage zero crossing,
• wherein a microcontroller is used to capture said switching or said opening operation and said closing operation and said switching voltage zero crossing.