The PVAZ172N Photovoltaic Relay is a singlepole, normally open solid state relay that can replace electromechanical relays used for general purpose switching of DC and AC loads. It utilizes International Rectifier's HEXFET power MOSFETs as the output switches, driven by an integrated circuit photovoltaic generator of novel construction. The output switch is controlled by radiation from a GaAlAs light emitting diode (LED) which is optically isolated from the photovoltaic generator.