Leading Electric Switch Manufacturers

Electric switches are, simply put, components that can open or close an electrical circuit. While small and quite simple, electric switches are an important part of the modern world. People use them constantly, whether to turn on the bathroom light at night or to control machinery in high-risk industrial environments. Read More…

Electric Switches Electric switches are, simply put, components that can open or close an electrical circuit. While small and quite simple, electric switches are an important part of the modern world. People use them constantly, whether to turn on the bathroom light at night or to control machinery in high-risk industrial environments.

Electro-Mech Components designs and manufactures illuminated pushbutton switches and miniature switches plus multiswitch interlocking assemblies and indicator lights. We have an extensive selection of off-the-shelf pushbutton switches plus industrial-grade switches and are always happy to customize.

Electro-Mech Components, Inc. $$$

APEM Components, Inc. offers its customers a broad range of high-quality electric switches and is an ideal solution to all your switch needs. APEM has been in the business of switches for over 50 years, servicing the medical, transportation and military industries among many more. APEM guarantees great customer service and timely delivery. Please call APEM today.

APEM Components, Inc. $$$

Control Concepts’ DAZIC® line of electromechanical and electronic zero speed switches monitor the rotary motion of equipment when interlocked as part of a conveyor system, or other shaft-driven process components. Upon reduction, increase, or loss in rotational motion, the switches will actuate a signal or alarm device, break a circuit to a motor, make a circuit to start auxiliary equipment,...

Control Concepts, Inc. $$$

Euchner-USA, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of enabling switches, limit switches, safety switches, inductive limit switches plus other electromechanical and electric components. For over 40 years, Euchner-USA, Inc. has served a number of diverse industries and markets.

Euchner-USA, Inc. $$$
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Note: Some people use the term “circuit breaker” in reference to electric switches. This is because, like a circuit breaker, people disrupt and alter, or break, a circuit when they switch it from open to closed. However, electric switches and circuit breakers are not really the same thing. Rather, circuit breakers are an accessory used to safely switch electric currents.

History

They were invented some time ago, born out of a need to safely and easily control the flow of electricity. The earliest electric switches were light switches invented by Thomas Edison, who was also one of the premiere inventors of the light bulb. In preparation for the 1880 New Year’s celebration, Edison created a number of electrical components for a light display. Among these components were switches.

Shortly after Edison developed his switches, John Henry Holmes, a British engineer, invented the quick break switch. This switch inhibited the buildup of residue caused by arcing, making switches more durable. It also made switches faster by decreasing the time it took for two electric contacts to meet one another inside a circuit. During the late 19th century, push button switches became quite popular.

In 1917, based on the quick break switch, New York-based inventors Morris Goldberg and William J. Newton invented the toggle switch. To this day, the toggle switch is common in the North American home, where it functions as the everyday light switch.

Since the early 20th century, while the concept of electronic switches has changed very little, the way that we control them has advanced. For example, with computer technology and the electronics available to us now, we can activate switches remotely, using sensed surroundings, via signal, and more. In the future, we will only see more of this.

Design

Manufacturers design electronic switches based on specifications such as available space, environment, required accessibility, and the number of electronic circuits to be controlled.

To make the best electric switch for you, manufacturers can customize switch details like internal arrangement, method of control, housings, and size.

For example, while many switches operate independently, manufacturers can also design them connected to each other in order to increase circuit options. What’s more, they can design them quite diversely in terms of their intricacy. Switches range from the simplest operation, requiring a physical touch between the actuator and conductors, to the most advanced, requiring a sensed magnetic field or light to open and close.

Also, for safety or aesthetic purposes, manufacturers can custom design switches with components hidden in housings made from wood, plastic or metal, with the switch accessible.

Manufacturers can make switches that are quite small and require a miniature tool, like an inkless pen, to be accessed. At the same time, they can make switches that need only the flip of a finger, or that require special strength. To learn more about the design options available to you, talk to potential suppliers.

Features

Electric switches vary from one another in a variety of ways, but most are made up of conducting materials, wires, actuators, and terminals.

Switch conducting materials must be corrosion resistant because metal corrosion results in the buildup of insulating oxides that inhibit proper switch function. Conducting materials are also selected for abrasion resistance, mechanical strength, low toxicity, and, ideally, low cost.

Actuators are moving parts that serve switch functions by applying operating force. Actuators, which are housed in a protective casing, may come in the form of any number of mechanical linkages. Most commonly, an actuator is a toggle or dolly, a rocker, or a push-button.

A terminal is the point at which an electric conductor connects to external circuits. It may be the standalone end of a wire or it may be fitted with a fastener or connector.

How They Work

Electric switches work by allowing or interrupting the flow of electric current in a circuit. They function based on the principle of an open or closed circuit. When a switch is in the “closed” position, it completes the circuit, providing a continuous path for electricity to flow. This means that the terminals of the switch are connected, allowing current to pass through unimpeded, and the load connected to the circuit receives power. In this state, the switch is conducting electricity.

Conversely, when a switch is in the “open” position, it breaks the circuit, disconnecting the terminals from each other. As a result, the flow of electric current is interrupted, and the load is deprived of power. In this state, the switch acts as an insulator, preventing electricity from passing through.

The actuator of the switch, such as a toggle, button, or lever, is used to change the switch’s state. When the actuator is moved to the “on” position, the switch closes, completing the circuit, and current flows. When the actuator is moved to the “off” position, the switch opens, interrupting the circuit, and current stops flowing.

The ability to open and close circuits is fundamental for controlling electrical devices and systems. Electric switches are used extensively in various applications, from simple household lighting switches to complex industrial control systems, offering a convenient and safe way to regulate the flow of electricity and power various electrical devices.

Types

One major variable of all electrical switches is the actuator type, or how they are controlled. Based on this, we can categorize switches into groups, including physically controlled, mechanically controlled, and electronically controlled.

Mechanically Controlled Types

Toggle switches control the flow of electrical power to a device by toggling to one of two or more different positions. The most basic toggle switches simply toggle between off and on, but some more complex toggle switches may have more than two positions. The switch is most commonly composed of a lever or handle, which is used to switch between the different positions, and an internal spring keeps the lever held tightly in place at each of its set positions.

These switches can be used for applications such as controlling household lights, controlling industrial machinery, quick connecting and disconnecting, quick switching, and when the application’s control devices are mounted very close to each other. Many switches can handle switching 250 VAC at currents around 1 amp.

Push button switches use a flush button, a recessed button, or a raised button as an actuator. They allow for two-position control, which is activated through the pushing of any one of these button types. Pushing the button “in” provides a connection in the internal circuit therefore turning on the device to which the switch is connected. A spring within the switch always pushes the button toward its “out,” or off, position, so once the button is released the circuit loses connection, turning off the device. This is especially useful for applications requiring only brief connection or momentary electrical input.

Slide switches interrupt the flow of a current in order to “break” electrical circuits. They do so by moving from position to position in a straight line. Characterized by their sliding actuators, slide switches provide, at a minimum, two slide positions, “on” and “off.”

Waterproof switches are specially designed to resist the negative effects of water, as well as other forces like shock, salt, corrosion, and vibrations. To ensure their protection, waterproof switches are encased in a watertight housing.

Rotary switches are run simply, with a rotating control knob. Rotary switches are typically used for applications requiring more than just on and off options, since they can be rotated to a variety of different positions. Due to this feature, they allow one point to be connected to one of many different points within an electronic circuit. These switches come in a variety of forms, including rotary switches consisting of three levels all connected to a common shaft.

Rocker switches are those switches that raise at one end when the other end is pressed down.

DIP (dual in-line package) switches are manually operated switches that may double as rocker, slide, or rotary switches. Installed in devices such as remote controls and garage door openers, the term “DIP switches” may actually refer to an individual switch, or small banks of several switches. If this is the case, the device in which the switches reside may be referred to as a switch panel.

Speed switches monitor the rotational motion and speed of a shaft or other rotating component, and once the speed of the component reaches a set point, the control circuit is switched or energized. The speed switch can monitor the shaft speed in a variety of ways, including a centrifugal weight mechanism, magnetic pick-up mechanism, or optical mechanism.

Keylock switches are a subtype of the rotary switch, used in security. To use them, you must insert a key and turn it to the correct position. The correct position may be any stop in a complete circle. Keylock switches may work at just one position, or they may support functions accessible at different positions.

Limit switches are switches that block an object from traveling past a set point.

Electronically Controlled Types

Switch relays are any electronically controlled switch.

Signal switches take in information from the surroundings in order to decide how to adjust their circuits. They adjust circuits using electronic inputs. Many products rely on signal switches. Examples of these products include thermostats, security lights, driving indicators and lights, medical equipment, and food processing equipment.

Semiconductor transistors are the most common type of electric switch. They are found in all kinds of computing components.

Remote electrical switches activate or deactivate circuits away from the physical circuit. They are located inside remote controls.

Proximity switches are activated as they sense an object coming near them. These switches are typically utilized in machinery, and they use magnetic and high frequency electromagnetic fields to sense metallic machinery components as they approach the switch location therefore triggering the switch to close. This effect is accomplished by energizing a coil of wire with a high frequency current, which is then monitored. The approach of a metallic object or component causes the current in the coil to increase, triggering the switch. Not all proximity switches use this mechanism, however. Some instead use an optical mechanism, which utilizes photocells that monitor incoming light. In this case, the switch is triggered when the incident light is blocked or interrupted.

Temperature switches utilize a strip of bimetallic materials, which is a strip comprised of two metals with differing thermal characteristics combined back to back. Specifically, these metals must have a dissimilar coefficient of thermal expansion. When the strip is heated or cooled, this difference causes the strip to bend one way or the other, and this bending can be used as a contact mechanism. The strip can be oriented in such a way as to make the strip bend and make contact with the circuit when heated and bend away from the circuit when cooled, or vice versa.

Other

Single-pole switches, which are used for general purposes, have two actuator positions, “on” and “off.” They can be further categorized as either single throw (SPST switches) or double throw (SPDT), divisions that reference the number of terminals that will complete the circuit. Also, single-pole switches can be modified as three-way switches or four-way switches.

Double pole switches, on the other hand, operate with a pair of actuators that may be either connected or disconnected to a circuit. Double pole switches usually assist the functions of devices that have multiple mechanical parts working at the same time. They also help to switch appliances from 240-volt circuits to circuits with a different current. They can also be labeled as either single-throw switches (DPST switches) or double-throw switches (DPDT switches), based on how many conducting positions their actuators can assume.

Joystick switches, like toggle switches, are controlled by a lever. However, the lever in a joystick switch can move in more than one axis, allowing for a larger number of control options. These switches typically contain many contact mechanisms which are not only stimulated by the direction of the lever, but also by how far the lever is pushed in a certain direction. This kind of switch is commonly used in motion control devices and offers both coarse and fine control.

Switch panels, which are used to control more than one electronic circuit, may be composed of several single pole switches, several double pole switches, or a variety of other switches. The internal components of a switch panel are encased inside a housing most likely made of wood, plastic, or metal, while the actual switches can be found mounted on the panel’s face.

Air switches are switches that use air as insulation between open contacts. Air switches experience interruption of the circuit midair.

Modular switches are a type of switch with multiple ports so that you can use different connections. They are available in different shapes, sizes, and colors.

Load break switches are switches that disconnect, or break, and disconnect at preset currents. They can work with or without fuses. Fuses are safety wires that break and melt if the circuit exceeds safe operation levels.

Transfer switches are designed to switch loads between two sources. They may be manual or automated (automatic transfer switches).

Applications

Electric switches have diverse applications across various industries and everyday devices. In households, for instance, they are commonly used for controlling lighting and household appliances, such as fans and kitchen devices. In electronics and gadgets, meanwhile, these switches are crucial for device functionality, enabling users to interact with and control their devices, ranging from touch-sensitive switches in smartphones to tactile buttons in laptops. Industrial machinery also relies heavily on electric switches to start, stop, and regulate heavy equipment, ensuring worker safety and efficient production. The automotive industry additionally relies on electric switches to control functions like headlights, windows, mirrors, and dashboard controls, contributing to vehicle safety and convenience. Furthermore, electronic circuits, especially in digital systems, utilize switches, such as transistors, for data processing and logic operations. Telecommunication systems employ electric switches in telephone exchanges to establish connections between callers for seamless communication. Finally, electric switches are integral to security systems, medical equipment, power distribution and transmission, aerospace and aviation, playing a crucial role in the operation, safety, and control of these complex systems. Overall, electric switches are fundamental components that provide control and convenience in a wide array of applications, making them essential in modern technology and infrastructure.

Choosing the Right Manufacturer

For the best products, you need to connect with a manufacturer that understands your needs and can deliver high quality electric switch services at the right price. To find a supplier like that, check out those electric switch manufacturers we have listed on this page. As you look over them, consider your application specifications and your requirements like delivery, budget, and standard certifications. Based on these, pick out three or four manufacturers you’d like to speak with at length. Reach out to each of them and discuss your application. Compare and contrast your conversations and pick the right supplier for you.

Electric Switches Manufacturers Informational Video

 

Electric Switches Power Pages

Electric Switches

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