Product Roundup: Electromechanical switches

Here’s a quick look around the industry for what’s happening in electromechanical switches.
C&K Components (www.ck-components.com) has a robust four-way adjustable-direction switch that simplifies assembly with a customizable wire harness and connector.
 
CS-41001E Series switch from C&K Components
Aimed at automotive and industrial mirror control applications, the CS-41001E Series has brass or tin-plated terminals that provide a long operating life span of 10,000 cycles minimum. The switches are designed with a high-operating force to take user abuse and provide long life. C&K’s engineers can tweak the switch to suit customer preferences in sound (tunability), feel (haptics), and control (interface). C&K can incorporate custom graphics, logos, textures, and finishes.
Switch specifications include a wide operating temperature range of –40º to +90ºC, a contact rating of 0.2 A at 12 Vdc, and a dielectric strength of 500 Vac. Operating forces range from L-OFF, R-OFF of 200 ±100 gf; OFF-L, OFF-R of 400 ± 200 gf; and a four direction of 500 ±200 gf. The CS-41001-E comes in 256-piece packaging.

NKK Switches (www.nkkswitches.com) can provide polyurethane overlay to splashproof its sealed SmartSwitches. It is possible to achieve IP65 rating by proper installation. The polyurethane overlay is 0.3 mm thick with transmissivity of 90%.
 
Polyurethane overlay from NKK Switches

It comes with 5-mm-wide adhesive on the perimeter. To achieve a higher IP rating, a supporting bracket should be used to reinforce the adhesive tape. NKK can provide custom sizes for the overlay and bracket.

The MSM metal switch from Schurter (www.schurterinc.com) has extended illumination colors and an integrated series resistor. The range of colors for standard items consists of red, green, yellow, blue and white. The integrated series resistor for the connection of the ring illumination or the surface illumination. The operator may choose between versions with supply voltages of 5, 12, or 24 V.
 

MSM metal switch from Schurter

The switches are available for mounting diameters of 19, 22, and 30 mm. The switching function is normally open, normally closed, and changeovers in one- or two-pin construction. Because of its small, low-profile front mounting of 1.7 mm, its protection class rating of IP67, and its high impact resistance, the switch is extremely robust and protected against vandalism. Various contact types cover a range for possible switching voltages from 5 Vdc to 250 Vac. Switching currents from 0.1 to 10 A are possible.
The Series SW44863 split-image switch from Electro-Mech Components (www.electromechcomp.com). offers a solution for high-density instrumentation panels and display areas in a compact footprint. Designed in a low-profile, unitized housing, these compact switches feature SMT LED’s on a built in PCB for backlighting the 0.51 x 0.42 size pushbutton. Pushbutton lenses feature hidden legend lenses with multiple color options for backlighting. The multi-image and horizontal or split legend faces save valuable panel space to maximize small area limitations.
 

The Series SW44863 split-image switch from Electro-Mech Components

The SW44863 unit is SPST circuitry, one normally open circuit, momentary snap feel, and legends can be customized to panel requirements. The switches can be provided with two or four LED’s for split light segments. Units can be supplied individually and easily installed directly to the PCB. An optional clear or translucent (smoke) grey lens cover is available for protection or to achieve hidden legends.
Switch ratings are 0.1 A resistive, 0.05 A inductive at 30 Vdc or 125 Vac. Other features of the SW44863 include an operating pressure of 32 oz (±5 oz), switch travel of 0.030 in., weight of less than one ounce, and a rated life of 100,000 minimum actuations. Interconnect with PC pins to mount directly to the PCB. Custom configurations are available.
The TL3253 series dual LED tact switch from E-Switch (www.e-switch.com) offers a right-angle mount and multiple LED color options. There are two actuator heights to choose from, and multiple cap options to choose from as well. This tactile switch offers a long life at 500,000 cycles.
 

TL3253 series dual LED tact switch from E-Switch

The TL3253 series tact switch suits audio/visual, computer peripherals, consumer electronics, instrumentation, telecommunications, and medical equipment applications.