How to Select Micro Switches for Customers?

As a business or R&D person, when you recommend the right micro switch for a customer, you should check the following five basic principles:

Step 1: Do the shape, mounting size and operating characteristics of the micro switch match the customer's mechanism?

The size of the micro switch is important. The size of the switch is directly related to its characteristics, including current range, stroke and operating force. The smaller the size of the switch, the smaller the travel and the current that can be broken.

Step 2: Electrical requirements of micro switch in customer application.
Micro switches are usually capable of disconnecting current loads from 5mA/5VDC to 25A/250VAC. The micro switch product line offers a range of products from low energy to power load electrical types, suitable for a variety of applications.

Engineers need to know the detailed current and voltage ratings (AC or DC) required for the application to recommend suitable switches. Since devices from all industries are dedicated to low power consumption, micro switches can be used at both low current (logic level load) and DC voltages. However, there are some applications that require switching of high current and high voltage, such as industrial pump applications.

In addition to the load requirements, engineers have to choose the appropriate circuit. The switch contact must be one of the normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC) types.

With respect to type NO contacts, no current is normally passed between contacts. When the switch is operated, the contact is connected and the circuit is connected. As for NC contacts, there is usually a current passing between contacts. When the switch is pressed, the contact is turned over and the circuit is disconnected.

Step 3: The environmental conditions of the micro switch in customer application

High and low temperature environment and whether to seal, etc.
Environmental requirements have a strong influence on the selection of micro switches, especially in highly reliable and critical applications such as industrial control and medical equipment.

Understand the environmental conditions of the application, including contaminants in the air that can enter the switch, the liquid in which the switch is located, and the temperature requirements. For applications in harsh environmental conditions, you need to choose a sealed switch with a wide operating temperature range.

The highly reliable micro switch can be used in the temperature range of -40 to 150℃, and can easily cope with a variety of applications. At the same time, it should be noted that the protection level of the switch should be at least IP67 to avoid liquid intrusion.

Step 4: Customer requirements for the service life of the micro switch.

The reliability of the switch is critical. You need to understand how many electrical and mechanical operating lives does an application ultimately require?

Different switches have different contact materials, housings and terminals to meet the electrical and mechanical life requirements of different applications.

A highly reliable micro switch can be operated 1 million to 3 million times before mechanical failure and 50,000 to 100,000 times under load before electrical failure.