Although digital control, often based on touchscreens, is very popular today, physical buttons and switches are best suited for many applications. If such components are to be used in a project, it is important to ensure they are durable and of the highest quality – such as products from the E-Switch brand.
Below, we present a wide range of E-Switch brand products, an American supplier that has specialized in electromechanical components for over 40 years. The supplier’s solutions enjoy customer trust in the American, European, and Asian markets, serving for the production of telecommunications, measurement, industrial, medical, as well as consumer devices (RTV, household appliances).
In this article, we discuss topics such as:
- Variety of functions and versions of lever switches
- Selection of micro switches and their key features
- Environmentally and mechanically resistant IP67 buttons
- Multi-pole sliding switches
- Components for industrial machine control panels
Lever Switches
Lever switches are the largest group of products in the presented range. E-Switch offers over 300 versions of such components. Importantly, most use copper contacts (nickel-plated, silver-plated, or gold-plated) capable of switching currents up to 5A in circuits operating at voltages up to 28V DC (or 2A at 250V AC). In other models, the limits are 20mA and 20V AC/DC, as they are intended for indirect load control, e.g., relay switching. Customers can choose between panel-mounted switches with leads for wire soldering, and versions designed for direct PCB mounting. The design allows for mounting sealing caps, which provide the switch with high ingress protection and dielectric insulation.
The table below highlights several product groups with specific properties:
Overall, the E-Switch offer for lever switches includes:
- 2 or 3 positions, from 1 to 3 stable positions;
- 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-pole models (from SPST to 4P3T);
- lever length from 5.08mm to 18mm;
- operation temperature range from -30°C to 80°C;
- insulation resistance 1GΩ.
Micro Switches
The second popular type of switches in the E-Switch offer are TACT SWITCH components, made in standard SMT and THT formats (surface mount or through-hole), with a pin pitch of 4.5×4.5mm or 4.5×6.5mm. These are standard components with SPST contact configuration, intended for conducting small currents (up to 50mA) in low-voltage DC circuits, usually in conjunction with semiconductor components like microcontrollers or port expanders. Selected models feature a square shaft, which serves as a socket for mounting keys. Worth noting is the availability of many formats with varied button height and orientation (pressure axis parallel to the board surface).
The E-Switch micro switch offer includes models with the following features:
- stem height from 2.4mm to 17mm;
- button travel 0.25mm or 0.3mm;
- choice of color versions (including red, yellow, blue);
- actuating force from 0.98N to 5N;
- operating temperature range from -40°C to 85°C (depending on model);
- durability of at least 100,000 cycles.
Vandal Resistant Switches
A notable offering from E-Switch is the range of vandal resistant switches, i.e., components intended for applications requiring exceptional mechanical durability as well as protection against environmental factors (since they are usually used outdoors). These switches are used not only for devices placed in public spaces (elevators, ticket machines, etc.) but also for heavy industry machinery, building automation, and related fields. The manufacturer provides versions made from plastics (various color variants) and metals, equipped with LED backlighting, also with factory-applied symbols on the button face.
Key features of the vandal resistant switch range include:
- ingress protection class IP65 or IP67;
- thermal resistance in the range -40…80°C;
- contact rating up to 2A at 48V DC and 20A at 250V AC;
- availability of mono- and bistable versions;
- leads in the form of connectors or screw terminals;
- red, blue, green, and yellow variants;
- backlighting operating at 12V or 24V DC.
Sliding Switches
E-Switch sliding switches form a smaller but equally diverse range. They include straight and angled versions, mounted for PCB or panel mounting (using holes in the body). Components come in 2- and 3-position, up to 6-pole versions. Most models are designed for low DC voltages (up to 30V DC) and relatively low currents (max 0.5A), as these switches are commonly used as intermediate elements isolated from higher voltages and currents to protect the user. They can operate in temperatures from -20°C to 70°C.
Pushbutton Switches
Pushbutton switches with square stems are typically used in panels of various devices, including industrial machines, as control elements. Their design prevents accidental activation and allows mounting of varied keys, preserving a consistent interface aesthetic. Electrically, E-Switch PBH series switches handle maximum currents of 0.1A at voltages up to 30V DC. They have leads arranged in a 2.5mm pitch, designed for direct mounting on PCBs. They come in mono- and bistable versions, DPST, DPDT, 4PDT, 6PDT.
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