Product FAQ

Switches

"Snap-in" is a structural design for holding a switch in place with terminals, or a frame, that are kinked so the switch does not fall out after insertion into the PC board holes.

・Hand (manual) soldering
Soldering is performed manually using a soldering iron.

・Dip soldering
Soldering is performed by passing the workpiece through flowing molten solder.

・Reflow soldering
This is a soldering method for surface mounting of components that uses solder paste or cream instead of molten solder and involves heating the entire PC board and its components.

There are two taping formats – embossed and radial.

・Embossed taping
A packaging method for the purpose of automatic attachment of surface mount components. It uses plastic tape embossed to form pockets for holding the components.

・Radial taping
A packaging method for automatic mounting of components to PC boards. Components are affixed to paper tape in a specified position.

When switching between circuits, "shorting" indicates the changeover occurs after an electrical connection is momentarily made across the terminals, "non-shorting" indicates that electrical connections between terminals are momentarily broken.

• Sliding (wiping) contact
A contact with a structure that keeps the contact surface clean, removing insulating material between fixed and moving contacts by mechanical friction. The structure works excellently with very small currents. Sliding contacts are either double-sided, with the moving contact clamping the fixed contact from both sides, or single-sided, where the moving contact presses into one side.

・Butt contact
A contact structure where the moving contact collides with the fixed contact. Contact problems may occur if insulating material gets in the way.

Circuit configuration for switches is represented by numbers of circuits and numbers of contacts (positions). Notation for switches used with very small currents is "x-pole, x-position." The number of circuits that a switch can control is also expressed in "poles," and the numbers of contacts that can be controlled simultaneously is expressed in "throws."

Recoil (spring return) is when the lever stays where it has been operated sideways only while held and returns to its initial position when the force is released. There are three types of recoil depending on the direction of lever operation. Slide switches operated only to the left are "left-side recoil," those operated only to the right are "right-side recoil." Products that slide in both directions are "double-side recoil."

・Latching
When the control (knob) is pushed, the switch closes and stays closed (on). The knob stays locked in the depressed position. Push the knob again and it is released, returning to its initial position.

・Momentary
The switch stays closed (on) only while the knob is pushed. Take your finger off and the knob returns to its initial position as the switch opens (switches off).

・Alternate
When the knob is pushed, the switch closes and stays closed (on), but the knob returns to its initial position. Push the knob again and the switch opens (switches off), with the knob again returning to its initial position. This returning of the knob to its initial position in both on and off states is what distinguishes an alternate action from a latching action.

・Normally open
The switch is normally open (off) and closes (switches on) when operated.

・Normally closed
The switch is normally closed (on) and opens (switches off) when operated.

Safety standards are established by countries, or organizations on their behalf, to lay down uniform safety guidelines for products and parts that use electricity in order to protect ordinary consumers against electric shock and fire risks.

Ingress Protection (IP) ratings grade the degree of protection an enclosure provides against dust and water.

IP6K7: The first digit represents the level of protection against the ingress of solid foreign objects, with "6K" indicating complete protection against the ingress of dust. Test conditions are injection of 2kg of dust per cubic meter into the dust test chamber for 20 cycles of 6 seconds of operation with a 15-minute rest. The second digit represents the level of protection against the ingress of water, with "7" indicating there will be no ingress of water when the enclosure is immersed in water under specified conditions of pressure and time. Test conditions are immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of one meter.

IP6K8: A second digit of "8" indicates that the equipment can be used underwater. Test conditions are determined through agreement with the user.

Contact resistance indicates the electrical resistance of the part of a contact that makes contact. It includes the electrical resistance of conductive parts of springs and terminals.

Insulation resistance indicates the resistance between open contacts, between terminals and control shaft (lever) or between terminals and switch body.

Withstand voltage (voltage proof) is the maximum voltage at which insulation will not break down when a high voltage is applied between open contacts, between terminals and control shaft (lever) or between terminals and switch body.