High-quality materials for the best protection
Rotary switches have to withstand certain requirements. Therefore, it is important that they are made of high-quality materials. Since rotary switches are part of the electrical installation, they must first be resistant to electrical charging. The material that resists electron charging is ABS plastic. ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) is an engineering plastic that is particularly suitable for rotary switches. This is because the material is not only resistant to mechanical stress, but also to grease and oil. Good temperature resistance and resistance to common household acids are also criteria that the plastic fulfils, making it an ideal material for rotary switches. In combination with other robust and high-quality materials, the rotary switches become very resistant and durable.
What is a rotary switch used for?
A rotary switch is used to turn a circuit on or off. This is done by moving the operating elements. Based on this selection, different switch positions can be assigned to different functions. Rotary switches are also referred to as rotary coding switches. For this reason, rotary switches are used as reliable and durable control elements in numerous fields - industry, medicine, various vehicle technology, tool technology, building technology and the aerospace industry rely on rotary switches to perform various functions. They are mounted on control panels and circuit boards, among other things. Rotary switches are available in single-pole or multi-pole versions and can have a different number of positions depending on the number of connections and intended use. Depending on the configuration, the rotary switches can also be equipped with different operating elements.
Equipped with various degrees of protection
Rotary switches are available in various designs, often very application-specific, such as single or multi-pole, with or without stops, for specific switching sequences or binary coding. As different as the designs are, so are the degrees of protection determined by several tests. In general, rotary switches used outdoors must have a higher degree of protection than those used indoors in clean environments. Why you should pay attention to the degree of protection is quite simple. The degree of protection, IP (International Protection), indicates how well electrical installations are protected against the ingress of water and dirt. The higher the number, the higher the protection. Please note that the first digit describes the protection against the penetration of dust and foreign bodies and the second digit describes the behavior of the products in contact with water. In order to obtain high-quality and long-lasting rotary switches, it is therefore important to orientate yourself according to these key figures.