TE Connectivity ALCOSWITCH Switches

TE Connectivity Switches

TE Connectivity offers a comprehensive range of switches that are cost-effective, reliable, and can enhance productivity. A DIP switch is a manual electronic package that is composed of a series of tiny switches. Rocker switches are an electrical switch that rocks back and forth and is actuated by a paddle, standard rocker, or dual rocker. A pushbutton switch is a non-latching or momentary switch that causes a temporary change of current in an electrical circuit when the button is pressed. A snap action switch is a mechanical switch that sends a rapid transfer of contacts from one position to another. High-performance switches are designed to withstand extreme shock, vibration, temperature, and altitude. You can use our switches in production lines, robotics, control panels, motion control systems, lighting, building systems, HVAC, appliances, and an array of safety-critical applications. We also offer an extensive range of accessories, including knobs, caps, boot seals, and respective hardware.

DIP Switches

A dual in-line package (DIP) switch is a manual electronic package that is composed of a series of tiny switches. It has a rectangular casing and two parallel rows of connecting terminals. Common DIP switch features include tape and reel packaging, imprinted markings, CE and CSA certifications, UL listed, dustproof, and waterproof or weather resistant. A DIP switch can be normally open (NO), normally closed (NC), or three stages. Types of DIP switches include a slide actuator, which can be configured to have raised or recessed slides; a rocker switch, which can be configured to have raised or recessed rockers; and a piano switch, which is a side-actuated lever that has “keys” to push down to actuate. We offer a wide variety of surface mount and through hole DIP switches. With a variety of actuator styles and sizes, these switches can be used in a range of applications. Our DIP switches range in position sizes from 1 to 12, with the capability of adding our end stackable switches to address customer needs. DIP switches are normally found on motherboards, expansion cards, and auxiliary cards, and are often used to hold configuration settings on computers and peripherals like circuit boards and modems.

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Ethernet Switches

Our robust, EN50155 compliant Ethernet switches, featuring M12 connectivity, are designed to enable faster and more reliable Gigabit Ethernet networks. The rugged design features, combined with the build-in data security, makes sure that networks will rarely fail even under the harshest conditions. On top of the reliability, with several options for input voltage, PoE and bypass, the Ethernet switches allow for easy network maintenance.

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Hardware & Seals

Switch seals keep environmental hazards such as dirt, sand, water pressure, gas pressure, moisture, humidity, and precipitation from harming switches. Also called boots, these seals are typically made of tough, pliable silicone rubber. Switch seals are designed for a variety of military, industrial, and commercial use. Switch seals come in a wide range of sizes, materials, and colors. Seals can be custom fitted to cover a variety of electronic devices that are exposed to the elements. We offer a wide range of switch accessories to address customer needs. TE switch knob accessories come in a range of material finishes and sizes. We also offer hex nut and other hardware necessary for switch seals. Switch seals can protect toggle, pushbutton, rocker, and rotary switches from the environment.

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Keylock Switches

A keylock switch is a type of rotary switch that has the added security of a key. The key can turn to a single position or have multiple positions. Types of keylock switches include disk tumblers, pin tumblers, wafer tumblers, tubular locks, and warded locks, as well as double- and single-sided keys. Specifications of a keylock switch include two or many contacts, turning in one or two directions, momentary operation, on-off, or a combination. The switching is normally open, closed, or change over. We offer a variety of different configurations and mounting styles for the keylock switches. Ranging in multiple operating functions and contact finishes, our keylock switches come in contact ratings ranging from 1 to 15 amps. A keylock switch is commonly used in industrial manufacturing equipment, either for safety reasons or to prevent unauthorized use, such as a keylock switch being required to reset a machine after its emergency stop switch is pressed.

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Rocker Switches

A rocker switch is an electrical switch that rocks back and forth, and is actuated by a paddle, standard rocker, or dual rocker. This switch is available in different configurations that include ON/OFF, which works like a light switch; three-position, which have a center position that may or may not perform an OFF function; momentary; and maintained. The terms paddle and rocker are interchangeable. Rocker switch terminal types include feed-through style, wire leads, solder terminals, screw terminals, quick connect or blade terminals, surface mount technology, and straight, side, or right-angle PC pins. Rocker switch bases and actuators are usually made of plastic, thermoplastic, or metal materials. Features of rocker switches may include pilot light or illumination, imprinted markings, wiping contacts, locking mechanism, time delay, CE certification, CSA certification, UL listing, dustproof, weather resistant, and waterproof. We offer a wide variety of rocker switches with several different mounting options. From panel to on board mounted switches, TE has a rocker switch to address our customers’ application. Our portfolio includes switches with different actuator styles and amperage ranging from 4 to 21 amps. Rocker switches are used in many devices and applications, including household products, HVAC equipment, medical systems, safety products, power supply units, and control panels.

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Pushbutton Switches

A pushbutton switch is a non-latching or momentary switch that causes a temporary change of current in an electrical circuit when the button is pressed. A spring returns the switch to its original position immediately afterwards. The button is typically made of plastic or metal and may be flat-surfaced or contoured to the finger or hand. A pushbutton switch is a momentary or non-latching switch, which causes a temporary change in the state of an electrical circuit only while the switch is physically pushed.

Examples of pushbutton switches include doorbells, calculator buttons, keys on a keyboard, refrigerator light switches, and alarm switches in fail-safe circuits. Many times, pushbuttons are colored to lower the chance of people mistakenly pushing the wrong button. We offer a wide range of pushbutton switches, from standard pushbutton switches to IP rated. Our pushbutton switches come in multiple mounting options and housing sizes and can be customized with different LED and actuator styles. Common pushbutton switch applications include security systems, industrial manufacturing, A/V equipment, avionics, test and measurement equipment, fitness equipment, and casino games.

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Pushwheel Switches

A pushwheel switch is operated by dual buttons or a rotating wheel and is activated by a rotating shaft that has several stop positions. Made of thermoplastic or metallic materials, a pushwheel switch can come in standard, miniature, and subminiature sizes. These switches can be mounted on printed circuit boards to control the behavior of electric devices. A circuit code in binary, octal, or hexadecimal format is generated when the position of the rotating shaft is changed. A pushwheel switch may rotate continuously or stop between positions. We offer a range of pushwheel switches that can be mounted from the front or rear, giving the customer ease of installation. TE’s pushwheel switches come in multiple position sizes and code types. Pushwheel switch applications include precision measurement equipment, navigation and communication equipment for the avionics industry, test and measuring equipment, gaging, commercial sound mixing, radios, transmitters and receivers, and military voice and data communications.

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Rotary Switches

A rotary switch moves in a circle and is often used when more than two positions are needed, such as in a three-speed fan or a CB radio that has multiple channels. A rotary switch is used to control many circuits with a single switch and can be designed to have many contacts happening at once on a single switch position. A rotary switch has a rotating spindle, with the rotors located on a spindle and each rotor having an arm projected outward that can make contact with a terminal when the switch is in a particular position. A detent mechanism puts the rotary switch in the proper position, making it “click” into place and stay there until enough force is used to move it, preventing the switch from moving freely and setting in the wrong position. We offer a wide range of rotary switches with multiple actuator styles and shapes. Our switches come preprogrammed or standard for the ease of installation. We offer sealed or unsealed switches to address the customer’s application needs. TE’s portfolio also includes surface mount or through hole mounted rotary switches. Rotary switches have become less popular with the advent of digital equipment like touchscreens that control complex switching operations, but mechanical rotary switches are still used, especially in equipment where a computer fail could cause a safety issue. Rotary switches are used on many types of industrial equipment and consumer products.

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Slide Switches

A slide switch is a mechanical switch that slides from the open (off) position to the closed (on) position and allows control of a circuit’s current flow without having to manually splice or cut wire. A slide switch is a maintained-contact switch in which the switch stays in one state until it’s actuated into a new state, where it remains until it’s actuated again. Its sizes are subminiature, miniature, and standard. A slide switch is best used to control current flow in small projects. There are many terminal types for slide switches, including feed-through style, wire leads, solder terminals, screw terminals, quick connect or blade terminals, surface mount technology, and panel mount switches. The handle of the switch is either raised or flushed, depending on the actuator type. Whether to choose a flush or raised switch depends on the intended application of the switch. We offer a large variety of different slide switches with multiple configurations and sizes. TE’s slide switches come surface mounted or through hole mounted and are available in different angles to give the customer ease of use. Slide switch features include pilot lights, illuminated switches, wiping contacts, and time delays.

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Snap Action Switches

A snap action switch is a mechanical switch that sends a rapid transfer of contacts from one position to another. The actuator styles are lever actuators that can be straight or formed; a pushbutton actuator, sometimes called a plunger style; and a roller style actuator that can be an actual or simulated roller. Also known as micro switches, snap action switches can be momentary or maintained contact and come in subminiature, miniature, and standard styles. They are typically composed of thermoplastics, plastics, or metals. We offer a variety of different snap action switches. TE’s snap action switches come in a range of actuator styles and mounting options. Our snap action product offering ranges from miniature styles to IP rated switches and standard products, addressing application needs. Snap action switches are useful in situations where a fast opening or closing of a circuit is necessary, such as a mouse button or an appliance setting.

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Switch Knobs

A switch knob is a control knob that is used to control or adjust electronic or electrical devices and fits many types of rotary switches, encoders, and shafts. Once a knob is connected to a switch, the knob typically works in a counterclockwise rotation to produce increased input. These switches often have ridges or contours on the sides for grip and ease of use. Most switch knobs are made from metal, plastic, or rubber. Switch knobs usually have a fixed “off” position, rather than a separate on/off switch, at the origin of movement in which the knob actuates the switch, shutting down whatever behavior is being controlled. We offer a wide range of switch accessories to address the customer’s needs. TE switch knob accessories come in a range of material finishes and sizes. This gives the customers the ease of easily finding a solution to address their needs. Switch knobs are found in many applications, including industrial machinery, household appliances, musical instruments, thermometers, and amplifiers.

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Tactile Switches

Tactile switches provide tactile feedback to the user when the switch or button makes contact with the control panel underneath, which is usually a printed circuit board. Tactile switches include dome switches that are located under a rubber bubble or dome. When the dome switch is pressed, the dome collapses and makes the switch contact. We offer a wide selection of tactile switches, ranging from miniature surface mount switches to IP rated tactile switches. These switches come in a range of sizes and actuator styles and are LED capable. TE’s tactile switches can also come in different actuator lengths that add a custom feature to fit in every design application. Tactile switches are designed for use in keyboards, keypads, instruments, and interface control-panel applications. They’re heavily used in aerospace and aviation, communication, defense, and all electronic instrumentation applications. Dome switches are used in keyboards and membrane keypads and are relatively quiet when operated.

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Toggle Switches

A toggle switch is a type of electrical switch that is actuated by moving a lever back and forth to open or close an electrical circuit. The two basic types of toggle switches are maintained contact and momentary contact. Maintained toggle switches’ configurations are ON/OFF functions and work like a light switch. Three-position switches have a center position that may or may not work as an off position. A momentary toggle switch has more functions. We offer a wide variety of toggle switches with several different mounting options. From panel to on board mounted switches, TE has a toggle switch to address customer applications. We also offer switches with different actuator styles and amperage ranging from 3 to 20-amp switches. Because of its ease of operation, the toggle switch is used in various applications, including military/aerospace, commercial, industrial, instrumentation, and medical.

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