Snap action switches open and close circuits rapidly with their quick actuation styles, which helps to minimize arcing and prevent contacts from sticking. These switches are small, fit in tight design spaces, actuate from light pressure and can be sealed to keep out dust and moisture in harsh conditions.
In the following article, we’ll take a quick look at the different actuator styles commonly found on snap action switches, followed by an overview of E-Switch’s current selection of products. These are broken into two product categories: sealed snap action switches (IP67) and non-sealed snap action switches.
Snap Action Switch Actuator Styles
Snap Action Switch Pin Plunger
Benefits: Small pre-travel and over-travel (smallest amount of movement among all of the actuators), making this actuator appropriate for linear short-stroke applications. The pin plunger acts directly on the snap action mechanism, enabling high-precision positioning.
Snap Action Switch Hinge Lever
Benefits: Very little operating force required for actuation, while large stroke ensures high reliability.
Snap Action Switch Simulated Roller Lever
Benefits: Tip of hinge lever is bent into a semi-circle, enabling use as a simple roller type to make contact with moving objects.
Snap Action Switch Hinge Roller Lever
Benefits: Lighter actuation force required than a hinge lever, and the resulting stroke is longer. Rollers provide smooth contact with moving objects to reduce friction, absorb force and minimize wear.
Sealed Snap Action Switches: Harsh Environment, Wet-Location
Markets: Transportation, Appliances, Construction, Agricultural, Medical, Industrial
Application Examples: Power tool trigger, control panel on/off switch, lock detection, seat orientation and backrest position detection, gas appliance and water heater firing, water tank detection, vehicle hood opening and closing detection, recharge outlet detection, battery presence detection, dust box presence detection.
WS Series Sealed Snap Action Switch
- Ingress protection: IP67 rated
- Electrical Ratings (UL Certified):
- 0.5A @ 42VDC; 1A @ 24VDC; 2A @ 12VDC
- 3A @ 125/250VAC
- Pin plunger, hinge lever or simulated roller actuator
- -25°C to +85°C operating/storage temperature
- Termination: PCB pin, solder lug or wire leads (300mm length)
- SPDT; 1,000,000-cycle mechanical life
- VIEW THE DATA SHEET
WS1 Series Sealed Snap Action Switch
- Ingress protection: IP67 rated
- Electrical Ratings (UL Certified):
- 0.1A @ 48VDC; 0.1A @ 125VAC, 250VAC
- 3A @ 12VDC; 3A @ 125VAC, 250VAC
- Pin plunger actuator
- -40°C to +85°C operating/storage temperature
- Termination: Solder lug or wire leads (162mm length)
- SPDT; 500,000-cycle minimum mechanical life
- VIEW THE DATA SHEET
WS2 Series Sealed Snap Action Switch
- Ingress protection: IP67 rated
- Electrical Rating (UL Certified):
- 2A @ 30VDC
- 2A @ 250VAC
- Pin plunger actuator
- -25°C to +85°C operating/storage temperature
- Termination: Solder lug, quick connect or PCB pin
- SPDT; 500,000-cycle minimum mechanical life
- VIEW THE DATA SHEET
Non-Sealed Snap Action Switches: Miniature, Subminiature, Light-Touch
Markets: Appliances, Audio/Visual, Food Industry, Telecommunications, Industrial, Security, Medical, Automation
Application Examples: Printer door open/close detection, security camera lens rotation detection, panel open/close detection, filter presence detection, multi-function machine on/off switch, home delivery box open/close detection.
LS Series Snap Action Switch
- Electrical Ratings (UL, cUL, VDE Certified):
- Gold Contacts – 0.4A, 20V Maximum (AC or DC)
- Silver Contacts – 15A, 125/250VAC
- Pin plunger, hinge lever or simulated roller actuator
- -25°C to +85°C operating/storage temperature
- Termination: Solder lug, quick connect or right/left angled PCB pin
- SPDT, SPST-NC or SPST-NO; 1,000,000-cycle mechanical life
- VIEW THE DATA SHEET
MS Series Miniature Snap Action Switch
- Electrical Ratings (UL, cUL, VDE Certified):
- Gold Contacts – 0.4VA, 20V Maximum (AC or DC)
- Silver Contacts – 5A, 125/250VAC
- Pin plunger, hinge lever, roller or simulated roller actuator
- -25°C to +85°C operating/storage temperature
- Termination: Solder lug, quick connect, PCB pin or right/left angled PCB pin
- SPDT or SPST-NO; 1,000,000-cycle mechanical life
- VIEW THE DATA SHEET
SS Series Subminiature Snap Action Switch
- Electrical Ratings (UL, cUL Certified)
- Gold Contacts – 0.4VA, 20V Maximum (AC or DC)
- Silver Contacts – 3A, 125VAC; 1.5A, 250VAC; 0.1A, 125VAC/5VDC
- Pin plunger, hinge lever or simulated roller actuator
- -25°C to +75°C operating temperature
- Termination: Solder lug, PCB pin, PCB retention or right/left angled PCB pin
- SPDT; 1,000,000-cycle mechanical life
- VIEW THE DATA SHEET
TS Series Subminiature Snap Action Switch
- Electrical Rating:
- 0.3A, 6VDC
- Hinge lever actuator
- -25°C to +85°C operating temperature
- Termination: PCB pin (vertical, left/right angled, long/short)
- SPDT; 100,000-cycle mechanical life
- VIEW THE DATA SHEET
TS2 Series SMT Snap Action Switch
- Electrical Rating:
- 0.1A, 125VAC or 48VDC
- Pin plunger actuator
- -25°C to +85°C operating temperature
- Termination: Surface mount (SMT) design
- SPST-NO; 3,000,000-cycle mechanical life
- VIEW THE DATA SHEET
