Anti-Vandal Switches

We supply a broad range of Anti Vandal switches to suit a variety of applications.  These include vandal resistant switches with ring or dot illumination.  There is a choice of colours, IP ratings (IP40, IP65 and IP67) and voltages (12VDC, 24VDC or 250VAC).  They are also supplied with internal resistors. Vandal switches are available in stainless steel, brass, nickel plated brass and black PBT with screw or solder tab terminations.  Actuators can be domed, flat or raised.  We offer these push switches with 12mm, 16mm, 19mm, 22mm and 25mm cut-outs.  The switching actions can be momentary or latching. Due to the wide choice of switch options, not all items are held in stock.  However, our lead-times are not extensive; between 4-6 weeks for this range. We can also hold buffer stocks or work to scheduled deliveries. Our robust, high quality anti-vandal switches are built for tough, demanding environments.  So, if you have a particular requirement or would like assistance to find the switch you need, please call us on 01258 456360 or send us an email sales@abcomponents.co.uk

Touch Switches

Capacitive touch switches are a popular design choice for modern applications. They are robust, durable and aesthetically pleasing. Applications include domestic appliances, vending machines, industrial controls, infotainment centers and medical and food products.  Our touch switches are an extension to our anti-vandal switch range and are also known as capacitive vandal resistant switches. Key features for our range:

• Finger touch trigger, even when wearing medical gloves
• Ring illumination
• Internal resistor - no need to connect an external resistor
• Electrical endurance – 50,000,000 cycles
• Durable and waterproof with IP68 rating
• Visually striking switches suitable for a wide variety of applications, particularly where product appearance is key.

Customer requirements for touch switches are frequently specific to individual applications. Therefore, our range offers numerous product variations.   This enables considerable design freedom.  Please note, minimum order quantities will apply, however, these are relatively small. Switch Options:

• Cut-out – 16mm/19mm/22mm
• Latching & Momentary / Normally Open & Normally Closed
• Illumination – Non-illuminated/Single LED/Dual LED
• LED voltage – 5VDC/12VDC/24VDC
• Colours – Green/Red/Blue/White/Orange
• Various button symbols

For more information on our touch switch range, please call 01258 456360 or email sales@abcomponents.co.uk We will be very happy to discuss the various options with you.

Rocker Switch   

The rocker switch is one of the most common forms of switches. Its name is derived from the see saw action of the rocker - when one side of the switch is pressed, the other side raises. They are used to turn the power on and off devices and applications which are operated by electricity. There are many variations including size, contact form, voltage, illumination, number of poles and throws etc.  We will help to clarify these below:

Poles & Throws

Commonly these devices are described in terms of the number of poles and throws. Pole refers to the number of circuits a switch operates. Throw refers to the number of positions each switch pole can be connected to. Common switch forms:

Contact Form	Switch Function	Circuit Diagram
SPST – Single Pole, Single Throw	On-off
SPDT – Single Pole, Double Throw	Centre off (on off on) or Changeover switch
DPST – Double Pole, Single Throw	On-off
DPDT – Double Pole, Double Throw	Centre off (on off on) or Changeover switch

Switch Action – Latching or Momentary?

When selecting a rocker switch, you need to decide if you require a latching or momentary switch action. Latching - this means that the switch activates when pressed and the circuit is not broken until the switch is pressed again. Double pole, on-off, latching rocker switch Momentary – the switch circuit is connected when the actuator is pressed and disconnects as soon as the rocker is released. A momentary switch action is shown as follows: Single pole, momentary centre-off (on)-0ff-(0n)

Switch Ratings

Switches are rated by their electrical characteristics. Voltage and current are the two principal ratings. Current Rating - The current rating of a switch notes the maximum amount of current the switch is designed to carry. This rating is dependent on the voltage of the circuit in which the switch is used. If the maximum current is exceeded, there is a danger that the switch contacts will weld together meaning the electrical circuit will no longer open. Voltage Rating – this refers to the maximum voltage allowable in the electrical circuit where the switch is used. The voltage rating may be given as AC or DC voltage, or both. Types of load – you also need to consider the electrical load in a circuit. Load is a generic term for something that draws power. Simply put, it is the piece of equipment you turn on and off. The amount of current drawn, multiplied by the voltage equals the amount of power used by the device. Resistive loads primarily offer resistance to the flow of current. Examples of resistive loads are heaters, ovens, toasters and irons. If the device is likely to get hot and doesn’t move, then it is most likely a resistive load. Inductive loads are generally devices that move and usually include an electric magnet, like an electric motor. Examples of inductive loads include power drills, mixers, fans, sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. Transformers also produce inductive loads. High inrush loads draw a higher amount of current or amperage when first turned on compared to the amount of current required to continue running. The initial surge in current can cause switch contacts to weld together. This additional demand on a switch must be considered for applications such as Motors which often have high inrush loads.

Rocker Switch Sizes

The size of a rocker switch is generally referred to as “cut-out”. Rocker switches usually snap fit into a panel on an application. The cut-out is the size of the hole which the switch will fit into. Rocker switch shapes are commonly round or rectangular. We supply a whole range of rocker switch sizes to suit the majority of applications: ABSL series – 19x6.8mm slim line small rocker switch A1 series – 19x13mm A4 series – 22x19mm B1 & SX81 series – 30x11mm B4 & SX82 series – 30x22mm ABRR series – 20mm round rocker switches Above is an example of the cut out information provided on a typical data sheet.

Switch colour, illumination and marking

The majority of rocker switches are black or white, however, they can be supplied in a variety of colours. Most illuminated switches are red, green, amber or blue and again, other options are available particularly if using an LED lamp. Our illuminated versions are available in 12VDC or 24VDC as well as mains voltage. Markings help to show the user what position the switch is in. Standard markings such as below are widely available. [products skus="TECNO11131191000,A11131121000,ABRR003,B115C11290000"] In addition, customised markings are also available however, please be aware that additional costs and minimum order quantities will apply. [products skus="ABRR010"]

IP65 Rated Rocker Switches

Our B4MASK range is IP65 rated. These switches are fitted with a rubber skirt/seal which protects the internal mechanisms from water ingress. Suitable applications include pressure washers, steam cleaners, outdoor equipment, industrial machines and control panels.

Rocker Switch Accessories

Fitting a splash proof cap to a rocker switch increases the IP rating. Standard switches are generally rated at IP40 and when a cap is fitted correctly, the rating reaches IP65.  Following is a link to our switch accessories page on our website – https://www.abcomponents.co.uk/product-category/switches/switch-accessories/

Rocker Switches

At Alan Butcher Components, we stock an extensive range of rocker switches. We are the UK agent and distributor for Everel who manufacture the Molveno brand of electro mechanical components. The Molveno brand was established in 1978 and has developed a strong presence within the European household appliance market. The Everel Group headquarters is in Italy, with switch products manufactured on site and in Romania – www.everelgroup.com  Everel switches are extremely high quality products. We have been working with Everel since we started our business in 1986 and are proud to represent them within the UK. In addition to the Molveno products, we offer our own branded rocker switches. We have worked with our supplier for over 15 years and developed a strong working relationship. This ensures we are confident in the quality of the products we sell and have the expertise available should technical queries arise. This relationship enables us to respond to enquiries quickly, particularly regarding lead-times and customised products.

Rocker Switches UK – Our Most Popular Products

As mentioned, we have a huge variety of sizes, colours, switch functions and voltages. Below are links to some of our most popular products which are used in a wide cross section of industries and applications: ABRR series [products skus="ABRR001,ABRR021,ABRR011,ABRR012,ABRR013,ABRR030,ABRR031"] A series – small rocker switch range [products skus="A11132200000,A11131100000,A81231121000"] B series [products skus="B115C11000000,B412C11210000,B418C1G000000,B4MASK52N112100"] SX Series [products skus="SX81111811210000,SX82112811210000,SX8211881E110000,SX8211881G110000"]

12V Rocker Switch

When choosing a switch to use in an electrical design, many people believe they can use any switch, providing its current rating is more than the maximum load in the circuit. This, of course is not true.  Direct current (dc) is used in different circuits to alternating current (ac) switch applications. Low voltage switching speed can be very important due to the internal function of the switch. When a 12v rocker switch is turned off in a low voltage system an arc is created inside of the switch. In this application the arc can take longer to extinguish itself making the switching speed important.  The longer a switch takes to open or break the power to the circuit, the more prolonged the arc.  This can result in the switch contacts becoming pitted which can potentially lead to overheating.  So, in the case of a 12vdc system the correct choice of 12v rocker switch is important. For more information on these products, click on the link and use the “enquire about this product” form on the product page. You can then request additional technical details, a quotation or free sample for evaluation. Please add your telephone number if you would like us to call you back. As mentioned, there is a large variety of rocker switch products available. We will be very happy to discuss your application with you to ensure you have all the information you need to make the right choice.

Call 01258 456360 or email sales@abcomponents.co.uk

Rotary Switches

As the UK distributor for the Molveno brand of switches, Alan Butcher Components supplies the R1 series of rotary switches.  Typical applications include fan heaters, small ovens, cleaners, air conditioning units and dehumidifiers. The switch functions available are 30° steps up to 6 positions, single pole or double pole.  The switch cut-out is 28mm between the fixing screws.  Theses rotary switches are available with or without shafts, which need to be ordered separately.  There are 4 shaft lengths offered.    Not all options are shown so please give us a call on 01258 456360 and we can help to identify the switch that suits your application.  The complete Molveno R1 series range can be viewed on the Everel website at http://www.everel.eu/appliances/switches/rotary-switches/R1

Tactile Switches

These are small sized switches usually placed onto Printed Circuit Boards and are used to close an electrical circuit when the button is pressed by a person.  When the button is pressed, the switches turn ON and when the button is released the switches turn OFF. A Tactile switch is a switch whose operation is perceptible by touch.  The switches have a gf rating which relates to the amount of pressure required to operate the switch; the higher the number, the greater the pressure required to activate the switch.  This pressure action of the button lets the user feel the response of the operation from the switch. There are two types of Tactile Switches, standard and sealed. They are then sub-categorised into printed circuit board through hole or printed circuit board surface mount types, depending on how you wish to mount the switch on the board.  Other variations include small sized and low-profile types, long and medium stroke types and tape and reel options for easier production techniques. The standard Tactile Switch consists of four components:

1.  The cover is utilised along with the base to protect the internal mechanisms of the switch.
2.  The plunger relays force of the person pressing the switch to the contact dome.
3. The contact dome is a circular part made of metal, it reverses when the force from the plunger is applied, this allows the current to flow between the contacts to turn the switch on, when released the dome returns to its original position and the switch turns off.
4. The base is made of resin and contains the contacts and terminals, to which all other components of the switch are attached.

Applications: Tactile Switches are ideal for enabling designers to add functionality to their products / applications:

• Automotive (air bags, heating controls, door handles and column switches)
• Aerospace (mail cable lights, flight attendant buttons)
• Consumer (mobile phones, headsets, remote controls, wearable electronics)
• Medical (hearing aids, portable equipment, heath diagnostics)
• Industrial (control panels, instrumentation, power supplies)
• Telecom (network equipment)
• Handheld Applications (power and selection switches, volume control, key fobs)

For more information, please view our range.  You can download data sheets from the product pages and contact us by using the product enquiry form.  Alternatively, you can call us on 01258 456360 to request a sample and quotation.