Combating environmental pollutants to preserve switch performance and reliability

摘要

Choosing the right electromechanical switch involves many considerations. Panel size, terminal type, actuator style, illumination and contact material are just a few. However these decisions are irrelevant if design engineers do not take switch reliability into account. While choosing a reputable manufacturer plays a large role in a device's reliability, the environmental conditions and contaminants the switch will be exposed to is another significant factor that should not be overlooked. Switch life expectancy and even critical switch failure issues can arise from improperly installing a device that is not designed for harsh environmental conditions.