Pushwheel Switches

Pushwheel switches are a type of electrical switches that are operated with the help of a rotating wheel or dual buttons. The switch is activated by a rotating shaft with several stop positions.

Materials of Construction
These switches are made of :

• Thermoplastic
• Metallic materials

Common Size
These switches are available in the following sizes:

• Standard size: This is a standard all-purpose size.
• Miniature size: This is smaller than standard size and used in case of space constraint.
• Sub miniature size: This is smaller than miniature size.

Pushwheel Switch Specifications
There are certain important specifications that must be considered while selecting pushwheel switches. These are:

• Maximum current rating
• Maximum AC voltage rating
• Maximum DC voltage rating
• Maximum mechanical life
• Operator style: This can be either dual button or thumb wheel style.
• Terminal Type: It can be of many styles including wire leads, screw terminals, solder terminals, straight PC pins, side PC pins etc.

Certain pushwheel switches can be mounted on printed circuit boards (PCBs) for controlling the behavior of electronic devices. These switches rotate continuously or stop between positions.

Approvals and Certifications
Pushwheel switches can be listed or certified by reputed organizations for ensuring quality products to customers. These are:

• Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
• European Union's CE Mark

Pushwheel switches Applications
Pushwheel switches are used in diverse fields and areas including:

• Avionics industry
• Precision measurement equipment
• Gaging equipment
• Test and measuring equipment
• Commercial sound mixing equipment
• Military voice and data communication equipment
• Radios
• Transmitters and receivers