Everything You Need To Know About Rotary Switches
The evolution of mankind has witnessed a number of revolutions in the field of technological growth & development in the last few centuries. Electricity and Electric switches used to control electricity, being one of these significant revolutionary developments. One of the type of rotary switches which functions to regulate the circuit while moving in a circular motion is called Rotary Switch.
What are Rotary Switches?
Rotary switches are a type of multi-functional electrical switch that can move in circular motion as the word rotary suggests and stop in several positions. It consists of a rotating shaft which has a rotor and moving contact or disk that is attached to a contact plate. The rotation of the shaft or disk causes the contacts to either open or close, which in turn either completes or breaks the circuit with the contact housing.
Generally used to control the working of different circuits with a single switch, rotary switches can also be widely used as a great alternative to push button switches. Compared to normal conventional switches, rotary switches are designed with complex configurations & are more like an all-in-one solution for electric switches problems. Also acknowledged as a Human-Machine Interface, these electrical components qualify as HMIs for their specified way of interaction & control over the operations of the operators.
Types of Rotary Switches
Rotary switches are used in varied dimensions with a number of mechanisms. All these different types of rotary switches fit according to the requirements for different applications. Some of the commonly used rotary switches are as follows:
Miniature Rotary Switch –
These rotary switches are smaller and are designed for use in space which is compact. Good example are circuit board where very little space is available.
High Current Rotary Switches –
Generally designed for use with higher voltages,
these rotary switches are made with highly resistant materials, especially at the place of contact & casing.
Heavy-Duty Rotary Switches –
These types of rotary switches are widely used for industrial applications to provide strong mechanical control. Apart from these bifurcations in the types of rotary switches, these switches are further classified on the basis of work adhering to the mechanical requirements & uses.
Types of Configurations:
There are two main configurations of rotary switches: those with a single pole and those with multiple poles. Single-pole rotary switches are used to control a single circuit, while multiple-pole rotary switches can control two or more circuits. The number of poles is determined by the number of contact plates on the switch.
Talking about the Poles & way of the switch, the configuration of the Rotary switch is generally classified as complex in nature. In a switch with two terminals, the mechanism of rotary switches promotes the flow of current in & out of the circuit. In this, the ways determine how many separate circuits the switch can control; however, the poles indicate the number of switch poles it can be connected to.
Commonly referred to as single pole, 2 pole,3pole or 4 pole it determines the number of circuits controlled by the rotary switch.
The configurations of the rotary switch are defined as below :-
1 pole 1 way to 1 pole 12 way
2 pole 1 way to 2 pole 6 way
3 pole 1 way to 3 pole 4 way
4 pole 1 way to 4 pole 3 way
With differences in the configurations, all the switches designed with different mechanisms fulfill different current flow requirements. As an integral part of the circuit, it becomes necessary to pick the switch from reliable rotary switch manufacturers in India. The quality of the switch is an essential factor that determines the smooth functioning of the circuit; it is significant to choose the best rotary switch manufacturers in Mumbai. Elcom International, a pioneer of quality electrical switches in India manufactures provide top-quality rotary switches adhering to the standards with robust mechanism & rigid construction aimed toward years of use without difficulties.
