Components of Electric Switches
We can tell you about switch manufacturer's products and composition. Switches generally consist of conducting material (e.g. wires), terminals and actuators housed in some sort of insulated, protective casing. These components vary widely in quantity and arrangement. Fundamentally speaking, however, most switches are similar in the sense that they use these components to complete a circuit by allowing an electrical current to flow through them.
Conducting Material
By definition, an electric circuit is an enclosed path that enables the flow of electric current. Thus, an electric circuit must be composed of material that is able to permit the flow of electricity. In a majority of cases, electric circuits are created with conductive metal in the form of wires. The most common metals used in such cases are copper and aluminum. Gold is preferred in cases involving fragile electronic components (e.g. electronic chips) because of its strong corrosion resistance.
Terminals
The terminals (or pins) of an electric circuit refer to the places in a circuit where current can (potentially) enter and exit. Minimally, a circuit requires two terminals, although the majority of circuits possess far more.
Actuators
When a switch is “actuated”, it is changed from one state to another (e.g. closed to open) by some type of physical action. The actuators within a switch are the mechanisms responsible for performing such physical actions by applying force to the switch’s contacts.
Insulators/Housing
Insulators surround or enclose switches and circuits. As opposed to conductors, insulators consist of materials that do not transmit electricity (e.g. rubber or plastic). They are safety mechanisms that offset the presence of conducting material.
Main type of Switches
• Pushbutton switches are manual switch mechanisms usually made of plastic or metal with an easily handled shape for the human hand or finger to push or press.
• Rocker switches are named similarly for rocking horses, in that one side of the switch is raised while the other is depressed. These are often seen on surge protectors and power supplies.
• Slide switches have a sliding mechanism that allows movement to multiple on or off positions without needing to cut or splice wire. These are best used for the control of smaller currents.
• Micro switches are named for the rapid speed at which they can open or close an electrical circuit. These devices require take little force to operate and their speed is assisted by the use of mechanical springs.
• Toggle switches are another manual type of switch that consists of two “arms” with an elbow-like pivot that allows switching between on and off positions. Toggle switches are commonly encountered when switching lights on and off.