Did you ever wonder what happens when you push a button on an elevator or other device? Pushbuttons usually trigger an action like opening a door or turning on some type of appliance. Pushbutton switches have been around for many years and still serve many purposes in commercial and residential applications today. Here are some examples.
Appliances
When you place wet clothes inside of a clothes dryer you may need to push a button to get the dryer started. But what happens when you push this button? After all, the button may only be a momentary contact switch. Something else must work in conjunction with some push buttons to complete a circuit and deliver the desired effect.
Some push buttons work as simple “on” or “off” switches. In fact, most home electrical wiring of the early and mid 20th century used light switches which were actually pushbutton switches. The top button turned the light on, while the bottom button turned it off.
Push button switches may also perform both on and off switching duties, depending on the situation. These are commonly used today in a variety of electronic applications.
Momentary Contact Buttons
When you operate momentary contact pushbutton switches you make a connection and a spring mechanism releases the connection, as soon as you release the button. Once a button is pushed it energizes a contactor. The contactor can open or close a set of contacts to create or kill an electrical circuit. This setup is commonly seen with “stop-start” situations.
Finding the Best Source for Pushbutton Switches
If you run a business which utilizes a lot of pushbutton parts, it’s important to find the lowest price for your parts. However, price should not be the deciding factor. You should also look for a provider with a lot of experience. For example, an electronics provider with more than 60 years in the business is one you can depend on. A company like this is not very likely to suddenly go out of business, and you will receive excellent customer service.
Are you developing an innovative new product or design? If your electronic parts provider cannot help you with prototype development, maybe you should consider a provider with that capability. A good electronic provider offers a number of solutions for modern businesses. To ensure you get the highest quality parts and services, choose a company which is ISO 9001 certified. In fact, reputable companies allow you to view their certifications at their websites.
Gopher Electronics has been serving customers since 1952. We are proud of our ISO 9001 certification and are here to provide distribution solutions for your business.
