The microswitch is one of the important product series of Bituo Electric. They can be used in many different applications and are suitable for a range of industries. Microswitches are used in many modern smart applications without which smart appliances would not be possible.
What is the micro switch?
In terms of size, a micro switch may seem small, but it’s incredibly powerful for determining what your device can do. The micro switch is very sensitive that only requires very little pressure to activate.
They are very common in household appliances and switch panels with small buttons. Micro switches are generally inexpensive and have a long lifespan, which means they can operate for a long time. Sometimes they can reach 10 million cycles.
They are very reliable, fast, and efficient to use. Because of their reliability and sensitivity, micro switches are often used as safety devices. They are used to prevent doors from closing when in the way or for other similar applications.
How to use a micro switch?
For instance, the above is the circuit connection showing the working of a microswitch. When the lever is un-pressed (the left-hand side circuit) and when it’s pressed (the right-hand side circuit). Therefore, the input is the common terminal (C).
Firstly, the switch is in Normally Closed (NC) mode. the lever terminal C or the move-able contact is connected to the NC terminal and there is no contact between the C and Normally Open (NO). Initially, a green LED glows which is connected to the NC terminal of the switch.
When slight force is imposed on the liver terminal or when it is pressed down the C and NO terminals get connected and the blue LED glows as there is now contact established between the C and NO terminals.
Depending on the application we can use the SPDT micro switch in NC or NO mode, separately or simultaneously.
Possible faults of micro switch
Before making the decision to check your micro switch, it is important to find out some possible faults that can affect it from functioning optimally. You need to finger out that while some of these faults can be addressed and resolved, others cannot.
This means while you can hire a repairer or decide to fix some of these problems on your own, nothing can be done to improve such electrical switch when some problems are experienced.
The faults that can affect microswitch are components getting burnt, low-quality components/parts, and depreciation when the switch works and stops suddenly.
Although there are other faults, it has been discovered that over 70% of micro switches usually experienced these issues.
How to check the faults of microswitch
The process of checking for faults in micro switches is so simple that anyone can do it. There is no special knowledge or skill required to get going. Below are some tips that can help you out today. Just apply them wherever necessary on your micro switch and you will be fine.
1 Separating the plastic
There is a plastic material used to encase micro switches. This can be done through several means. The reason why the plastic materials need to be separated is to ensure you are having a very clear view.
Simply put, it will enable you to see how the micro switch components have been assembled. You can make use of a drilling tool for this purpose.
2 Taking pictures
You may be wondering what the picture has got to do with micro switches. The truth is that this is very important especially if you don’t want to damage such an electrical switch beyond what it is at the moment.
Most people who have attempted to open their micro switches usually encounter one problem. This is the challenge of not being able to assemble them as they were.
3 Checking the components
After taking pictures of your micro switch, you can then start checking the components one after another. This is where you have to ensure every component has been properly checked to know what could be wrong. Failure to do such can lead to wrong assumptions about whether the micro switch is working or not.
4 Cleaning the components
When micro switches have worked for a long period of time, there is every chance that dirt can begin to accumulate in them. This is an opportunity to have its internal parts cleaned for optimal functioning. It is basically all about cleaning the contacts.
5 Re-assembling
Once you have checked the parts and discovered what could be wrong with such a micro switch, it is high time you had it assembled the way it was originally.
There is nothing special required in getting this step completed. All you need to do is have the pictures that have been taken earlier on looked at in order to know how the components have been arranged.
How to select microswitch
Depending on the application we can select the type of micro switch used. Various types of lever terminals are available in micro switch like Pin Plunger, Short Straight lever, Standard Straight Lever, Long Straight Lever, Extended Straight Lever, Small Simulated Roller Lever, Standard Simulated Roller Lever, Roller Lever, L-Shaped Lever
Pls, visit us at [email protected] for more information about micro switch.