Glossary of Terms
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- Life Electrical:The life of a switch, controlling a specified electrical load.
- Life Mechanical:The number of cycles of operation that a switch will perform with no voltage applied to the contacts.
- Limit Switch:A type of switch used to determine the position of a moving component that activates it.
- Lockout Collar:Part of the switch bushing that prevents the toggle lever from being moved accidentally. There are many styles to allow for the desired operating features of the switch.
- Logic Level:An electrical load that simulates a computer input circuit, typically 5 volts at 10 milliamps or less.
- Low Level:A very small load; 30 millivolts at 10 milliamps.
- Maintained:A position of a switch which remains unchanged when actuation force is removed from switch actuator. Contrast with Momentary.
- Make:Indicates that a switch has completed the dynamics of closing an electrical circuit.
- Make Before Break:The moving contacts of a double throw switch complete one circuit before interrupting another circuit.
- Make & Break Contacts:Contacts that make/break current flow. They are differentiated from those that operate principally in a sliding mode.
- Moistureproof:A seal rating of a switch. Moistureproof seals withstand high humidity and limited exposure to water or liquid spray.
- Momentary Action:Switch that requires the operator to hold the button or lever in the operating position. The button or toggle will return to the free position (rest position) when it is let go.
- Motor Load:A switch load that simulates an electric motor, it usually specifies an in-rush current seven times the running current.
- Movable Contact:The contact moved by the switch actuator into and away from contact with a fixed contact thus forming the electrical circuits possible for a given device.
- Movement Differential:The distance the button moves from the operate point to the release point (hysteresis).