Glossary | ITWSwitches™

D-Flat:A flat edge on one side of a cylinder for orientation and anti-rotation.

Dead Break:Open circuit condition, usually caused when actuating a switch slowly. Dead break results from low contact pressure, contact lift off or friction in the switch mechanism.

Detent:A mechanism intended to hold actuator and contacts in a fixed position after the actuation force is removed or reduced to less than a specified value. Can also be referred to as tactile feel or feedback as it also identifies actuator position by means of tactile feel.

Dielectric:Non-conductive material, electrical isolation.

Dielectric Breakdown:Rupture of insulating material when the electric stress exceeds the dielectric strength of the material (Voltage Breakdown).

Dielectric Strength:A specific voltage that a switch can withstand without leakage current between insulated conductors before it starts to conduct electricity. Most often applies to insulator between switch terminals and metal exposed to operator of the switch.

Differential Travel:Distance the button travels between actuation and reset point.

DIP:Dual-in-line package refers to a component with two rows of PC terminals. The terminals most commonly have pitch of 0.100 and located at 0.30 across the package.

Direct Current (DC):Type of electrical current having constant polarity, generally associated with electricity from a battery.

Dome:Dome-shaped metal elastomer switch component used as tactile element/return spring.

Double Break:A contact mechanism using two sets of contacts to make or break a given circuit. The contact gap opens twice as fast, reducing the arc duration, contact surface temperature and material erosion. This improves heat dissipation and provides better power handling capacity for a longer switch(...)

Double D:Flat edges on two sides of a cylinder used for orientation and anti-rotation.

Double Throw:Contact arrangement that allows current to flow from the common terminal to a normally closed terminal and then to a normally open terminal. Please refer to the ITW Switches Characteristics/Circuits for more detail.

DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw) Switch Configuration:Double pole means two independent circuits are actuated by the button. Double throw means the common terminal of each circuit (pole) can transfer current to a normally closed terminal and then alternately to a normally open terminal.