Switch range expanded

Paul Boughton

The new multicolour illumination of the PSE and MCS 30 series is made easy using colour-coded wires in each of the illumination colours. Each colour is given a specific voltage between 5 to 28 VDC.

The constant brightness intensity is maintained regardless of applied voltage. The standard version is offered in red, green, and blue. Additional colour options include yellow, cyan, magenta and white, which can be made through additive colour mixing. As soon as the 2 or 3 wires are supplied with the applied voltage at the same time, the result is a mixed colour. The traffic light colors of red, green and yellow (RGY) for status indication are also available as a standard version. No additive color mixing is required to produce the colour yellow.

The new RGB multicolour illumination option greatly expands the application range of the PSE and MCS 30 button style switches. The PSE is available in 22 / 24 / 27 / 30 mm diameters; the MCS 30 is available with a 30 mm diameter. The PSE has an IP69K ingress protection rating. It has no moving actuator and is thus absolutely impervious to any leaks or accumulation of dirt underneath or around the switch surface. This technology is ideal for hygiene-related applications such as medical equipment, food processing equipment and outdoor applications subject to vandalism such as ticketing machines.

The MCS 30 is an alternative to the highly robust, solid state PSE. It is also designed for demanding applications, although it uses a tactile switch that provides a clear haptic feedback. It has a lifetime rating of one million actuations, as opposed to the PSE's 20 million operations. The switch contacts are sealed from the front and rated IP65.