RAFI now provides ring illuminations in various sizes which match their round, opaque plungers and serve to signal the operation of a keyswitch. Thereby, membrane keyboards under overlay based on RAFI’s MICON 5 micro Keyswitches can be assembled to fulfill individual requirements.

Homogenous illumination of the ring body is achieved by means of merely two LEDs. RGB LEDs can be used if required. Available with an overall height of 9.7 mm and diameters of 20.7, 23.7 and 28.2 mm, the ring illuminations are suitable for plungers with an 11.5, 14.5 or 19 mm diameter.

MICON 5 keyswitches have a 5.1 x 6.4 mm footprint and are 3.85 mm high, thus requiring minimal space. Due to gold contacts, they provide a high switching reliability. Outstanding tactility and a distinctly audible key click ensure high operating comfort. For various applications requiring a range of different operating forces, RAFI supplies MICON 5 models with 3, 4.5, 5.5, or 8 N.

RAFI guarantees a long operating life for all devices: depending on the selected operating force, the Keyswitches endure between 250,000 and one million switching cycles. MICON 5 keyswitches are available with SMT and THT connections. A comprehensive range of plungers and keycaps enables suitable solutions for any application.

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Farnell element14 has today announced the addition of over 100 new switch products from Wurth Elektronik to its range. The high quality dual-inline packaged (DIP) and tactile switches will significantly broaden the options available to design engineers working in a wide range of applications.

Amongst the new additions are Wurth’s WS-RAT Rotary DIP switches that measure 7mm x 7mm and have an operating temperature range of -60 to +125° C, and the WS-TSW range of 12mm x 12mm tact switches suitable for use between -40 and +85°C. with a contact rating of up to 50 mA.

All Wurth Elektronik switches offered by Farnell element14 have a lead free construction, are RoHS compliant, and are available for same day shipping.

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The Honeywell V Series of waterproof, sub-miniature switches that is now available from Aerco provides a cost-effective sensing of presence or absence of an object.

Watertight to IP67, the V Series provides a wide selection of actuators, terminations and wire connections, offers a wide range of current ratings from 0.1 to 10.1A and is approved to UL/CSA, cUL, ENEC and CE. It is the only V-switch in the industry rated up to 10 amps.

These characteristics, together with their small size and weight and high levels of reliability, make the switches highly suitable for high-current applications where spillage or water could be a factor such as are found in off-road vehicles, lawn mowers, snowmobiles, construction and agricultural machinery, industrial, office, medical and communication equipment, computers, electrical tools, heating and ventilation controls and marine systems.

Specific models can be supplied with wires pre-¬attached to reduce installation times.

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Honeywell wireless limit switches, now available in the UK from Aerco, provide a high degree of flexibility, ensure more system uptime and offer a comprehensive range of standard options with a high level of system security while significantly reducing wiring, installation, commissioning and maintenance costs.

Conforming to the international IEEE 802.15.4 standard and featuring a 16-bit address and 128-bit AES security key, these wireless switches will provide presence and absence detection in remote parts of all types of machinery and will prove invaluable in all applications where wiring is not practical. Up to 16 switches can be networked and simply reconfigured while issues with wire connection integrity on moving equipment are eliminated as is the need for wires, conduit, strain relief, clips, connectors and connection boxes.

The switches connect using 802.15.4 RF 2.4 GHz standard radio bands and radio connection is license-free and global with WPAN 802. 15.4, 2.4 GHz. The communication range is up to 304 metres.

RoHS compliant and with full EMI immunity these new switches will find use in applications such as valve positioning, conveyors, cranes, jib and skew positioning, lifts, material handling door positioning, presses and CNC equipment.

Advantech’s EKI-2000 and EKI-7000 series offers engineers in transportation, energy management and plant automation the market’s most robust, feature-rich and cost-effective industrial communications solution

Alpha Micro Components today announced that it has added the EKI-2000 and EKI-7000 series of industrial Ethernet switches from Advantech Co., Ltd. to its range of industrial communications (iCom) solutions. Advantech’s portfolio of industrial communication products for PC-based automation are ideal for engineers working in the transportation, energy management and plant automation sectors and offers the market’s most feature-rich, reliable and cost-effective solutions.

Ideal for easily managing applications from a central office or local site, the Advantech EKI-7000 series is a portfolio of managed redundant industrial Ethernet switches which allows users to expand their industrial network quickly and cost-effectively. Its rugged industrial-grade design assures reliability and stability. In addition, Advantech has utilised its X-Ring technology within the EKI series which ensures the fastest recovery time (<10 ms), further increasing the reliability and speed of network infrastructures. Furthermore, the X-Ring technology provides the fastest redundant ring recovery time (<10ms) to secure data communication and reliability.

The EKI-2000 series is a series of cost-effective managed industrial Ethernet switches designed to support fast Ethernet. They also come equipped with Advantech’s X-Ring technology which enhances their reliability within industrial communication networks. This provides users with an easy solution for establishing a redundant Ethernet network with the ultra high-speed recovery time of less than 10ms. Furthermore, they have been designed to support advanced network standards which allow users to optimise network performance and security while reducing maintenance costs.

Christos Papakyriacou, Managing Director of Alpha Micro Components, commented: “The addition of Advantech’s EKI series greatly enhances our product offerings for engineers working in the transportation, energy management and industrial automation industries. Advantech has established itself as a global leader in industrial communications solutions for PC-based automation by consistently engineering products that combine a wide range of features and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, their solutions provide engineers with confidence and peace of mind knowing they have been designed with the reliability, stability and robustness demanded in the harshest industrial environments.”

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Mouser Electronics, Inc., known for its rapid introduction of the newest electronic components and technologies, today announced it is the first distributor to announce stock on the Infineon ISOFACE™ 8-Channel Isolated High-Side Driver.

The Infineon ISOFACE™ Coreless Transformer 8-Channel Isolated High-Side Driver family of devices are fully protected multi-channel high-side power switches providing galvanic isolation for digital output interfaces. The ISOFACE ISO1H8xxG isolated 8-channel high-side driver is intended for driving any kind of resistive, inductive, or capacitive load, addressing the exact requirements in industrial automation systems, such as Programmable Logic Controllers, Distributed Control Systems, and Industrial PCs. With complete system integration of the digital interface, coreless transformer, and power stage, these Infineon ICs can be directly connected between the microcontroller and independent power loads. Also, fully protected high-side switches with diagnostic output for over temperature make the ISOFACE an extremely rugged device. Learn More

Mike Scott, Mouser Vice President of Active Products, says, “Our customer base expects Mouser to stock the newest semiconductor products so they have immediate availability for their next-generation designs. This new ISOFACE Driver family from Infineon is another example of why designers rely on Mouser for new product information and availability.”

With its broad product line and unsurpassed customer service, Mouser offers customers the latest, most technologically advanced components for their newest design projects. Mouser Electronics’ website is updated daily and searches over 6.7 million products to locate over 1.7 million orderable part numbers available for easy online purchase. Mouser.com also houses an industry-first interactive catalog, data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, and engineering tools.

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The 1505 series is a new grip control from Ultra Electronics Measurement Systems (MSI) available in the UK from Aerco. Configurable for single cursor control or with a combination of joysticks and momentary, rocker and rotary switches; the 1505 grip is a compact and comfortable control ideal for many demanding applications.

The most commonly specified component for the 1505 grip is MSI’s miniature force joystick that is ideal for precise thumb control. MSI invented the force joystick using a control technology that provides improved tracking in turbulent environments with fine, reliable motor control by thumb or forefinger while minimising operator fatigue. Also available on the 1505 grip is MSI’s patented Hall-effect mini displacement joystick that offers reliable operation and precise return to zero through its non-contact sensing design.

Stand-alone, fixed, tethered or insulated versions in two- and three-axis controls are available in both right and left hand configurations, a wide variety of styles and ten switch and control configurations.

1505 grip controls are comfortable, have a rugged, cast-aluminium construction and are used extensively in military and aerospace applications for target and optical controls, weaponry and FLIR (forward looking infra red) radar, cursor and unmanned control systems.

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Imagine a World without Wires with Honeywell’s Limitless™ WGLA Series Global Limit Switches – Available at Mouser

Mouser Electronics, Inc., known for its rapid introduction of the newest products, today announced it is stocking the Honeywell Sensing and Control Limitless™ WGLA Series Global Limit Switches.

The Honeywell Limitless™ WGLA Series Global Limit Switches combine the best of MICRO SWITCH™ global limit switches with the latest off-the-shelf wireless technology. The Honeywell Limitless series can be used for position sensing and presence / absence detection in remote monitoring applications where wiring or wire maintenance is not physically possible or economically feasible. The Honeywell Limitless WGLA Series Global Limit Switches are based on 802.15.4 point-to-point communications and can be configured to potentially allow up to sixteen devices to communicate with one receiver module. To learn more, visit http://www.mouser.com/honeywellwgla/.

Keith Privett, Mouser’s Vice President of IEP and Test, is impressed with the Honeywell Limitless WGLA Series Global Limit Switches, “Every bit as reliable as wired switches, the Limitless Wireless Global Limit Switches allow flexibility and cost saving advantages not seen before. Going wireless for industrial and transportation limit switching means major cost savings through the elimination of installation and commissioning costs, control-wire breakage, connector integrity problems, as well as reducing long term maintenance costs.”

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IP56 or IP65 compliant rockers and pushbuttons ideal for medical, automotive and outdoor power equipment

Now available from Aerco is the new range of sealed, waterproof rocker and pushbutton switches from Cherry Electrical Products that is available with a wide choice of pole, throw and switch options making it highly suitable for a wide range of applications from vehicles and outdoor machinery to medical equipment. All switches in the range are IP56 or IP65 rated for water and dust resistance, are RoHS compliant, competitively-priced and are available in numerous AC and DC ratings.

There are seven rocker switches and one pushbutton switch available. The KD and KC series, are IP56 rated and designed to fit panel cut-outs of 20.2mm diameter while the KR series are miniature rocker switches for panel cut-outs of approximately 19.80 x 13mm There are also four different series of larger oblong rocker switches in different actuator styles all with an IP56 protection rating and with 6.35mm quick connect terminals.

For applications requiring a round pushbutton solution, the KF series is IP65 protected and is available in five different ratings, both AC and DC, and in SPST and DPST versions.

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Mouser has the New C&K Components AP Series Sealed Industrial Pushbutton Switches

Mouser Electronics, Inc., known for its rapid introduction of the newest products, today announced it is stocking new product from C&K Components. The C&K Components AP Series Sealed Industrial Pushbutton Switch is ideal for harsh environments, offroad, industrial, medical, transportation, gaming, and military applications.

The IP67 sealed Industrial Pushbutton Switch from C&K Components has a life cycle of a million and is available illuminated, nonilluminated, threaded, and snap-in mounting.

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