Rotary Encoder Detents vs Pulses, PPR, and CPR Explained
Swiclick makes incremental rotary encoders, and two of their specs are often confused: detents and pulses. Detents are the mechanical c...
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Why Two Tactile Switches with the Same Rating Feel Different
Two tactile switches can share the same footprint and electrical rating yet feel completely different in the finished product. The reas...
Minimum Applicable Load and Dry Circuit Switching
Minimum applicable load is the lowest voltage and current at which a switch contact is specified to close reliably. Very low current ca...
Hermetically Sealed vs IP Rated Switches
A hermetically sealed switch and an IP rated switch are not two grades of the same thing. Hermetically sealed describes how the part is...
SPST vs SPDT vs DPDT and How to Read Contact Notation
SPST vs SPDT vs DPDT comes down to two numbers: how many circuits move, and how many destinations each one has. SPST moves one circuit ...
Why DC Switch Ratings Are Lower Than AC Ratings
An engineer reads 16A off a datasheet, wires the part into a 48V battery circuit, and the contacts fail prematurely after repeated oper...
IP67 vs IP68 for Electronic Switches
The higher number is not automatically the better part. IP67 vs IP68 is a comparison of one digit, and both mean dust-tight on the soli...
How to Choose a Self-Locking Push Button
Choosing a self-locking push button comes down to five things: whether you need latching or momentary action, how many poles the circui...
Rotary Encoder with Push Switch: When and How to Use One
A rotary encoder with a push switch is a single control that both turns and presses: rotate it to scroll or adjust, push the shaft down...
EC11 vs EC12 Rotary Encoders: Which One for Your Design?
EC11 and EC12 are the two most common sizes of incremental rotary encoder: EC11 has an 11 mm body, EC12 a 12 mm one. The extra millimet...
What Makes a Rotary Encoder Small Enough for Wearables?
The smallest rotary encoder is a surface-mount part around 4.8 x 3.8 mm, small enough to fit a smartwatch or hearing aid where a standa...
How Do You Identify an Unmarked Switch?
You identify an unmarked tact or micro switch by its physical specifications, not by a part number, because most board-mount switches c...
