C&K Develops Self-Cleaning, Short Travel Dome Switches for Aircraft Applications

“The versatile dome switches are not only designed with three actuation forces and a life span to 1,000,000 cycles, but they are self-cleaning as well, making them ideally suited for aircraft applications where, in the event the switches are exposed to contaminants, reliability will not be sacrificed,” said Gilles Parguey, product manager for C&K Components.

The ED Series switches are comprised of two diaphragms — one upper and one lower — assembled by an ultrasonic welding process on the plastic base. The EDM Series dome switches feature the two diaphragms plus one or two additional domes placed on the upper diaphragm. The ED and EDM Series switches are specified for use in aircraft instrumentation, panels and radio equipment.

The ED Series switches are constructed with a disc element and feature an operating force of 2.4N ± 25% and return force of ≥0.4N. Total travel is 0.3mm ± 0.15mm, with a tactile feeling of ≥25% and ≥30%, depending on device. The EDM Series dome switches are constructed with a disc element and a double dome. Depending on device, the EDM dome switches feature an operating force of 4.5N ±25% and 6.5N ±25%, a return force of ≥1.0N and ≥1.6N, and total travel of 0.5mm ± 0.25mm and 0.6mm ± 0.25mm. Tactile feeling is ≥25%.

The ED and EDM Series dome switches are available with silver or gold contact material. The dome switches with silver material feature a maximum power rating of 1.0VA, with a current rating from 1.0mA to 100mA. Operating temperature ranges from -25ºC to +70ºC. The gold contact material offers a maximum power rating of 0.2VA, with a current ranting from 50µA to 50mA. Operating temperature ranges from -55ºC to +85ºC. Both silver and gold contact materials have a bounce time of ≤3ms, dielectric strength of ≥250Vrms and a contact resistance of ≤100mΩ. The dome switches are packaged in trays of 50 pieces.