An increasingly diverse range of electronic components have been incorporated into automotive parts and white goods in recent years in order to realize enhanced safety, comfort and convenience. As more parts are being fitted into limited space and automakers look for ways to improve fuel economy performance, even further size and weight reductions are required of individual parts, including detector switches.
Depending on the product design, space limitations may require that the detector switch is located away from the main circuit board and connected with a wire harness. Previously in such cases, even if the detector switch itself was waterproof, the terminal would be left exposed, necessitating additional waterproofing, for example with resin adhesive, after connecting the switch.
Applying proprietary precision processing technology acquired over the years, ALPS has now added a switch with a pre-attached wire harness to its SPVQ8 Series of waterproof detector switches, the industry’s smallest. Besides meeting the requirement for smaller and lighter components, waterproofing of the detector switch, including its wire harness, is performed in advance, helping to reduce the customer’s waterproofing workload during assembly.
Despite having the industry’s smallest dimensions, 8.3 × 5.3 × 11.4mm, retaining the characteristic compactness of the SPVQ8 Series, the product realizes IP67*1 dust and water resistance, including for the wire harness connection. It can be incorporated into a wide range of applications, including automotive parts such as car doors, seat belt buckles, gearshifts and motorcycle handle controls, as well as white goods and industrial equipment used around water. High resistance to dust and dirt and high contact reliability, even in shock and vibration environments, are also achieved using a double-sided sliding contact, which slides while clamping a fixed contact from both sides.
The wire harness is available in two types: horizontal or vertical. Standard wires are 250mm long, one red and one black, although specifications can be made on an individual basis.
*1. “IP67” is an IP Code (International Protection Rating), expressing levels of protection against the ingress of solid foreign objects and against the ingress of water. IP67 indicates that the product is dust-tight and that ingress of water under defined conditions of pressure and time will have no harmful effect on the product.
Features
Industry’s Smallest Detector Switch with Wire Harness
1. Compact size: 8.3 × 5.3 × 11.4mm
2. IP67 dust and water resistance, including for the wire harness section
3. Use of double-sided sliding contact ensures high contact reliability
Principal Applications
Detection of opening/closing or position for automotive parts (e.g. sliding doors, back doors, trunk, hood)
Detection applications for white goods or industrial equipment used around water
Specifications
Model
SPVQ8 Series
Dimensions (W × D × H)
8.3 × 5.3 × 11.4mm
Maximum rating
0.1A 12V DC
Minimum rating
50µA 5V DC
Contact resistance
(initial)
500mΩ max.
Contact resistance
(after lifetime)
1Ω max.
Operating life
300,000 cycles (Standard type)
1,000,000 cycles (Long-life type)