Characteristics of pressure-switches

No matter which pneumatic, hydraulic or mechanical system you use, you will find pressure switches in almost all the systems. The main purpose of a pressure switch is to detect a pressure change set at a predetermined level, opening or closing an electrical contact. As soon as the preset fluid pressure is reached in the system, the pressure switch gets activated and operates an electrical contact attached with it. The electrical contact attached is operated on both pressure rise as well as the pressure fall which is set previously in the system by the operator. Pressure switches must not be confused with pressure sensors as the pressure sensors reads and tells the difference in pressure of the system while the switch operates an electrical contact attached as soon as the desired pressure is reached upside or downside

HVAC systems, furnaces, well pumps and many other instruments which have both industrial and domestic usage have pressure switches attached to them. Water pump pressure switches are used in agricultural pumps and various other commercial and residential applications where they are attached to auto-regulate the flow of water. Oil pressure switches are used as an actuator or sensor by engines to determine when the oil inside the engine has dropped below the predetermined and preset level.

Types of the pressure switch

There are different types of pressure switches and each one has different usage as per the requirement of the industry. Each type of pressure switch is discussed in brief below.

Mechanical Pressure Switch

A Mechanical Pressure Switch is a switch which uses a spring and a diaphragm or a piston to control at what exact pressure the pressure switch would be operated to get the electrical contact going. The spring is the contradicting power to the channel pressure and the spring’s assumption is changed with a set screw or handle. The spring assumption straightforwardly corresponds to the Pressure at which the switch connects. At the point when the tension drops, the change resets to its unique state.

The contrast between the switch point and reset point is called hysteresis. Regularly this is communicated as a level of the switch point esteem, for instance, 20%. The maker characterizes the hysteresis, and for most mechanical switches, it isn’t configurable by the client.

These Pressure switches ordinarily have three distinct sorts of contact: typically open (NO), regularly shut (NC), and changeover (SPDT) contacts. Changeover contacts are for both NO and NC activity. The mechanical Pressure switch is more qualified for dealing with high voltages and amperages than an electronic tension switch. They can be utilized to make a contact change for an increment or reduction in pressure. We have an article on the best way to change mechanical Pressure switches.

Electronic Pressure Switch

In the case of the electronic pressure switch, it uses an electrical pressure sensor to measure the change in inlet pressure and hence the name. In order to set up the switching function, they have digital displays. According to the requirements of the applications, the switch point can be set by the manufacturer himself during the manufacturing phase or can be set and programmed on site by the operators. Some of the functions that can be set by the operators while operating pressure switches on site are switch points, output signals, delay time, hysteresis etc. These all can be set at different levels according to the application requirements and can be changed from time to time.

Electronic pressure switches are extremely useful for automated anc controlled equipment systems that have an extensive requirement of programmable function, digital display, flexibility, accuracy and stability.