LED Tactile Switch Specifications

Choosing the right LED tactile switch for your product is not just a process of evaluating specifications on a product data sheet. Illuminated tactile switches, due to their “feel” and “sound” can impact the user sense of quality in the overall product. 

LED tactile switches combine the functionality of a traditional tactile switch with an integrated LED for visual feedback. These switches are widely used in consumer electronics, industrial control systems, and user interfaces where both a physical click and visual indication are required. Below are the key specifications for a typical LED tactile switch:

1. Switch Type

• Momentary or Latching: Most LED tactile switches are momentary, meaning the button returns to its original state when released. Latching switches, on the other hand, stay in their activated state until manually reset.

• Tactile Feedback: Provides tactile feedback (a "click") when pressed, ensuring the user knows the button has been actuated.

2. Actuation Force

• Typical Range: 100g to 500g (grams of force).

• Description: The actuation force refers to how much pressure is required to press the button. A typical tactile switch has an actuation force between 100g and 500g, with most standard switches falling around 150g-200g.

3. Electrical Rating

• Voltage: Typically 12V to 24V DC (may vary depending on the specific model).

• Current: 10mA to 50mA (depends on the LED type and the electrical load).

• Contact Configuration: Normally Open (NO) or Normally Closed (NC), depending on application.

• Contact Resistance: Usually around 100mΩ to 200mΩ (max).

4. LED Characteristics

• LED Type: Commonly uses SMD (Surface-Mounted Device) or through-hole LEDs.

• Color Options: Available in a range of colors (e.g., red, green, blue, yellow, white) depending on the application and user preference.

• Forward Voltage: Typically 2V to 3.2V, depending on the LED color.

• LED Current: Often around 10mA to 20mA (to be matched with a current-limiting resistor for optimal performance).

• Brightness: Usually rated for 20,000 mcd (millicandela) or higher, depending on the LED’s brightness and the design.

5. Switch Dimensions

• Size: Typically ranges from 6mm to 12mm (diameter) or 6mm x 6mm to 12mm x 12mm (for square switches).

• Height: Usually between 3mm to 8mm, depending on the LED and tactile switch design.

• Mounting Type: Can be through-hole or surface-mount (SMD), with SMD versions being more compact and easier to integrate into PCBs.

6. Operating Life

• Cycles: Typically rated for 50,000 to 1,000,000 cycles, depending on the manufacturer and the robustness of the switch. This refers to the number of times the button can be pressed before failure.

7. Operating Temperature Range

• Typical Range: -20°C to 85°C or -40°C to 85°C (some models have extended ranges for industrial applications).

8. Switch Material

• Contact Material: Typically silver (Ag), gold (Au), or nickel-plated contacts for better conductivity and corrosion resistance.

• Housing Material: Usually plastic (e.g., polyamide, epoxy resin) with durable coatings to withstand frequent actuation and exposure to environmental factors.

• Actuator Material: Often thermoplastic or rubber to ensure a tactile "click" when pressed.

9. Mounting and Integration

• PCB Mounting: Can be designed to be mounted through holes or surface-mounted directly to the PCB (SMD version).

• Terminals: Standard lead terminals for through-hole or solder pads for SMD models.

• Spacing: Switches typically have a 1.5mm to 3mm gap between the surface of the switch and the PCB, depending on the design.

10. Other Features

• Waterproofing and Sealing: Some models are designed with IP67 or higher ratings for water and dust resistance, suitable for outdoor or industrial environments.

• Color-Coded Actuators: Some switches have color-coded actuators that make it easy to identify the switch’s status visually.

• Low-Profile Versions: For applications requiring a slimmer profile, there are low-profile versions that fit in space-constrained areas.

1-Voltage Rating: (sometimes called rated power) means the maximum voltage that the switch can withstand when on or off. Voltage ratings on illuminated tactile switches are typically low.

2-Current Rating: the maximum current in amps that a switch can carry before damage.

3-Actuation Force: (also called operating force) the amount of force or pressure (expressed in gram force or gf) that is needed to move a top actuator on a illuminated tact switch.

4-Travel: (also called actuator travel) the overall travel distance of a depressed switch.

5-Actuator Height: the height of the actuator above the body of the switch.

6-Life span: the expected duration of a switch under normal operating conditions.

7-Temperature Range: the range of temperatures within which the switch will operate to specifications.

8-Mounting model: the way used to assemble the switch on the PCB, either through hole or surface mount.

These switches offer both tactile feedback and LED indication, making them suitable for a variety of applications in control panels, consumer electronics, and other systems requiring clear visual cues along with physical interaction.