This section provides an overview for rotary dip switches as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 14 rotary dip switch manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked rotary dip switch companies as of November, 2024: 1.CTS Corporation, 2.E-tec Interconnect Asia Ltd., 3.Cit Relay & Switch.
Table of Contents
Rotary DIP switches are a specific type of DIP switch, which also includes push switches and slide switches. The term "DIP switch" comes from the dual in-line package (DIP) format, which was initially used in the production of many integrated circuits (ICs).
These switches are typically mounted on printed circuit boards. Once set, their ON/OFF positions, or in the case of rotary switches, their setting positions, remain fixed. This feature allows for the easy identification of system or board states through the switch settings.
Rotary DIP switches can represent a number from 0 to F (15). By using two such switches, it is possible to express 256 different numerical values from 0 to FF (255), allowing for the identification of a wide range of systems or boards.
DIP switches consisting of multiple slide switches enable the identification of system or board status by setting each switch to ON or OFF. A package typically contains 2, 4, or 8 switches. With 2 switches, you can express 2 bits of information (numerical values from 0 to 3); with 4 switches, values from 0 to 15; and with 8 switches, values from 0 to 255.
Rotary DIP switches, due to their design, allow for setting multiple switch positions simultaneously by simply rotating a knob to a specific position. They are generally more user-friendly than slide-switch-type DIP switches.
Typically, the settings of DIP switches are read by a system controller, such as a microcontroller, which then controls the system based on these settings. These switches are non-volatile, meaning their state remains unchanged once set. Previously, due to the high cost of NVRAM (Non-volatile memory), DIP switches were widely used, but with the decrease in NVRAM prices, they are increasingly being replaced.
Rotary DIP switches are unique among DIP switches in their operation. Rotating the switch turns it on and off, and changes circuits. They are often used in digital circuit setups and are usually left in a set position once configured.
There are various types of rotary DIP switches, including those with flat or shaft-shaped actuators. Some can be operated with a finger, while others require a tool like a screwdriver. They come in two contact types: shorting and non-shorting. The shorting type makes a temporary electrical connection between two contacts, whereas the non-shorting type momentarily disconnects from either contact during switching.
Thumb rotary switches are a subtype of rotary switches, characterized by a disc-shaped part with numbers for easy visual identification. They consist of components like a case, pushbutton, rotor, and printed circuit board, and are used similarly to other rotary switches.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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CUI Devices, established in 1989 and headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is an electronic components manufacturer that is ISO 9001 certified. It stocks motion, sensor, and relay solutions and works with several distribution partners, including Mouser Electronics, Digi-Key Electronics, and Electro Sonic. The company gives back to the community by supporting organizations like Tualatin School House Pantry, Girls Who Code, and Friends of Trees, which aim to uplift society by providing basic needs, STEM education, and environmental stewardship. It has contract manufacturing facilities in other countries, including China, Vietnam, and Japan.
Grayhill, founded in 1943 with headquarters in the USA, is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of principle switch interface products, PC-based control systems, and industrial wireless data communication devices. The company's products include board-level DIP switches, tactile switches, keypads, custom keyboards, and miniature enclosed rotary switches for original equipment manufacturers in the healthcare, military, and off-highway markets. Grayhill offers standard products, tailored products, and tailored assemblies. The company also holds AS9100D and ISO 14001:2015 certifications, as well as the SAE AS9100 Revision D Quality Management System (QMS) for defense organizations.
C&K is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, and was established in 1928 as a manufacturer of electromechanical switches. The company designs various Push buttons, Toggles, Navigational, Slides, and Rotary switches, along with Smart Card Connectors that are used in vending machines, digital satellite receivers, and other equipment. C&K switches serve a huge market of consumer electronics, transportation, aerospace, and medical to name a few. The High Reliability connectors are also produced to cope with applications that have extreme operating conditions such as space, military, automotive, etc
CIT Relay & Switch is based in Rogers, Minnesota, and is a manufacturer of RoHS-compliant electromechanical relays and switches with the ability to offer integrated solutions for individual customers’ design needs. CIT’s relays are commonly used in automobiles and low-voltage operations. CIT’s switch catalog includes varieties such as surface mount, panel mount, tactile, pushbutton, and more. CIT has a lab for a new design, validation product testing, IQC, failure analysis, and material testing. IQC ensures documented reliability by testing contact material, resistance, dielectric strength, and other parameters. CIT also provides engineering and application support for materials and processes.
CTS Corporation was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Lisle, Illinois. CTS is a manufacturer and distributor of sensors, actuators, and various connectivity components to telecommunications infrastructure, information technology, and other high-speed applications such as the aerospace and medical markets. CTS operates in 3 primary market segments: Sense, Connect, and Move. The Sense market segment includes controls such as potentiometers, pedals, sensors, and switches. The Connect segment includes various types of resistors, capacitors, and frequency control products. The move segment includes piezoelectric move products, rotary actuators, and thermal products including ZIF PC board retainers and heatsinks.
Excel Cell Electronic, founded in 1981 is a manufacturer and supplier of electromechanical components and stamping products headquartered in Taiwan. The company offers electromechanical components including industrial control switches, stepping motors, terminal blocks, resettable fuses, and relays. Their stamping products include heat spreaders for BGA, high-precision electronic components, and lead frames of semiconductors for discrete devices / integrated circuit & photoelectric products. The company is ISO/TS 16949:2009, CNS15506: 2011, TOSHMS: 2007, ISO 14001, and ISO 9001-certified, and their products are used in various applications in optoelectronic, security systems, power energy, network, and communication industries.
Knitter-switch, founded in 1992 and based in Baldham, Germany, is a manufacturer and supplier of switches. They offer a range of switches, including toggle switches to control device power, pushbuttons to activate devices, as well as rotary switches and encoders to measure object position or speed in applications like machine tools, robots, and conveyors. Knitter-switch also offers custom-designed switches to meet unique customer requirements. These products find application in various industries, including appliances, industrial equipment, medical devices, and transportation.
E-tec Interconnect Asia Ltd. is a Sanchong, New Taipei-based Taiwanese manufacturer of electronic interconnection products established in 1997 as a subsidiary of E-tec Group. The company's product portfolio includes DIP switches, memory card connectors, board-to-board connectors for different pitch sizes and orientations, and cable assemblies for HDMI or USB connections. Its products are used by clients in the automotive, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and medical technology sectors. Aside from its products, the company offers additional design, engineering, technical assistance, and maintenance services for clients requiring additional support.
Omron Corporation, started in 1933 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of automation components, equipment, and systems, and it developed the first contactless proximity switch in 1960. It has four domains, including industrial automation, electronic components, healthcare, and social systems, and it provides products and services in around 120 countries and regions. Some of its products include microsensing devices, access control systems, industrial robots, surveillance cameras, and blood pressure monitors. In 1971, it developed the first online cash machine, and in 1972, it established Japan’s first welfare factory.
Apem, originally founded as APR in 1952 in France and incorporated as Apem Inc. in 2008, is a global manufacturer of electronic components. The companyThe company offers a wide range of products, including panel switches, PCB switches, LED indicators, joysticks, and industrial controls, catering to clients in various markets such as agricultural machinery, construction machinery, public environment, defense, and healthcare. Apem also provides a fully customized design and production solution to clients from its offices and facilities located in France, Germany, the UK, the USA, and China.
Dailywell Electronics Co. Ltd., founded in 1997 and based in Taipei, Taiwan, is a switch manufacturer and supplier with an annual capacity of 800 million pieces. Its products include toggle, slide, rocker, pushbutton, and anti-vandal switches used in several devices, including audiovisual equipment, aircraft model drones, industrial control equipment, computer peripherals, and medical equipment. The company has its own mold research and development center to design and develop the precise molds used to fulfill the various specifications of the production process. It is ISO 9001, ISO 9002, ISO 14001, and 3C certified.
NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS was established in Japan in April, 1967 as a specialty manufacturer of electronic components. NIDEC’s offerings have increased to serve the automotive, construction, medical equipment, FA equipment, analytical measuring equipment, and residential security industries. Among the offerings are components for LiDAR, railway pressure sensors, CPAP, dialysis, MRI, and ultrasonography machines, wireless base stations, and power tools. These components include switches, sensors, mirrors, motors, and fans.
MOD-TRONIC Instruments Limited was established in 1972 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. MTis a distributor of industrial sensors, transducers, heaters, controls, and instrumentation, primarily made in the USA as well as Japan, Switzerland, and Germany. MT’s customers are primarily in the aerospace, building automation, manufacturing, medical, military, oil and gas, and water treatment industries but also serves individuals. MT offers an above industry standard 5-year warranty and technical support on every product sold.
Taiway Electronics Components, established in 1995 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, is a distributor of electronic components. Their product offerings include a wide range of resistors, capacitors, diodes, as well as transistors and integrated circuits. These components are essential for controlling current flow, storing electrical energy, and amplifying or switching signals in electronic circuits. Taiway's components serve various industries, including telecommunications, industrial automation, and consumer electronics, enabling efficient electronic designs and applications.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | E-tec Interconnect Asia Ltd. |
15.6%
|
2 | Mod-Tronic Instruments Limited |
15.6%
|
3 | CTS Corporation |
15.6%
|
4 | Cit Relay & Switch |
12.5%
|
5 | Apem |
9.4%
|
6 | Taiway Electronics Components Co. |
9.4%
|
7 | Grayhill, Inc. |
9.4%
|
8 | Dailywell Electronics CO., LTD. |
6.3%
|
9 | C&K Components, Inc. |
6.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the rotary dip switch page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 5 | 41.7% |
Taiwan | 4 | 33.3% |
Germany | 1 | 8.3% |
Japan | 1 | 8.3% |
Canada | 1 | 8.3% |