This section provides an overview for power switches as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 35 power switch manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
A power switch is a switching element (device) that provides an electrical connection from power or ground to a load.
A power switch is broadly classified into IC types that consist of electronic circuits using MOSFETs and other components on Si substrates and mechanical contact switches.
The term "power switch" covers a wide range of switches, from mechanical load switches with simple structures but a wide variety of types to smart power switches used in power management ICs, depending on the application.
This section discusses the uses of mechanical load switches.
Mechanical switches are mainly used in switching applications where they are operated by human touch. Specifically, they are indispensable parts for operating familiar everyday devices and industrial machines such as machine tools, industrial robots, home appliances, lighting equipment, automobiles, and personal computers.
There is a great variety of switch structures, including pushbutton, toggle, slide, seesaw, reed, rotary, and tactile types. Among these, toggle and rotary switches are used not only to turn the power on and off but also to switch circuits and power levels. Tactile switches are mainly used for PC keyboards.
The basic principle of power switches is to physically switch the contact points of an electric circuit connection by human operation, with the ON/OFF of a transistor such as a MOSFET in the case of an IC, or by human operation in the case of a mechanical switch. The power circuit is turned on and off by the movement of the electrode contacts, which contact or move away from the fixed contacts.
The technical term for a switch is throw (Throw) pole (Pole). The former refers to the number of control paths that can be controlled by the switch, while the latter refers to the number of circuits that the switch can control simultaneously. For example, a two-pole, double-throw switch is called a Double Poles Double Throws, or DPDT switch for short. The simplest switch format is the SPST.
In the case of the push-button type, it is important to distinguish between normally OPEN and normally CLOSE. The difference is whether the switch is CLOSE or OPEN when it is pushed in.
In the case of power switches, special attention should be paid to their maximum rating specifications. Since there is contact resistance, albeit minute, in switches, if a current in excess of the rating flows when the switch is turned ON, the metal in the contacts may melt due to heat generation. In addition, if an overvoltage exceeding the withstand voltage is applied when the switch is OFF, there is a risk of damage to the switch due to arcing. The conditions to be considered also depend on the transient phenomena under the circuit load conditions of the switch and the size of the switch to be used.
Thus, current and voltage ratings for power switches are specified for different purposes, and in considering the maximum ratings, it is necessary to take into account whether the bias is DC or AC, and the load conditions.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Texas Instruments Incorporated was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Texas Instruments is a producer of high tech equipment for industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communications equipment industries. Texas Instruments designs, manufactures, and sells semiconductors to electronics designers and manufacturers in the United States and internationally. Texas Instruments operates in two segments: analog and embedded processing. The Analog segment offers power products, including battery-management solutions, DC/DC switching regulators, power switches, linear regulators, voltage references, and lighting products. The Embedded Processing segment offers microcontrollers that are used in fields such as electronic equipment and digital signal processors for mathematical computations.
Tempco is based in Wood Dale, Illinois and has been in business since 1972. Tempco is a manufacturer of many types of heating elements and thermocouples with design variations. Tempco is ISO 9001:2015 certified. Temco’s electric heaters and elements include band heaters, cartridge heaters, cast-in heaters, ceramic fiber heaters, coil and cable heaters, drum heaters, enclosure heaters, flexible heaters, heat trace cable, heated hose and tubing, infrared heaters, process heaters, shroud systems, strip heaters, tank heaters, and tubular heaters. Tempco also sells various application accessories and wiring accessories.
Quail Electronics is headquartered in Livermore, California. QUAIL is an acronym for Quality products, Unparalleled customer service, Always competitive, Integrity, stability, commitment, and Live sales and support. Quail Electronics is a global distributor of power cord supplies for the OEM market. Quail Electronics primarily offers power cords, adapters, power strips, wire, and other cord-related devices such as cable retention devices. Quail Electronics also offers custom cord design for length, gauge, color, conductor count, and outlet compatibility.
Ashcroft was founded in 1852 in Bridgeport, Connecticut to create instruments to protect steam-powered industry workers and today is a manufacturer in pressure and temperature measurement instrumentation.Ashcroft serves the chemical, food & beverage, metals & minerals, oil & gas, pharmaceutical & research, power, and water & wastewater markets. Ashcroft products include pressure instruments including pressure gauges, switches, sensors, and isolators; test instruments including calibrators, controllers, testers, and test gauges; and temperature instruments including thermometers, thermowells, RTDs, thermocouples, multipoint temperature sensors, and OEM temperature sensors.
Applied Power Systems, Inc. (APS) was founded in 196 and headquartered in Hicksville, New York. Applied Power Systems is a power electronics company specializing in power conversion systems and thermal management of high power semiconductors. APS offers a large selection of high power thermal management products. These products include standard and custom aluminum extrusion heat sinks for natural convection and forced air-cooling. Cast and machined copper chill plates for liquid cooling. State of the art clamps for flat pack or hockey puck semiconductors. APS also offers driver circuit boards to drive SCR, IGBT and MOSFET devices.
WIN SOURCE is a customer-focused online store serving a wide variety of markets industries ranging from consumer to automotive to medical, industrial, and aerospace. WS specializes on size and speed, offering a catalog of over 1 million SKUS that can be shipped within 24 hours around the world. Offerings include an extensive array of semiconductor components, audio products, cable assemblies, racks, and battery products. WIN SOURCE is AS9120B, ISO9001, ISO14001, and ISO45001 certified and is a member of the anti-counterfeiting organization, ERAI.
Classic Automation based in Webster, New York is a parts distributor and repair servicer for installed controlled systems, drives, and servo motors, as well as a purchaser of well-maintained surplus systems. Parts that Classic Automation distributes and repairs include DcS, PPLC, and CNC control systems, panel controllers, HMI panels, display panels, drives, encoders, resolvers, and power supplies. Classic automation also offers hard drive repair services and support for customizing functionality in Panelicity controllers.
Founded in San Clemente, California in 1997, NetSource Technology, Inc. is an independent stocking distributor of electronic components and global procurement services, providing comprehensive supply chain solutions to OEMs and contract manufacturers worldwide. NetSource Technology serves the aerospace, automotive, IoT, medical, mobile device, and telecommunications industries and related companies. NetSource Technology specializes in locating hard-to-find, obsolete, end-of-life and highly allocated components with long lead times, supporting customers throughout the complete supply chain lifecycle.
Hello BOM is an online electronic component storefront designed to bridge customers and suppliers. Customers supply Hello BOM with their bill of materials (BOM) and Hello BOM uses smart analysis via AI data matching to quickly find precise matches that customers need. This is accomplished via Hello BOM’s growing component stock and product information database to grow increasingly accurate and fast, while also simplifying the process of R&D and purchasing for customers. Products include semiconductors, resistors, capacitors, diodes, inductors, connectors, transistors, and sensors.
AutomationDirect.com was founded in 1994 to provide solutions for the industrial automation market and has been growing its list of offerings ever since. AutomationDirects’ extensive catalog includes individual components such as cables, various controls, I/O devices, relays, gauges, fittings, and sensors to complete systems. Many parts and devices, especially PLC units are customizable. AutomationDirect.com also provides support via video instructions, online manuals, a learning library, an active community forum to further assist customers.
The SCHURTER Company was founded in 1933 and operates out of Lucerne, Switzerland. SCHURTER is an innovator and producer of electronic components for many markets including industrial equipment, medical equipment, automotive, avionics and space, data and communication, and energy. SCHURTER products and solutions include: circuit protection, connectors, switches, EMC, custom components, HMI solutions, PCAP touchscreens, resistive touchscreens, capacitive switches, membrane switches, and a series of smart products including Smart Connector DS11 PEM, Smart Connector DT31 external, and Smart Ecosystem.
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.
American Distributors LLC (ADI) was founded in 1983 and has corporate offices in Randolph, New Jersey. ADI manufactures and distributes products for medical diagnostics, industrial usage, maritime usage, aerospace, and military. ADI is ISO 9001:2015 certified. ADI’s product line includes capacitors, chip resistors, coils, chocks, connectors, crystals, diodes, fans, filters, fuses, hardware & accessories, heat shrinkable tubing, inductors, integrated circuits, lamps & lighting development, networks equipment, Parylene coating, relays, resistors, semiconductors, IC sockets & terminals, switches, transistors, and wire & cable.
Ranking as of March 2023 Globally
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | S.D. Electronics | 8.3% |
2 | Yuan Chin Ent. Co., Ltd | 8.3% |
3 | Elcom | 8.3% |
4 | YueQing Daier Electron Co.,ltd | 8.3% |
5 | PUI - Projections Unlimited, Inc. | 8.3% |
6 | ADI American Distributors LLC | 8.3% |
7 | wellnowus | 8.3% |
8 | AMF Industries Inc. | 8.3% |
9 | Mod-Tronic Instruments Limited | 8.3% |
10 | NKK SWITCHES | 8.3% |
11 | SCHURTER | 8.3% |
12 | Salecom Electronics Co., Ltd. | 8.3% |
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the power switch page as of March 2023. 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
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