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Limit Switches

Limit switches are commonly used electromechanical devices employed in industrial settings to detect the position or presence of objects. They respond with an electrical signal that in turn activates control systems. Limit switches themselves are not the most critical parts of safety interlocks or control systems, but they play a huge role in being the first (and sometimes last) line of defense—and in providing that defense with a crucial signal. Limit switches are widely used for safety, control, and monitoring purposes in industrial applications—where control is critical and expected to be operable 100% of the time.

A limit switch is an electromechanical device consisting of an actuator mechanically linked to an electrical switch. Mechanical limit switches use a physical actuator, such as a lever or plunger, that moves when it comes into contact with an object, indicating to the switch that it should either open or close its electrical contacts. This makes them extremely reliable in harsh industrial environments where durability and resistance to dust, moisture, or temperature extremes are essential.

Found 2612 items
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Found 2612 items
Manufacturer
ABB (497)
Eaton (719)
Lovato (755)
Telemecanique (641)
Component
Compact Prewired Switch (3)
Demo Unit (1)
IEC Limit Switch (1)
Interlock Switch (5)
Limit Switch (1978)
Micro Limit Switch (42)
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Non Contact Safety Sensor (116)
Operator Head (21)
Precision Switch (38)
Sub Component
Compact Metal Switch (11)
Compact Prewired Switch (24)
Heavy-Duty Plug-In Switch (333)
IEC Limit Switch (43)
Mill-Type Limit Switch (4)
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Precision Switch (63)
(Instrument-Sensor) Application
Belt Conveyor Switch (10)
Cable Pull Switch (4)
For Commoning Earth (1)
For Conveyor Belt Shift Monitoring (4)
For Hoisting And Mechanical Handling Applications (15)
For Severe Applications (6)
Foundry Switch (20)
Liquid Level Control In Pumping Systems (12)
Mill Switch (25)
Position Control Of Moving Parts Of Hoisting Or Materials Handling Equipment (12)
(Instrument-Sensor) Measurement Response Time
0.1 M/S (10)
0.3 M/S (14)
0.5 M/S (179)
1 M/S (101)
1.5 M/S (232)
10 Cm/S (12)
130 Ft/Min With 30° Cam Angle (55)
90 Ft/Min With 45° Cam Angle (55)
(Instrument-Sensor) Type of Operator
Lever (294)
Plunger (273)
Plunger Head (6)
Roller (374)
Rotary Head (9)
Spring Return (573)
Stay Put (17)
Without Operating Lever (69)
(Instrument-Sensor) Actuator
Adjustable Roller Lever (1)
Cabinet Door Interlock (2)
Flexible Rod (2)
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Integral Leaf (4)
Lever (68)
Manifold Mount (1)
Neutral Position (21)
Plain Plunger (1)
Plain Thermoplunger (1)
(Instrument-Sensor) Cable Length
10 Ft (6)
12 Ft (26)
13.1 Ft (1)
16 Ft (3)
19 In (1)
20 Ft (25)
24 Ft (1)
3.3 Ft (1)
30 Ft (1)
35 Ft (2)
(Instrument-Sensor) Composition
Aluminium-Zinc Alloy (28)
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Metal (225)
Plastic (200)
Polymer Thermoplastic (45)
Rubber (90)
(Instrument-Sensor) Connection Type
3 Pin Mini Connector (3)
4 Pin M12 Connector (14)
4 Pin Mini Connector (1)
5 Pin M12 Connector (1)
5 Pin Mini Connector (32)
5 Pin Mini Pigtail Connector (3)
9 Pin Mini Connector (7)
Cable (1)
Fixed Cable (32)
Male Connector (80)
(Instrument-Sensor) Contact Configuration
1 C/O (24)
1 NC (44)
1 NC + 1 NC (4)
1 NC + 1 NO (445)
1 NO (45)
1 NO + 1 NC (314)
1 NO + 2 NC (7)
2 C/O (4)
2 NC (48)
2 NC + 1 NO (11)
(Instrument-Sensor) Contact Rating
0.5A At 250 VDC (4)
1 Amp At 125 VDC (120)
1 Amp At 250 VDC (154)
1.5 Amp At 24 VDC (47)
1.5 Amp At 30 VDC (7)
10 Amp At 12 VAC (14)
10 Amp At 240 VAC (268)
10 Amp At 250 VAC (8)
10 Amp At 600 VAC (40)
15 Amp At 125 VAC (31)
(Instrument-Sensor) Enclosure Composition
Body: Plastic (5)
Body: Zinc Alloy (2)
Cast Zinc (4)
Die Cast Aluminum (61)
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Head: Zinc Alloy (2)
Mineral Filled Phenolic (76)
Plastic (6)
Polyamide (30)
(Instrument-Sensor) Hazardous Location Class
Zone 21 (14)
Zone 22 (14)
(Instrument-Sensor) Indication
LED Indicator (58)
Neon (58)
(Instrument-Sensor) IP Protection
IP20 (1)
IP43 (2)
IP54 (27)
IP65 (163)
IP66 (402)
IP67 (764)
IP68 (175)
IP69 (19)
IP69K (430)
(Instrument-Sensor) Mounting
By 2 Screws (9)
By The Body (507)
By The Head (36)
(Instrument-Sensor) NEMA Protection
NEMA 1 (464)
NEMA 12 (52)
NEMA 13 (460)
NEMA 2 (51)
NEMA 3 (318)
NEMA 3S (317)
NEMA 4 (464)
NEMA 4X (366)
NEMA 6 (344)
NEMA 6P (364)
(Instrument-Sensor) Number of Poles
1 Pole (45)
2 Pole (512)
3 Pole (23)
4 Pole (44)
(Instrument-Sensor) Output Signal Type
By 30° Cam (331)
By Any Moving Part (60)
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CCW (17)
CW (20)
CW And CCW (22)
From Left (20)
From Left Or Right (22)
From Right (17)
(Instrument-Sensor) Size
30 mm (24)
40 mm (18)
Compact Range (3)
(Instrument-Sensor) Span
M12 (1)
(Instrument-Sensor) Standards
IEC 60204 (501)
IEC 60337 (6)
IEC 60947 (550)
UL 508 (510)
(Instrument-Sensor) Supply Voltage
440 VAC (314)
690 VAC (364)
(Instrument-Sensor) Temperature Range
10 - 120 °C (1)
10 °F - 200 °F (16)
10 °F - 201 °F (57)
-13 °F - 176 °F (69)
14 °F - 158 °F (26)
14 °F - 176 °F (8)
14 °F - 201 °F (121)
14 °F - 221 °F (39)
14 °F - 250 °F (31)
-18 - 177 °C (19)
(Instrument-Sensor) Type
Actuating Rod (1)
Cabinet Door Hinge Switch (4)
Cabinet Door Interlock Key (2)
Compact (3)
Form A Conforming To CENELEC EN 50041 (2)
Form B Conforming To CENELEC EN 50041 (1)
Form C Conforming To CENELEC EN 50041 (1)
Form D Conforming To CENELEC EN 50041 (1)
Linear (272)
Magnetic Reed Switch (26)
Line
Compact Range (3)
E47 (131)
E48 (5)
E49 (70)
E50 (333)
E84 (4)
Industrial Range (5)
LS-Titan (53)
Miniature Range (5)
Severe Duty Range (1)
Normally In Stock
Schneider XCKJ3967H29EX Plunger head 3 Pole Limit switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$189.08
$157.57
Normally In Stock
Eaton E47BMT30Y1 Precision Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$56.47
$47.06
Normally In Stock
Eaton E48M1K1A Limit Switch Interlock Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$636.76
$530.63
Normally In Stock
ABB 2TLA050076R2100 - SENSE 8, QC CABLE, 2NC/1NO
Free U.S Ground shipping
$395.27
$329.39
Normally In Stock
ABB 2TLA050058R4150 - SENSE 9Z, SS 2M CABLE, 2NC/1NO LED
Free U.S Ground shipping
$434.52
$362.10
Normally In Stock
Lovato KSC1V Micro Limit Switch - Polymer Thermoplastic, 1 NO, 1 NC, Screw
Free U.S Ground shipping
$26.46
$22.05
Normally In Stock
ABB 2TLA050001R1011 - MKEY4+, NPT, 2NC/1N0 NO KEY 40N
Free U.S Ground shipping
$232.69
$193.91
Normally In Stock
Eaton E50AR16PC-W Heavy-Duty Plug-In Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$854.35
$711.96
Normally In Stock
Eaton E50RB34 Heavy-Duty Plug-In Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$140.02
$116.68
Normally In Stock
Lovato KBM2S11N - Wobble Stick, Omnidirectional, 690 VAC, 10 Amp
Free U.S Ground shipping
$80.86
$67.38
Normally In Stock
Eaton E50DR1 Heavy-Duty Plug-In Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$195.48
$162.90
Normally In Stock
Lovato KBF1L20N - Adjustable Roller Lever, Plastic, 690 VAC, 10 Amp
Free U.S Ground shipping
$83.22
$69.35
Normally In Stock
Lovato KBN4L11N - Key Operated, 690 VAC, 10 Amp
Free U.S Ground shipping
$141.50
$117.92
Normally In Stock
Eaton E47CMS42 Precision Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$43.00
$35.83
Normally In Stock
Eaton E47CMS10 Precision Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$83.82
$69.85
Normally In Stock
Eaton E47CMT30 Precision Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$47.94
$39.95
Normally In Stock
Eaton E49G31BP3 Miniature Metal Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$122.52
$102.10
Normally In Stock
Lovato KSL1V Micro Limit Switch - Polymer Thermoplastic, 1 NO, 1 NC, Screw
Free U.S Ground shipping
$24.32
$20.27
Normally In Stock
Eaton E50SA Heavy-Duty Plug-In Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$243.83
$203.19
Normally In Stock
Eaton E49M11DP1 Compact Metal Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$228.71
$190.59
Normally In Stock
Eaton E49M11UP1 Compact Metal Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$228.71
$190.59
Normally In Stock
Eaton E50AR19 Heavy-Duty Plug-In Limit Switch
Free U.S Ground shipping
$205.38
$171.15

More Information about Limit Switches

NEMA and IEC limit switches are designed to meet the industry's very high safety and reliability standards. They make good partners for a diverse array of industrial equipment because they withstand the rigors of nonstop use and pay consistent dividends over time. Safety switches, a subset of limit switches, are used to protect both workers and machines. They automatically shut equipment down under certain adverse conditions, thus averting accidents and saving machinery from damage.

FAQs

How do limit switches work in a control system to provide reliable operation?

Limit switches work in a control system by using a mechanical actuator to detect the position or movement of an object, triggering the opening or closing of electrical contacts, which then sends a signal to control equipment, ensuring reliable and precise operation.

Can heavy duty limit switches be used for object contacts in machine tools?

Yes, heavy-duty limit switches can be used for object contacts in machine tools, providing reliable position detection and control in rugged industrial environments.

Limit Switch Basics 

What are limit switches?

Limit switches are electromechanical switches that operate based on the movement or presence of an object. They are designed to detect the presence of an object using an actuator connected to a series of contacts to detect the presence and proximity or absence of a material or object. When the switch's actuator is moved by an object it will change the state of an electronic contact set. This movement signals that some preset limit has been reached. There are many different ways a switch can be actuated depending on the type of switch that is being used. Some use a roller and lever, some use a button or plunger, while others might use a rotating arm and rod attached to the main body of a switch. The type of switch that is used will largely be dictated by the specific application.

Where are limit switches used? 

Limit switches can be used to tally or count items, so that when a limit is reached, the switch will open or close. This open and closing action can be counted by a controller allowing the action to be totalized. Limit switches can be used as safety interlocks to prevent machine parts from moving any further when specific point is reached. Limit switches are also commonly used in larger control systems. For example, when a certain limit is reached, the actuator can deactivate or activate a device to prevent it from malfunctioning.