IQS Newsroom Articles on Rotary Switch
Rotary Switch
A rotary switch is an electric switch that is operated by rotating a control knob in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction or both. They may be manual or automatic. Rotary switches provide an economical, durable solution for electronics, power, and many other industrial applications.
Rotary switches are commonly used in automobile distributions and ignition switches, as channel selectors on radios and older television sets, and as range selectors on electrical metering equipment. Rotary switches are used in agricultural and industrial fans, portable heaters, blowers, and dryers. They are also used to control fan systems in commercial buildings.
A rotary switch consists of a shaft, the "rotor," that has a contact arm, the "spoke," that projects from its surface. Rotary switches have an array of contacts arranged in a full or partial circle around the rotor, connecting the switch to any number of different electrical circuits.