31 3.2 Ch.3.0 Front Controls and Switching Concepts Front Controls: Introduction: control panels in any machines provide the interface between the machine and the human operator. A control panel is used for giving all manual instruction to a machine as well as, getting the required signals about process parameters or machine operation. ‘The components generally used on the panel for such communication are as below... Pushbuttons Selector Switches Rocker Switches Indication lamps Panel Meters Annunciators Hooters & Buzzers Process Indicators Pushbutton: is a combination of an actuator and a contact element. It has a spring retum type action. ‘The backside NO (Normally Open) / NC (Normally Closed) contacts get activated wien the ution clement is pressed. These are useful for giving momentary signal. Pushbuttons are used in control circuits to perform various functions; for example, starting and stopping a motor. A typical pushbution has an operating plunger, a return spring, and one or more set of contacts. There are two basic types momentary and maintained. A normally open momentary pushbutton closes as long as the button is held down. A normally closed momentary pushbutton opens as long as the button is held down. A maintained pushbutton gets latched in place when the button is pressed. 6They are categorized and ordered based on features such as Colors: Red, Green, Yellow, White, and Blue etc. Mluminated / Non Illuminated Actuator design: Flush, Projecting, Mushroom, Mushroom type lockable Size: Diameter in mm such as 8, 16, 22,40 mm Operation: Maintained / Momentary / lockable Contact Switch Elements. | ass ier 4 Push button Push button ? Ee With NO contact With NC contact Fig.2a-NO coniact Fig.26-NC Contact These are actual electrical contacts that make or break the electrical circuit. These are modular parts, which can be connected, in different combinations to a push button (PB) or a selector switch (SS). ‘These potential free contacts are rated for a certain current and voltage. NO contacts are of generally Green color. They are normally open and do not conduct any electrical current, in their deactivated condition. After mechanical activation by using PB or SS, they get functionally closed (FC) and conduct electrical current Red color. They are normally closed and conduct electrical current, activation by using PB or SS, they get functionally NC contacts are of generall in their deactivated condition. After mechanical open (FO) and stop conducting electrical current. The voltage current rating specified by the manufacturers, is generally indicated as AC (V/I): such as 24/4, 120/3, 230/2 DC (V/1): such as 24/0.5, 110/0.2 37Normally Open Pushbuttons: The following drawing illustrates a normally open (NO) pushbutton. Normally the contacts are open and no current flows through them. Depressing the button causes the contacts to close. When the button is released, the spring returns the plunger to the open position. sf | Loom Plunger Contacts (NO) Spring { Contsl est) Circuit iS Fig. 3a-Deactivated NO-PB Fig, 3b-Activated NO-PB Example: In the following illustration, a battery is connected to one side of a normally o ea pushbutton, and a bulb 1s counected to the other side. When the pushbutton is depressed a complete [path of current flow exists through the pushbutton, and the bulb is illuminated. Fl Fig, 4a-Deactivated NO-PB Normally Close Pushbuttons: Fig, 4b-Activated NO-PB 3gNormally closed (NC) pushbuttons, such as the one shown below, are also used to open and close a circuit, In this pushbutton’s normal position, the contacts are closed to allow current flow through the control circuit. Depressing the button opens the contacts, preventing current flow through the cireuit. These types of pushbuttons are momentary contact pushbuttons because the contacts remain in their activated position only as long as the plunger is pressed. a) Contacts (NC) = Control Circuit. L Control Circuit Fig. Sa-Deactivated NC-PB Fig, Sb-Activated NC-PB Example: ' In the following illustration a batiery is connected to one side ofa normally closed switch and a bulb to the other. Current is flowing to the bulb when the switch is closed. When someone opens | the swite, the path of current flow is intempted and the light turns off Fig. 6a-Deactivated NC-PB| ini Push button color conventions: Color Jeneral function Red Yo stop Green Vo start (Forward) Yellow To reset White To toggle Hue To start (reverse) Mushroom Finergeney stop Selector Switch: Selector switches are used to select one cireuit out of two or more to be operated at « time. Selector switches are also used to manually open and close contacts. ‘Types of selector switches are maintained, spring return or key operated, Selector switehes are svailable as (wo, three, and four position types. The basic difference between a push button and a selector switch is the actuator mechanism. In a selector switch, the actuator is rotated to open and close contacts. Contact blocks used on pushbuttons are interchangeable with those used on selector switches. Selector switches are used to select one of | several circuit possibilities such as mannal or automatic operation, low or high speed, up or down, right or lefl, and stop or run. ‘These are useful in control circuits & low power contvoi systems. = Types: Spring retum, Stay put (Maintained contact) * Switching Sequence 3-way with / without OFF position. © Light: Illuminated / Non-illuminatect : = Key: Selector Two Position (Maintained Cou: 2) With key removable = 40‘Two Position Selector Switch: In the example below, L1 is connected to the power source when the switch is in position 1, and L2 is connected to the power source when the switel position 2. In this circuit, either L1 or L2 would be ON at all times. If there was only one load, the selector switch could be used as an Or Of switeh. OFF ON Fig.8a-Symbol of 2-way is Fig.8b-Example Selector Switch ee Three-Position Selector Switch: A three-position selector switch can be used to select either of two sets of contacts or to disconnect both sets of contacts. Manual/Of1/Auto is a typical application for a three-position selector switch used for controlling a pump. if 1 OFF Fig.9a-Symbol of 3-way Fig.9b-3 -way Selector Switch. Selector Switch Ordering Specification: = ‘Types: Spring retum, Stay put (Maintained contact) * Switching Sequence: 2 or 3-way with / without OFF position. * Mounting: Diameter in mm. * Mluminated / Non-illuminated * Key Selector Two Position (Maintained Contact) With key removable in -Right position -Left position