Foot Switch Selection Guide - The SSC Controls Company

There are two main types of pedal action: momentary and maintained.

Goto kacon to know more.

1) Momentary Action: Press and hold to turn on, release to turn off (like a car horn). The user must continue to hold the pedal down to keep it on. As soon as the user lifts his or her foot, the unit will turn off. This is the most common type of foot switch pedal action.

2) Maintained Action: Press pedal once to turn on, press again to turn off (like a light switch). The foot switch will stay on and the user can remove his or her foot from the pedal until the user presses the pedal again to turn it off. Examples include: G-Series -MA models (press down on pedal to turn it on, then press forward a latch inside the hood to return the pedal back to the off position); S420-Series models (press opposite ends of the pedal to toggle it on and off); and F300-Series models (has push on / push off maintained action, like a ball-point pen).

Additionally, the Anti-Trip Safety Latch is available on the G-Series models. For this action, you have to press forward a latch inside the guard before you can press down on the pedal.

Choosing the proper current and voltage rating for a foot switch application will depend on the electrical circuit of the equipment that the foot switch is attached to. The amount of electrical current that will flow through the circuit will determine the amperage rating required for the foot switch. The voltage and horsepower ratings (if applicable) also must be selected appropriately for the application. Consult a certified electrician with any questions to determine the amperage, voltage, grounding, and power requirements for your application. Follow all local and national electrical safety regulations.

Typically, foot switches contain SPDT contacts that are wired “normally open.” That is, the switch is open, or “off,” when not in use, and not activated until pressed. However, other circuit variations are available and it will depend on the requirements for your application. See our glossary for more description about foot switch terms and concepts: foot switch glossary page

Many SSC Controls foot switches come with cables already attached. Two of the most common cable examples are listed below: cables with a piggyback plug, and cables with leads. Each of these cable configurations can be included on the S-Series, B-Series, and F-Series foot switch product lines. The circuits below are shown in the “off” or at-rest position, with the pedal fully up.

Danger: Disconnect input power before performing any installation or maintenance. Only a qualified electrician should install any foot switch, including proper grounding and installation per local and national electrical codes.  

If you want to learn more, please visit our website heavy duty foot switch.

G-Series heavy-duty foot switches (see below for wiring diagrams) can include from one to three switches, and up to four independent SPDT circuits. They do not come with cables. The user installs the appropriate cable and strain relief to the switch. G500 models have one switch, G502 models have two switches, and G503 models have three switches. For models with two or more switches (G502, G503, or G504), both switches can be independently adjusted, and can be set so one switch goes off before the other, or at the same time. If both switches are set to go off at the same time in the G502, the unit will have DPDT circuitry. Below are examples of the circuitry of different G-Series foot switches. The circuits below are shown in the “off” or at-rest position, with the pedal fully up.

A footswitch is a switch which is operated with the user's foot. Footswitches are also known as foot pedals. They are part of our vast range of switches here at Herga Technology.

Footswitches have many uses and come in different shapes and styles to suit these applications.

Benefits of using a footswitch

Space saving – footswitches are kept on the floor, in some applications – such as production lines or call centres desk space can be tight so using a footswitch instead of a hand control means that there is more space at the work station for the user.

Ability to multitask – using the feet to operate switches means that the user still has two hands free. This is useful for applications such as tattoo parlours where the tattooist needs both hands to be able to complete the work effectively. Using a footswitch gives the user complete use of both hands and therefore the ability to multitask.  Image capture is also a very common application especially with USB footswitches.

Applications and industries for footswitches  

Our footswitches have been used throughout many industries;

• Medical
• Industrial
• Health and beauty
• Automation
• Agriculture
• Some of the applications we have solved using our footswitches in the past include;
• Press iron machines
• Wood terminator equipment
• Optical instruments
• Medical beds
• Call centres
• Hair removal equipment
•        Laser machines

Footswitches from Herga technology

Our range of footswitches is available to view on our website. Many of our footswitches have a stock model available for fast delivery. We also offer custom options on many of our designs.

For more information, please visit spring rod metal tip limit switch.