Mechanical switches are one of the most common electrical devices as they allow power to be turned on or off.
Switches are rated for the amount of current and voltage they are suitable for. For switching low power and low currents like using a switch as an input to a microcontroller just about any switch will do. When using a switch to control power from a battery or turn a motor on then care should be taken to ensure the switch is rated to the expected current. For high power uses an electronic solid state switch can be better.
Mechanically switches are varied. Momentary switches are either on or off while you hold them like buttons while others will maintain the state until switched back like toggles or sliders. Like relays, switches can be SPST (single pole single throw), DPDT (double pole double throw) or lots of other variations.
Code: SKU-004359
This is a simple 4-pack of momentary multicolor buttons great for all sorts of projects! Unlike previous iterations of multicolor buttons this pack's tactile switches are actually recessed into the housing so they don't accidentally fall off during use. More Details...
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Code: SKU-000345
This is a 33mm round momentary push button similar to the ones you find on arcade games. Simple screw in design. Perfect for mashing.Features:Convex Button35.75 mm Diameter x 46 mm HeightM28 threadMounting Hole Diameter: 27.3 mmNet weight: 0.015kgRated for 12V/1A More Details...
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Code: SKU-000783
This right-angle tactile switch has a great 'click' to it. Also, because it's a through-hole design it's very sturdy. Mount it on the edge of your board for easy access. These are rated for 12VDC at 50mA. More Details...
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Code: SKU-005108
This little round on/off/on toggle switch is rated up to 10A at 125VAC and can be panel mounted in a 20mm diameter hole. It’ll also look pretty slick in your project! More Details...
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Code: SKU-000326
A simple slide potentiometer can go a long way. Rated at 10kOhm and 0.5W. Comes with solder tab connections. The taper profile for this slide can be found in the datasheet below labelled "0B"Documents:Datasheet More Details...
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Code: SKU-000327
This is a simple knob that connects to the extra large sized linear slide potentiometer. More Details...
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Code: SKU-006116
Buttons are an easy and tactile way to interface with your project, but why would you want to deal with debouncing, polling, and wiring up pull-up resistors? The Qwiic Button with built-in red LED simplifies all of those nasty worries away into an easy to use I 2 C device! Utilising our Qwiic Con... More Details...
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Code: SKU-006117
Buttons are an easy and tactile way to interface with your project, but why would you want to deal with debouncing, polling, and wiring up pull-up resistors? The SparkFun Qwiic Button Breakout simplifies all of those nasty worries away into an easy to use I 2 C device! Utilising our Qwiic Connect... More Details...
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Code: SKU-005337
Now, you can easily add an HID/controller to your project! The SparkFun Qwiic Joystick combines the convenience of the Qwiic connection system and an analogue joystick that feels reminiscent of the thumbstick from a PlayStation 2 controller and for that reason it's become a favourite of ours. More Details...
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Code: SKU-005486
Keypads are very handy input devices, but who wants to tie up seven GPIO pins, wire up a handful of pull-up resistors, and write firmware that wastes valuable processing time scanning the keys for inputs? The SparkFun Qwiic Keypad comes fully assembled and makes the development process for adding... More Details...
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