Advantages of Reed Switch | disadvantages of Reed Switch

This page covers advantages and disadvantages of Reed Switch. It mentions Reed Switch advantages or benefits and Reed Switch disadvantages or drawbacks.

What is Reed Switch?

Introduction:
• It is magnetically activated mechanical switch.
• It consists of two metallic contacts enclosed in a small enclosure usually glass capsule.
• The contacts are magnetic and move in response to a magnetic field. Permanent magnet is needed to activate the switch.
• There are two types of reed switches viz. SPST and SPDT. Most common one is SPST which is either normally open or normally closed type.

Reed Switch construction and symbol

• Most common everyday application of reed switch is alarm system. In this product reed switch and magnet are mounted very close to each other on door/window. Normally switch is closed. When door/window opens, switch opens and as a result circuit is broken and consecutively alarm is triggered.
• The figure depicts construction of the reed switch and its symbol.
• Physical size of the reed switch depends on current switching capability.

Benefits or advantages of Reed Switch

Following are the benefits or advantages of Reed Switch:
➨Additional components are not needed except a magnet for its operation.
➨It can switch both AC as well as DC.
➨It can switch voltages up to 200 V in certain cases.Some variants are capable of switching 500 mA.
➨It can be used by magnet in open or closed state indefinitely without any power consumption.
➨It's performance is not affected due to dust or dirt unlike optical switch.
➨It can be activated through nonmagnetic materials such as plastic or paper.

Drawbacks or disadvantages of Reed Switch

Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of Reed Switch:
➨It requires separate magnet for its operation. Moreover it does not work satisfactorily when magnet is more than few millimeters away from the switch part.
➨Reed switch can not be miniaturized similar to any other surface mount chips.
➨Glass envelope can easily be damaged.
➨Arcing may occur between contacts.
➨Only ferrous object can be used for sensing an object which comes between switch and magnet.
➨It can be activated accidently by other magnetic fields.
➨It must be denounced when connected with controller/logic chip.



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