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Tilt Switch Manufacturers and Basics

sensor tilt switch manufacturer ball type mercury

This page covers the basics of tilt switches and provides information about popular tilt switch manufacturers or vendors.

What is a Tilt Switch?

A tilt switch is an electromechanical switch that activates or deactivates based on the degree of tilt or inclination.

  • The switch becomes ON or OFF based on the degree of tilt or inclination.
  • Tilt switches come in various types.
  • The most common types are mercury tilt switches and ball-type tilt switches.
  • In a mercury switch, a blob of mercury makes contact within a glass bulb.
  • In a ball-type tilt switch, rolling balls are used to make contact with the leads.

Mercury Tilt Switch

Ball type tilt switch

Figure 1 depicts both mercury-type and ball-type tilt switches.

Tilt Switch Features

The following are the key features of tilt switches:

  • Contact Capacity: (e.g., 0.3 A, 24V AC or 24V DC)
  • Number of Axes: Determines the tilt direction.
  • Operating Angle: The angle at which the switch makes contact.
  • Return Angle: The angle at which the switch breaks contact.
  • Maximum Forward Current
  • Tilt Switch Type: (Ball type, mercury, etc.)

Tilt Switch Manufacturers

The following table lists popular tilt switch manufacturers or vendors:

Tilt Switch ManufacturersDescription
Comus Global• Model: CW1300 • SPST, Through Hole • Ball type
Panasonic• AHF22 (tilt sensor) • Differential angle from 25 to 60 degrees. • Current 19mA • Surface mount type
Parallax• Model: 28036 • 4 directional tilt sensor • 6 pin DIP for surface mount application • requires 3 to 5.5 VDC • Provide 2 pin output (either high or low)
RS Components Ltd.• Mercury and Non-Mercury tilt switches in various specifications are available.