Toggle Switches

Toggle switches can be used to show two or three positions. Where there are three positions, one should be up, the middle one straight out, and the other one down­wards. Toggle switches take up very little room.

The following recommendations apply to toggle switches:

1. A sound should be heard to indicate activation of the switch.

2. If a number of switches are used, they should be placed in a horizontal row. Ver­tical positioning requires more space in order to avoid accidental operation.

Table 5.3 gives detailed design recommendations for toggle switches.

TABLE 5.3

Recommendations for the Design of Toggle Switches

variables

Minimum

Maximum

Size (mm)

Toggle switch

—for fingers

3.2

25

—for hands

13

50

Travel (degrees)

—between positions

30°

—total travel

120°

Resistance (g)

280

1130

Number of positions

2

3

Minimum

desirable

Distance between control (mm)

One finger—random

19

50

One finger—in order

13

25

Different fingers, random or in order

16

19

Updated: September 30, 2015 — 2:34 am