I’m a mechanical engineer working on the development of an automotive actuator that uses two ESE24CMH detector switches. These switches are ideal for our application; however, their electrical rating is limited to 50 µA at 3 V DC up to 10 mA at 5 V DC (resistive load).

I’m looking for a similar solution—lever type, PCB mount, with three distinct positions as shown in the attached images—but capable of operating at 12 V or higher, to ensure compatibility with standard ECUs commonly used in vehicles (most OEMs still require 12 V systems).

So far, I haven’t found any suitable alternatives. Comparable products from other manufacturers (such as ALPS, Diptronics, etc.) also seem restricted to 5 V.

Any suggestions or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

what specs do you need? 12V is not complete info. how about current, number of cycles etc? what about size? any other restrictions?
because your info is conflicting. that product is SPDT but then you say you are looking for SP3T... maintained or spring return?

these are meant to be used as a sensor, what are you using them for? can you not use toggle switch?
examples:

SP3T miniature toggle switch



SPDT slide switch:
https://www.mouser.ca/ProductDetail...MIlrW72Nv-kAMVjkf_AR2H4gICEAQYBSABEgIIevD_BwE

3-pos slide switch
https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/...MIuLi-5t_-kAMVwDIIBR15XBPyEAQYAyABEgLJL_D_BwE

 

what specs do you need? 12V is not complete info. how about current, number of cycles etc? what about size? any other restrictions?
because your info is conflicting. that product is SPDT but then you say you are looking for SP3T... maintained or spring return?

these are meant to be used as a sensor, what are you using them for? can you not use toggle switch?
examples:

SP3T miniature toggle switch

View attachment 359104

SPDT slide switch:
https://www.mouser.ca/ProductDetail/Wurth-Elektronik/450301014042?qs=wr8lucFkNMW0uepaR4R/ww==&mgh=1&utm_id=17633666059&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_marketing_tactic=amercorp&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17632709511&gbraid=0AAAAADn_wf373hqtoPoT_gRNwZeV_rOwh&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlrW72Nv-kAMVjkf_AR2H4gICEAQYBSABEgIIevD_BwE

3-pos slide switch
https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/...MIuLi-5t_-kAMVwDIIBR15XBPyEAQYAyABEgLJL_D_BwE

Thanks a lot for your response. Here's the the technical dat related to this switch, as you can se the upper limit for the voltage rating isthe treshold.
The PCB layout is shown in the 2nd image attached, 2 switches for each side, to give you a reference the board is 22 mm wide and 9 mm high. So fairly small.
The switches will be actuated by a trigger who goes up and down with some cam profiles that rotate the switch lever in one direction or the other (giving 2 different outputs). hence, why this switch geometry is perfect for our application (we have already tested on some protos and it works really well). So toggle switches like the ones you showed me I don't think they're suitable.
Ideally, it should be something similar to theseswitches but that can operate above th 5 V resistive load upper limit.

 

you still only state what you do not like about that switch, instead of providing specs on what you need.
it would be far easier to help you if you would just answer the asked questions... and where applicable - put a number on it.

for example:
what do you mean by "above 5V"? 6V? 6kV?
what is the current switch need to handle? 10mA, 10kA?
how many positions?
maintained or momentary?
"fairly small" is not a number. how large the switch can actually be? i don't know what space constraints you have and if they are flexible.
what is the frequency of operation? once a year? 2000 times an hour 24/7/365?
what is this used for? if it is a power switch, it must be able to handle full load and current. but if it is only a sensor, it does not. you can have sensor work with lower voltage and lower current even if circuit is powered by something higher... so if it is only sensing application, keep the switch that works for you and design circuit that will use it without exceeding its limits.

Example: if this is just a sensor (not a power switch) add $0.002 worth of parts and it is easy to ensure that your switch specs will not be exceeded even if supply voltage is much higher.

 

It's not difficult to understand...
I said that the switch I was looking for should have the same basic characteristics of the one I sent here ( lever type, PCB mount, with three distinct positions as shown in the attached images—but capable of operating at 12 V or higher ), same geometry and output (so 3 different status), the only limiting factor is the voltage rating, which I literally stated stated in the 1st comment ( "12 V or higher, to ensure compatibility with standard ECUs commonly used in vehicles"). Then you, correctly, ask for number of cycles, dimensions, overall functioning and I give you that. How's not enough to understand what I am looking for?
The switch you suggested has nothing to do with the application I showed to you, and all the other points you listed that i should have provided are not needed for the question I asked here (alredy specified the voltage and current rating, the number of cycles, the number of positions in the spec attached). Then you suggest me to design a circuit and integrate other components on the PCB to handle an higher voltage, as if before asking this specific question I haven't already tried this solution (spoiler: I can't do it, hence the question...).
Probably I wasn't clear in my original question, so you weren't in giving a concise answer... try to use a nicer tone the next time, have a good day ahead

 

hi Luca,
I made quite a comprehensive search online today for a suitable alternative switch, all I could find were the existing Panasonic range.

Is it possible to add a higher rated electromechanical switch that could operated by the output of the existing switch?
E

 

Any suggestions or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Could this Switch work?
What is the actual schematic in this layout?

 

It's not difficult to understand...
...
Then you, correctly, ask for number of cycles, dimensions, overall functioning and I give you that. How's not enough to understand what I am looking for?

i've been doing this for decades and have seen many products. in order to narrow down what may or may not work more info is needed. even though you acknowledge that questions are fair, you continue ignoring them. maybe my tone would be different if i did not have to bring it up 3 times. hope you see the light...

 

hi Luca,
I made quite a comprehensive search online today for a suitable alternative switch, all I could find were the existing Panasonic range.

Is it possible to add a higher rated electromechanical switch that could operated by the output of the existing switch?
E

Hello, thanks for your reply. Yes me too, I could only find this from panasonic and a similar version from Diptronics. Unfortunately, the space available in our actuator is failry small, I did a study integrating a push-button type switch but I could't fit due to space constraints (and the cost of the actuator will be another drawback..)

 

Could this Switch work?
What is the actual schematic in this layout?
View attachment 359132

Hello, thanks for your reply. This switch is quite interesting to be honest, I checked very quickly and unfortunately I don't think is suitable since the temperature range is below the limit of the other switch (-20/+70 instead of -40/+85 °C). Plus I cannot find any indication wheter these switches are certified automotive or not, being installed on a car's actuator this is mandatory for us ...
You're right, maybe it's not clear from the images, but there are 2 switches on the PCB, one mounted on ech side that works together for the car diagnostic, with the lever in the neutral position as shown in the already attached images, that can be commutated up and down with the brown cam profile, giving 2 different signal outputs. This is the nice thing about thiis type of detector switch.

 

giving 2 different signal outputs. This is the nice thing about this type of detector switch.

I see what looks like two smt resistors on the layout, what are those values and what do they connect to?

 

Forgetting the voltage and current limitations, is the Panasonic switch acceptable in your automotive environment? (temperature, humidity, shock, vib, motion effects, etc.) If the only issues are the electrical ratings, these can be mitigated with two transistors per switch. If the switch is perfect mechanically, adapt the circuit to the switch.

ak