Will a microswitch wear out if held in the closed position all the time?

[BadMouth]

I'm revamping my driving cab this year to add an arcade force feedback motor and 360 degree game support.

The way I'd like to handle the paddle shifters would keep the microswitches depressed all the time (until the paddles are pulled on).
Is this going to wear out the springs in the switches unreasonably fast....say in less than a few years?.

[ark_ader]

Why would they wear out? 

[lilshawn]

Why would they wear out? 

i think his thought is that the spring that actuates the switch lever would gain a memory of being in the closed position, and be prone to getting stuck closed.

honestly i don't know... but microswitches are cheap enough

[ark_ader]

Why would they wear out? 

i think his thought is that the spring that actuates the switch lever would gain a memory of being in the closed position, and be prone to getting stuck closed.

honestly i don't know... but microswitches are cheap enough

They are going to stuck there closed for a couple of weeks?

Wouldn't there be alternatives to micro switches in this case?

[Nephasth]

Why not just wire to the NC contact instead of the NO contact? (I don't know how you have to wire a paddle shifter, but this was the first idea that came to mind).

[BadMouth]

i think his thought is that the spring that actuates the switch lever would gain a memory of being in the closed position, and be prone to getting stuck closed.

honestly i don't know... but microswitches are cheap enough

That's my line of reasoning.  Probably brought on by having to re-bend the springs in my act labs shifter recently because it was habitually left in 4th gear.

I was hoping someone in the industry like Randy would have an answer.   Or maybe a tech that knew of a game that used switches wired in such a way and whether it was an issue or not. 

I don't mind replacing them every few years, but if it's going to be monthly that will get old fast.
I also hate when I go to play a game and something needs fixed first.

Why not just wire to the NC contact instead of the NO contact? (I don't know how you have to wire a paddle shifter, but this was the first idea that came to mind).

It actually would use the NC contact. But since the switch would be held down all the time, that circuit would actually be open until the switch is released.

I'd like to do it this way because there is more room to work with behind the paddles than in front of them.
Just having a spring loaded paddle resting against the switch is the simplest design I can think of.
If I need to avoid doing my job some more, I'll draw something in paint.

[Nephasth]

I see now. Well you could use a micro switch with a higer actuation force rating (stiffer spring), for example a 125 gram switch instead of the "standard" 75 gram switch. So when the spring does become weaker, it is still able to spring back.

[BadMouth]

They are going to stuck there closed for a couple of weeks?

99% of the time.

Wouldn't there be alternatives to micro switches in this case?

(palm to face) Probably so.  Guess I was fixated on microswitches since it's an arcade project.
Radio Shaft prolly has some kind of plungers.  (off to look online)

I'm still curious about the original question though.

[dfmaverick]

Haven't some done this with pushbuttons for their digital pinball plunger?

[RandyT]

I was hoping someone in the industry like Randy would have an answer.   Or maybe a tech that knew of a game that used switches wired in such a way and whether it was an issue or not.  

The answer will likely depend on the construction of the switch, but I will say that springs in general do not wear as a result of being constantly stretched or compressed.  Spring steels "memory" is set through intense heat, or considerable stress beyond normal flexing.  It will always try to go back to the position it was in when the heat/stress was applied.  In order to change this, you would need to to either stretch a spring well beyond it's normal size, or apply intense heat to change the "memory" of the metal.

What will wear the spring in a switch (or any other spring) is repetition.  I.e. the constant, repeated stretching and/or compressing (AKA: use) of the spring.  There is actually a similarly common misconception about the ammunition clips used with firearms.  Some think that it is necessary to empty ammunition magazines to save the springs, but it is not.

RandyT

[BadMouth]

Thanks! 

I plan on using standard cherry microswitches then.

[tel0004]

Springs in general don't wear out from being compressed.

I know a lot about guns, and a similar question is often asked about magazines, being loaded. 
When it comes to guns, magazines don't wear out.  Magazines have been found that were loaded for 50 years, and they can be put in a gun and shot.  I've personally had magazines loaded for a year, and they worked just fine.

I know the two technology's are a bit different, but a spring is a spring.  Leaving it compressed it will not wear it out. 

[SammyWI]

I was hoping someone in the industry like Randy would have an answer.   Or maybe a tech that knew of a game that used switches wired in such a way and whether it was an issue or not.  

The answer will likely depend on the construction of the switch, but I will say that springs in general do not wear as a result of being constantly stretched or compressed.  Spring steels "memory" is set through intense heat, or considerable stress beyond normal flexing.  It will always try to go back to the position it was in when the heat/stress was applied.  In order to change this, you would need to to either stretch a spring well beyond it's normal size, or apply intense heat to change the "memory" of the metal.

What will wear the spring in a switch (or any other spring) is repetition.  I.e. the constant, repeated stretching and/or compressing (AKA: use) of the spring.  There is actually a similarly common misconception about the ammunition clips used with firearms.  Some think that it is necessary to empty ammunition magazines to save the springs, but it is not.

RandyT

Hmm....sounds like we may read the same forums (besides this one).  But anyway, mechanical engineer here, and a properly designed spring will not wear out from being held in it's normally compressed position.  Cycles are what will wear it out.