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whats the difference between Momentary Contact buttons and regular buttons?
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crashdmj:
Well whatever they are I ordered 8 orange ones from Happs!
Derek
RandyT:

--- Quote from: JustMichael on June 12, 2003, 01:52:06 pm ---There are two types of buttons:

Toggle
Push the button turns it on and it stays on until you push it again to turn it off.  These are often used for things like light switches.

Momentary
When you press the button the switch makes contact for as long as you hold down the button.  You determine how long the "moment" will last by how long you hold down the button.  Arcade button microswitches are a great example of momentary switches.

--- End quote ---

Yes and no.  :)

Don't confuse the physical/mechanical characteristics with the behavior.

For instance, you can have a momentary toggle.

Examples on the physical side are toggle, slide, pushbutton, foot, rocker, blade, rotary, etc...

On the behavior side, there are momentary, on-off, on-off-on, on-on and so-on :).

Of course there is also a description of the number of contacts, whether the switch is normally on or off and how it mounts.

So, if I'm not mistaken, an arcade button assembly would be considered a Panel mounted SPDT Momentary Micro-Switch Pushbutton.

For what it's worth,

RandyT
SirPoonga:
ok, different levels of momentary.  I have a button that doesn't stay connected.
RandyT:

--- Quote from: SirPoonga on June 13, 2003, 12:22:01 am ---ok, different levels of momentary.  I have a button that doesn't stay connected.


--- End quote ---

I believe this would be called a "one-shot" or something similar.  I'd guess that these are particularly rare and designed for "other than digital" applications, as this type of behavior is usually done in the circuitry.

Of course, I had a leaf-switch one time that decided to go out of alignment and started acting that way on it's own, so maybe it's just busted  ;D (j/k)

RandyT
Tiger-Heli:

--- Quote from: RandyT on June 13, 2003, 12:12:30 am ---So, if I'm not mistaken, an arcade button assembly would be considered a Panel mounted SPDT Momentary Micro-Switch Pushbutton.

--- End quote ---
Almost . . .  it should be SPST, not SPDT, Single-Pole, Single Throw.  Techinically, it is two SPST switches, as it can be wired either Normally open or normally closed, but not both ways together.

The switch only activates one circuit (even though it could go to multiple inputs), and only has two positions. (Down or up), thus SPST.

FWIW, SPDT, is a two position switch with a single circuit - ON-ON or ON-OFF-ON (they can be momentary or continuous).  This circuit will turn Light A on from Power A in position 1 and Light B on from Power B in Position 2.

DPST is a switch that turns Light A on from Power A and Light B on from Power B or both off.

And a DPDT would turn A on from A and B on from B OR C on from C and D on from D.

FWIW
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