Switch Termination

 

A terminal is the component used to electrically connect the switch to the circuit it is controlling. More specifically, terminals conduct electrical current to and from a switch's contacts.

Carling Technologies offers a wide variety of terminal options within any given product series. Typically terminals are staked or riveted to the bottom of a switch, although a few select Carling toggle and pushbutton series have the terminals located on one or both "ends" of the switch. The number of terminals found on any given switch is dependent on the number of connections needed to complete the specific circuit that they control.

Form & Fit Dimensions Available

Downloadable PDF files which contain the form and fit drawings for the terminations listed below, along with other dimensional and electrical specifications, can be found on the specific series' product page within this web site.

Quick Connect Tabs

Carling offers, as standard, .250" and .187" wide quick connect tab terminals. Perhaps the most commonly used type of termination, quick connect tabs are designed to fit securely into a compatible female quick connector, and are held in place by barbs in the socket. This "push-on" connection is made without the need for soldering, or external hardware such as nuts or screws, making for "quick" installation. Quick connect tabs are composed of copper or brass, and may or may not be plated.

Quick connect tabs can also be referred to as faston, spade, tab, or QC terminals.

All Carling Technologies' rocker switches offer quick connect tab terminals as standard options. All Carling toggle switches, with the exception of the DK/EK-Series, also offer quick connect tabs as a standard option. Carling's P, P26, P27, and 110/316-P-Series pushbutton switches, and the 700-Series rotary switches offer quick connect tabs as standard options. The 800-Series rotary switch offers a combination solder lug/quick connect tab.

Solder Lugs

Solder lugs are another standard and widely used termination option offered by the majority of Carling switches. With this termination option, a user solders the connecting wires of the application's circuit to the solder lugs attached to the switch. Solder lugs are typically composed of plated copper or brass. The standard solder lug widths include .080", .187", and .250".

With the exception of L-Series rocker switches and DK/EK and MAAOA/125-Series toggle switches, all Carling rocker and toggle switches offer solder lug termination as a standard option. 16-3P, 170/172, P26, P27, 110/316-P, and 641-Series pushbutton switches offer solder lugs as a standard option, as well as the 700 and 800-Series rotary switches.

Screw Terminals

Screw terminations are designed to affix connecting wires, fork or ring connectors to the switch by tightened screws. Screw terminals are composed of a brass terminal with a threaded hole and 6-32 screw that are provided assembled. They are typically riveted to switches constructed with phenolic bases.

Screw terminals are available as standard on full-sized switches only. Rocker switch series which offer screw termination include the TIL, TIG, TIH, TII, LS, LTIL, LTIG, and LTIH-Series. All Carling toggle switches offer a screw termination option, with the exception of the nylon D-Series toggle switch. Pushbutton switches with screw termination include P, 170/172, and 110/316-P-Series.

Wire Leads

Wire leads are another standard option for the majority of Carling switches. Wire leads extend from the switch and can be attached to the circuit in whatever way is most convenient for the user. For some Carling switch series, the wire lead consists of a wire lead soldered to a solder lug. Other series offer integrated wire leads, where there are no exposed conductors. Typically the wire used is black UL1015 stranded copper wire. The standard wire gauge is 14, 16, or 18 gauge, depending on the switch rating. The standard wire lead length is 6" with a 1/2" strip on the open end. Other wire gauges and lead and strips lengths are available upon request.

Carling rocker switch series that offer soldered wire leads as a standard option include the R, LR, RGSC, LRGSC, TIL, TIG, TIH, TII, LS, LTIL, LTIG, and LTIH, 611/621, and 651/652-Series. Rocker switches with integrated wire leads include the T, LTA, TG, LTG, TTG, and TLG Series. Toggle switches LT, F, G, H, I, and C-Series, offer soldered wire leads, and the D, 110/216, and MAAOA/215-Series feature integrated wire leads. The 641 and 170/172-Series pushbutton switches also offer soldered wire leads, and all other pushbutton series feature integrated wire leads.

Printed Circuit Board Terminal

Printed circuit board terminals (PC terminals) are used to solder a switch directly onto a printed circuit board. They are the lightest and smallest of the termination types, typically constructed of copper or brass and plated with a silver/tin alloy. Eliminating the need for wiring, these terminals provide a quick, space saving, cost effective termination choice.

Carling rocker switch series that offer PC terminals as a standard option include the 611/621, 610/620, TIL, TIG, TIH, TII, LS, LTIL, LTIG, and LTIH-Series. The toggle switch LT, G, H, and I-Series, and the 641-Series pushbutton also offer PC termination as a standard choice.

Combi-Terminal

Carling has also introduced a "3 in 1" combi-terminal option. These terminals function as both a .250" quick connect tab and a solder lug terminal. In addition, screw and saddle clamps are provided in polybags, to create a screw terminal option. This terminal option was designed to reduce inventories by eliminating the need to stock three separate terminal configurations.

Carling's TIL, TIG, and TIH-Series rocker switches, and F, G, and H-Series toggle switches are available with the combi-terminal construction.

Other Options

Carling Technologies also offers a wide range of non-standard termination construction options including:

  • RTV/Epoxy sealed terminals
  • End terminals
  • Flatted or bent terminals
  • Double tabs
  • Reversed terminals
  • Jumper terminals
  • Silver, tin, or nickel-plated terminals
  • SAE style .500" long quick connect tabs
  • Insulated terminals
  • Offset tabs
  • Gold flash terminals
  • Non-standard wire lead lengths
  • Non-standard wire strip lengths
  • Wire lead ends stripped with insulation left on to prevent strand fraying
  • Various wire colors
  • Hot tin dipped wire leads
  • Wire leads with various connectors or terminals crimped on end (Amp, Deutsch, ITT, Molex, Packard, Yazaki)
  • GXL, SXL, and SAE automotive grade wire
  • Teflon high temperature wire

If you have special termination needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative for assistance.