A switch actuator is the mechanical component on a switch used to manually turn a circuit on and off. Switch actuators can also serve to visually indicate whether a circuit is ON or OFF.
Carling Technologies offers a broad range of actuator types, colors, and legends to meet a wide variety of functional and aesthetic needs.
Downloadable PDF files which contain the form and fit drawings for the actuators listed below, along with other dimensional and electrical specifications, can be found on the specific series' product page within this web site.
Carling Technologies offers a broad selection of aesthetically pleasing rocker actuator styles. Rocker styles include Carling's trademarked two-color curved Visi-Rocker, single color curved, flat, and angled rockers, illuminated rockers, and Carling's trademarked Contura concave, convex, and "shape to create a shape" rockers.
A Visi-Rocker is a double injection molded, two-color curved rocker actuator that provides vivid, unlighted indication of ON/OFF status. The Visi-Rocker is an attractive, durable, and cost-effective form of actuation, requiring no additional wiring for lamps or concern for lamp life cycles. The Visi-Rocker's vivid radius (end), which contrasts in color to the rocker face and bezel, shows when the switch is in the "ON" position.
Visi-Rocker actuators also offer a wide range of color and legend configurations. The most standard actuator colors are black and white with matte finish. The standard "visi-colors", the indicator color of the rocker radius, are white, red, or black. Visi-rocker legends are typically molded into the rocker's face, with their color matching the visi-color specified. Standard actuator legends include OFF-ON, O-I, ON-OFF, I-O, dual OFF-ON/O-I and dual ON-OFF/I-O. Legends can be orientated vertically or horizontally. For assistance with special color or legend needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative.
Carling Technologies' miniature R-Series, RSC-Series, and subminiature 611/621-Series, and 651/652-Series switches offer Visi-Rocker actuators.
Carling offers three types of single color rocker actuators: curved, flat, and angled. These rockers can be illuminated or non-illuminated, depending on the switch series.
Standard non-illuminated rocker colors are black and white. However, other colors are available upon request. Standard imprinted legends, which can be oriented horizontally or vertically, include OFF-ON, O-I, ON-OFF, I-O, dual OFF-ON/O-I and dual ON-OFF/I?O, depending on the switch series. For assistance with special color or legend needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative.
Single color, non-illuminated curved rockers include:
Single color, non-illuminated angled rockers include:
Single color, non-illuminated flat rockers include:
Illuminated rocker actuators come in a variety of styles including translucent rockers and "clear or transparent" rockers where the entire actuator is illuminated, and solid color rockers that contain a lens or lenses for illumination. Standard illumination colors include amber, red, green, blue, white, and clear. For assistance with special actuator or lens color needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative.
Single color, illuminated curved rockers include:
Single color, illuminated angled rockers include:
Single color, illuminated flat rockers are offered by the subminiature 632-Series switches.
Contura V-Seriesswitches offer an extensive range of aesthetic choices in their contoured rocker actuator styles, surfaces, colors, lens, and legend options. Contura actuators are designed to be removable and interchangeable, providing for ease of panel redesign. They can also be purchased and stocked separately.
There are several styles of Contura rocker actuators: Contura II & III, Contura IV & V, and Contura X & XI, and a paddle actuator offering with the Contura XII. All styles provide both illuminated and non-illuminated offerings.
Contura II & III actuators are constructed of thermoplastic polycarbonate, and are offered with either a hard nylon overlay or a "soft-touch" elastomer overlay. Both Contura II and III style actuators provide a contoured convex rocker shape. For finger traction, Contura II actuators incorporate two rows of raised "bumps" at either end of the rocker. Contura III actuators incorporate three lines or grooves at each end of the rocker. Illuminated rockers can be constructed with one or two lenses, and can feature square, bar, or a combination of square and bar lenses.
Contura IV & V actuators work with the curves, contours and stylings of panel designs that incorporate advanced curves and radii. Contura IV's asymmetrical, orange-wedge shape provides a variety of mounting design options including half-moon, triangular, pyramidal, or stacked. And the symmetrically curved Contura V complements the Contura IV's "Shape to create a Shape" design concept. Used alone or in conjunction with Contura IV style switches, they can create a wide variety of switch pod or module configurations ideal for any panel design. Both Contura IV and V illuminated rockers can be constructed with one or two lenses, and can feature oval, bar, or a combination of oval and bar lenses.
Contura X & XI actuators offer a more conventional design, and are normally ordered with raised brackets/bezels that help prevent inadvertent actuation and help prevent debris from being trapped underneath the actuator. The Contura X rocker has a concave contour with three grooves at each end of the rocker for finger traction. The Contura XI rocker has a convex contour, with smooth rocker ends. Both Contura X and XI illuminated rockers can be constructed with one or two lenses, and can feature square, bar, or a combination of square and bar lenses. Square lenses are available in either one or two-part construction providing backlit legends for increased durability of lens symbols. Actuators and square lenses may be purchased and stocked separately from the switch base.
Contura II, III, and X rocker styles also offer a safety locking option. Utilizing a locking button located at one end of the rocker, the actuator can be locked in the up position, down position, or both the up and the down position. For three position circuits, Contura II & III locking rockers will also lock in the center position.
Contura actuators and lenses are offered in a wide variety of colors. Standard actuator colors include black, gray, red, and white. Standard lens colors include clear, white, amber, green, red, and blue. The top protective lens on two-piece Contura X & XI rockers are available in clear, smoke, or white. For locking rockers, the lock button can match the color of the actuator or can contrast in color. Standard colors for the lock button on locking rockers are black, white, red, and safety orange.
Contura actuators come with a vast selection of legend options, with over 300 text and image legends listed as standard. An on-line PDF file of these Contura legends is available here, or on any of individual Contura Series pages.
Custom colors and legends are available. For assistance with special actuator, lens color, or legend needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative.
Evolving from the Contura product line, L-Series rockers are symmetrically contoured, convex rockers. Larger than Contura series rockers, they are sized to meet the 22 x 44mm mounting hole transportation industry standard. L-Series rockers offer a smooth surface, and can be illuminated or non-illuminated. Illuminated rockers can be constructed with one or two lenses, and can feature large, bar, or a combination of large and bar lenses. Actuator legends can be laser etched or hot stamped. L-Series also offers a paddle actuator. All actuators and lenses may be purchased and stocked separately from the switch base.
L-Series actuators and lenses are offered in a wide variety of colors. Standard actuator colors include black, gray, red, and white. L-Series lenses can be transparent or translucent, and standard colors include clear (transparent), white (translucent), amber, green, red, and blue.
L-Series switches come with a vast selection of legend options, with over 300 text and image legends listed as standard. These legends can be hot stamped or laser etched. An on-line PDF file of these legends is available here, or on the L-Series product page of this web site.
Custom colors and legends are available. Should you have special actuator, lens color, or legend needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative for assistance.
Many of the switch series that offer rocker actuators also offer paddle style actuators. Depending on the switch series, paddle actuators can be illuminated or non-illuminated, full-sized, miniature, or subminiature.
Standard colors for solid color paddles are black and white. Contura XII and L-Series paddles also include gray and red as standard colors. Standard illumination colors include amber, red, green, blue, white, and clear. Contura XII and L-Series also offer over 300 text and image imprinted legends as standard. L-Series paddles also offer laser etched legends. An on-line PDF file of these legends is available here, or on the Contura XII or L-Series product pages. Typically, for other switch series, imprinting on paddle actuators is not a standard option. However, if you have special color or legend needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative for assistance.
Non-illuminated Paddle Actuators include:
Illuminated Paddle Actuators include:
Carling Technologies offers a broad selection of full-sized toggle actuator styles and lengths. The primary toggle actuator styles include bat shaped, ball toggles (metal toggle with metal ball at its top), and chisel or paddle shaped toggles. Standard toggle materials are brass with nickel plate, or plastic. Toggle actuators can be illuminated or non-illuminated.
The standard finish for metal toggles is nickel; standard colors for solid color plastic toggles are black and white; custom colors are also available. Standard illumination colors include amber, red, green, blue, and clear. Although legends cannot be printed directly on toggle actuators, legend indicator plates that fit over the actuator bushing are available. Standard legends on indicator plates include ON-OFF with horizontal and vertical orientations, and HIGH- LOW. If you have special color or legend needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative for assistance.
Non-illuminated Toggle Actuators include:
The LT-Series illuminated toggle switches offer plastic bat and paddle style toggles which can provide a three-color lighting sequence from a single lamp. Paddle style toggles are transparent, and come in clear, red, and amber with a length of .625". Bat style toggles are .715" in length, and come with bright chrome, satin chrome, or black molded sleeves that leave the tip of the bat illuminated. "SnapKap" color lenses are available for the bat's tip.
Carling Technologies offers a full selection of non-illuminated metal (brass with nickel plating) and nylon pushbutton styles and lengths. Standard pushbutton styles include flat, rounded, or concave topped. Designed for finger or foot operation, actuation forces range from four ounces to eight pounds.
Pushbutton Actuators include:
Carling Technologies offers a few select lines of rotary switches that include:
Carling Technologies has created many custom actuator solutions for specific industries and applications. For example, in the appliance industry the T-Series plunger and "tipper lever" actuators were designed for lighting controlled by range and refrigerator doors. With all the environmental protection of the V-Series Contura switches, Carling has designed a turn signal lever for use in a broad range of applications from golf carts to compact construction equipment.
Carling offers exceptional depth in design, tooling, and manufacturing which allows us to custom engineer and deliver products that evolve concurrently with your own product's development. If you require a custom engineered solution, please contact your local Carling Technologies Sales Representative or contact Carling Technologies directly to discuss your specific needs.