FAQ

In order to offer maximum flexibility in providing customized solutions and a wide range of innovative design options, Carling Technologies does not carry stock, but instead chooses to manufacture "to order". Carling does, however, offer a worldwide network of qualified authorized distributors to meet your one-time or on-going supply requirements.

You can also check distributor stock directly using our distributor stock check tool. Enter the first few characters of the Carling part number to find which distributors have stock in that item or a similar item.

Unfortunately Carling Technologies' does not provide consumer replacement parts. Due to the wide variety of product options offered, Carling manufactures all parts "to order" and does not carry finished goods inventory. We recommend you work with the equipment manufacturer or one of our qualified authorized distributors to obtain replacement parts.

Carling Technologies' lead time on most product lines is 4 weeks at receipt of order. This combined with a 98% on time delivery, focuses on providing you & your customers with the critical responsiveness today's market demands. Lead times for Electronic Controls and GFCI & ELCB products, as well as customized constructions can be longer.

Carling Technologies' distribution center resides in Brownsville, Texas. When using motor freight carriers, standard shipping times from Brownsville are as follows:

• Northeastern US: 5 days
• Northcentral US: 4 days
• Northwestern US: 5 days
• Midwestern US: 4 days
• Rocky Mountain Region: 4 days
• Northern California: 5 days
• Central US: 3 days
• Southern California: 4 days
• Southeastern US: 3 days
• Southcentral US: 2 days
• Southwestern US: 3 days
• Canada: 6-7 days

Direct business-to-business accounts can be set up with Carling Technologies. Each request for direct account status is reviewed by Carling Sales and Accounting personnel. To begin the direct account set up process, contact your local Carling Technologies Sales Representative. For small quantities or consumer use, contact one of our qualified authorized distributors.

Yes, all Carling Technologies' facilities world wide are ISO9001:2015 and IATF16949:2016 certified. See our Environmental & Quality Certifications page.

Carling Technologies (seller) warrants that the goods sold hereunder shall be free of defects in material and workmanship as follows:

WARRANTY AND REMEDY. SELLER WARRANTS THAT THE GOODS SOLD HEREUNDER SHALL BE FREE OF DEFECTS IN MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP AS FOLLOWS: AS TO CIRCUIT BREAKERS, TWO (2) YEARS FROM DATE OF SHIPMENT. AS TO ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC LIGHTED AND UNLIGHTED SWITCHES, TWO (2) YEARS FROM DATE OF SHIPMENT. IN THE EVENT OF SUCH DEFECTS, SELLER'S ONLY OBLIGATION SHALL BE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE GOODS, EXCLUSIVE OF ANY LABOR OR ANY OTHER CHARGES. THIS WARRANTY IS SELLER'S SOLE OBLIGATION AND EXCLUDES ALL OTHER REMEDIES OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SELLER FURTHER DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER TO BUYER OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON FOR INJURY TO PERSON OR DAMAGE TO, OR LOSS OF, ANY PROPERTY OR ITS VALUE CAUSED BY ANY PRODUCT OF SELLER WHICH HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO MISUSE OR MISAPPLIED OR MODIFIED OR REPAIRED BY ANY PERSON OR ENTITY NOT AUTHORIZED BY SELLER OR WHICH HAS BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS GENERALLY, GOODS REFERS NOT ONLY TO GOODS MANUFACTURED BY SELLER, BUT ALSO TO GOODS MANUFACTURED BY THIRD PARTIES FOR THE SELLER PURSUANT TO PRIVATE LABEL AGREEMENTS OR OTHERWISE AND THEREAFTER SOLD BY SELLER TO BUYER.

THE ABOVE TERMS AND CONDITIONS INCLUDING THE WARRANTY OR WARRANTIES ARE PRESENTLY IN FORCE. THEY DO NOT APPLY IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. FURTHERMORE, CARLING TECHNOLOGIES RESERVES THE RIGHT, WITHOUT NOTICE, TO REVISE, AMEND OR OTHERWISE CHANGE ALL OR PART OF ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INCLUDING ITS WARRANTY POLICIES.

Click here to download Carling Technologies' complete Terms & Conditions, including Warranty Policy

Carling Technologies is committed to protecting the environment, health and safety of our employees, customers and the global communities where we work and live. We recognize that by integrating sound environmental, health and safety management practices into all of our business processes, we can offer technologically innovative products and services while conserving and enhancing resources for future generations. Carling Technologies strives for continuous improvement in our environmental, health and safety management system; prevention of pollution, injuries and illnesses in our business processes and products; and compliance with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations in the regions we operate.

Guiding principles:

• Meet laws and regulations concerning environmental, health and safety issues; according to the nature, scale and environmental impacts of Carling Technologies activities, products and/or services;
• Meet customer requirements concerning banned/restricted substances;
• Verify our performances through environmental audits and management reviews;
• Where laws and regulations do not reflect environmental management practices, we shall establish and implement goals and objectives to improve the environment by creating our own environmental, health and safety standards to protect human health and the environment;
• Support and promote sound scientific principles and fiscally responsible public policies that enhance environmental quality, health and safety;
• Advocate the adoption of environmental, health and safety principles and practices by our contractors, vendors, and suppliers, making them available to the public;
• Communicate environmental, health safety and customer requirements to Carling Technologies employees;
• Design, manage, and operate our facilities to maximize safety, promote energy efficiency, and protect the environment;
• Create products that are safe in their intended use, conserve energy and materials, promote safety, and prevent pollution throughout the product life cycle including design, manufacture, use, and end– of–life management;
• Strive to continually improve upon our environmental performance by reducing consumption, along with more efficient use of materials and resources;
• Ensure that Carling Technologies employees are aware of their roles and responsibilities to fulfill and sustain the environmental, health and safety requirements.

Click here to view and download Carling's Environmental Policy.

With the exception of certain customized customer specific products, Carling Technologies, Inc, to the best of our knowledge, manufactures product compliant to RoHS and will continue to be compliant with the European Union Directive, Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) 2002/95/EC. The products we produce do not contain any substances of very high concern in concentrations greater than 0.1% (w/w), per the current REACH requirements. We will continue to monitor the RoHS & REACH regulations to make sure we remain compliant. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Please click here for the PDF file of our complete RoHS Initiatve statement, including label examples.

We receive many inquiries referencing "Carling part numbers" which actually are not.

Often the four-digit internal manufacturing code that is stamped on the base of our switches gets confused for a Carling part number. It is not. In general, the only identifying stamping on a Carling switch is this four-digit internal manufacturing code, and rating values and agency logos for those switches that are agency approved.

For some switch series, we will also stamp a product series code, and occasionally we will stamp our end customer's part number on the base of the switch. That number may be helpful for identification, if we know the manufacturer of the piece of equipment in which the switch is found.

If you have a part number that you believe is valid, you can use the Part Number Search in our on-line CONFIGURIT. If you need further assistance in identifying a Carling part number, please read the FAQ immediately following this one and contact us.

Yes, you can contact us directly. However, you can help us to help you by first answering some key questions:

• What series of switch do you think it might be? Our Product Selector can offer you a great deal of assistance in this area).
• What is the type, shape, and color of the actuator?
• Is there any imprinting on the actuator?
• Is the switch illuminated? What are the illumination/lens colors?
• What is the full rating stamped on the side of the switch?
• What is the type and number of terminals?
• Does it have Maintained or Momentary action?
• What is the mounting style: snap-in, screw mount, or threaded bezel?
• Who is the manufacturer of the equipment from which the switch came?
• Attaching one or more detailed, focused photos of the switch top, bottom, and sides can also be of tremendous help in identifying the switch

If you are unsure of the terminology above, we encourage you to visit the "Learn More" links found in our Learn More section or the Resources section of this web site.

You should always contact the equipment manufacturer first for the proper replacement.

If you are unable to obtain a switch or a part number via the manufacturer, then you can contact us directly for help in identifying the switch part number, (please see the FAQ above regarding how to identify a switch part number). We can then refer you to an authorized stocking distributor for purchase of that part number.

Carling Technologies' lead time almost all standard switch product lines is 4 weeks at receipt of order. Lead times for switches with special constructions may take longer. Subminiature Switch and Electronic Controls lead times are 8 weeks.

DC rule of thumb for AC ratings are as follows: 125 VAC rating is good up to 12 VDC and 250 VAC rating is good up to 24 VDC.

Yes. Carling Technologies offers high amp power switches up to 100 amps. These switches provide low cost, heavy duty capability with or without an auxiliary switch. For more detailed information on these switches, visit the Hydraulic Magnetic Circuit Breakers section on our web site and look for the "switch only" option under our various circuit protection series. Or you can select Circuit Breaker in our Product Selector, and search on "switch only" under the Circuit option.

Carling Technologies is a highly vertically integrated company. This, in combination with complete in-house design, allows us maximum manufacturing flexibility. As a result, we offer a wide range of value added options and customized solutions for your specialized switch or circuit protection needs.

Contact us, and tell us of your specific needs and application, and a Carling Technologies' representative will deliver a cost-effective solution.

The electrical lives of our switch bulbs are as follows:

• Neon 25,000 hours typical
• Incandescent 25,000+ hours typical
• LED 100,000 hours

Marine

• ON-OFF (lights, blower, accessories, fan)
• (Mom ON)-OFF (horn)
• ON-OFF-ON (navigation/anchor lights)
• (Mom ON) - OFF - (Mom ON) (trim tabs - always double pole)
• ON-ON or ON-OFF-(Mom ON) (bilge pump, 3-way lighting)

Heavy Vehicle

• ON-ON (front work light/rear work light, front/rear control)
• OFF - ON Circuit 1 - ON Circuit 2 (headlight, wiper motor)
• ON-ON-ON (fan switch, turn signal, wiper with "park" function)
• ON-OFF (lights, accessory)
• (Mom ON) - OFF (horn, engage electronic function, defrost-timing function)
• ON-OFF-ON (selector switch heat/ac, two wheel drive/four wheel drive)
• (Mom ON)-OFF-(Mom ON) (cruise control)
• OFF-ON-(Mom ON) (wiper with washer function)

The current draw on our LED's is 20 milliamps.

The current draw for incandescent lamps is dependent on the volltage used:

• Voltage Current draw
• 3V 350 milliamps
• 6V 200 milliamps
• 12V 80 milliamps
• 24V 40 milliamps
• 48V 20 milliamps

For more information on our varioius illumination options, see the "Learn More: Illumination" page in our switch section, or visit our Product Selector.

The temperature range for our rocker and pushbutton switches is 0 C - 85 C (32 F - 185 F). The temperature ranges for our toggle switches are -17.8 C to 65.6 C (0 F - 150 F), or 0 C to 85 C (32 F to 185 F) depending on series.

Yes. You can find 3-D files for certain switch series under the "Resources" tab within that series Product Page. If you do not find 3-D files for the series you're interested in, then we may have the required file archived in our internal library, or a drawing may need to be created. Therefore, contact us directly with your request.

The "X" indicates there is some type of special construction that falls outside of Carling's standard catalog offerings. Contact us directly to obtain the specific details and description of the switch.

IP68 is the International (IEC/EN) rating for degree of protection against ingress of liquid or solid debris. It can also include impact characteristics. See our IP68 rated Contura II I& II, Contura IV & V, Contura X, XI, & XII, and L-Series switches.

Our sealed switches Contura II & III, Contura IV & V, Contura VI, Contura X, XI, & XII, L Series,and W-Series switches are ideal for such applications. Originally created for the marine industry, Contura switches have become an industry standard in the transportation market, and are also used in the appliance sector. These switches are sealed against the environment to the international standards of IP66 and IP68 for dust and water intrusion. They are available in virtually any circuit combination and combine aesthetics with functionality. Their interchangeable actuators also offer maximum options with minimum inventory required.

LED's (Light Emitting Diodes), composed of a DC diode chip and connections encased in plastic and epoxy which protects against shock and vibration, are considered the ideal illumination choice for the transportation industry.

At 100,000+ hours, LED lamp life is ten times that of incandescent lamps. Unlike incandescent lamps, heat rise is not a factor for LED life cycle; LED's generate only a 6 degree temperature rise above ambient, as compared to the 51 degree temperature rise of incandescent lamps. Because LED's are absent of fragile filaments, they are also not susceptible to breakage or DC notching.

LED's offer focused beam brightness (measured in millicandellas) which is able to match or exceed the light intensity of incandescent lamps. LED's are available in a wide range of colors and intensities including the standard 8 millicandella LED, 60-100 millicandella super bright LED, 750 millicandella high intensitry green LED, and the 8000-9300 millicandella megabright amber/red LED. Carling also offers special blue, white and Bluish Green LED's and Bi-Color and flashing red/amber LED's.

Contura (V-Series) and L-Series switches are typically designed for 12/24V applications. Other voltages are available, high and low restrictions apply. Extreme low voltage would require gold contacts/platings. High voltages would require switches to be derated.

Our Contura X and XI and L-Series rocker switches offer a raised bracket/bezel that helps prevent inadvertent actuation. This design also prevents debris from being trapped under the actuator.

We also offer a locking guard hardware option for our toggle and pushbutton switches with a .500 diameter bezel.

Carling Technologies is a highly vertically integrated company. This, in combination with complete in-house design, allows us maximum manufacturing flexibility. As a result, we offer a wide range of value added options and customized solutions for your specialized circuit protection needs.

Contact us, and tell us of your specific needs and application, and a Carling Technologies' representative will deliver a cost-effective solution.

Carling Technologies' lead time on almost all product lines is 4 weeks at receipt of order. F, G, H, PB, and PC-Series, and Thermal circuit breaker lead time is 8 weeks.

The operating temperature range for our hydraulic/magnetic circuit breakers is -40 C to 85 C(32 F - 185 F). Their hydraulic/magnetic design and precision mechanisms are temperature stable and are not adversely affected by temperature changes in their operating environment. As such, derating considerations due to temperature variations are not normally required and heat-induced nuisance tripping is avoided.

The operating temperature range for our thermal circuit breakers is -10 C to 60 C. Thermal breakers are temperature sensitive, which can be an advantage when the withstand capacity of the component to be protected is also temperature sensitive.

Yes, our A-Series, M-Series and C-Series rocker actuator circuit breakers all offer a Rockerguard® option for the prevention of inadvertant actuation.

A UL489 listed circuit protector can act as the final overcurrent device dedicated to protecting the branch circuit and outlets. It does not require an additional "back up" overcurrent device wired in series to protect a circuit. Visit our C Series and E Series and F-Series circuit breakers for UL489 offerings.

UL1077 recognized circuit breakers act as supplementary circuit protectors. They require a listed overcurrent device as a back up.

Yes.Carling Technologies fulfills the need for GFCI equipment protection with the PB-Seriesand PC-Series.

Our ignition protection offerings (UL1500) are ideal of applications which require protection against explosive environments (generators and marine vessels are two such applications). This provides the reliability of a hydraulic/magnetic circuit breakers within a regulated senstive area. Many amperages and delay curves are avialable. Vist our A-Series, B-Series, or C-series product pages.

The "X" indicates there is some type of special construction that falls outside of Carling's standard catalog offerings. Contact us directly to obtain the specific details and description of the circuit breaker.

The mechanical life of our hyraulic/magnetic circuit breakers is tested to 10,000 operations @ 6 per minute with rated current and voltage.

Yes. You can find 3-D files for certain switch series under the "Resources" tab within that series Product Page. If you do not find 3-D files for the series you're interested in, then we may have the required file archived in our internal library, or a drawing may need to be created. Therefore, contact us directly with your request.

Carling Technologies does not offer water resistant circuit breakers.

Carling does not offer an undervoltage trip construction.

Carling does not currently offer 400Hz circuit breakers.

The "Must have" feature excludes from the resulting lists, all of the product series and suggested part numbers that do not match the selected "must have" requirement (s).

The selection options in Product Selector represent the key features generally used to select a Product Series and part number. They do not represent all possible options that are selectable within a specific catalog ordering scheme.

If Product Selector's suggested Part Numbers do not provide you with the specific catalog number you need, or if you need to see a more complete description of the part, please use our on-line Configurit (or the "Configuration" link displayed underneath the suggested part number).

Yes, once you have linked to a particular product series page via the Product Selector (this page will appear in a pop up window), use the "Suggested Part Number" link located above the product image to generate a list of suggested part numbers.

No, the suggested part number list represents the most "standard" part numbers that match the preferences you selected.

If you don't see what you need on this list, then you can configure your own part number using our on-line Configurit. If you have custom requirements that fall outside of Configurit's offerings, please contact us directly.

If you leave all options as "no preference", then the Product Selector will provide a list of only the "most standard" suggested part numbers for a given series.

If you enter preferences, Product Selector will evaluate all its suggested part numbers for that series and display those part numbers in "best match" order.

Details shown in red indicate an exception to the preferences you have selected.

When using Configurit's Part Number Search feature, you must enter a complete and accurate Carling catalog number, including all dashes and slashes in their correct positions. Make sure that zero's are zero's, and letter O's are letter O's.

You will also receive this message if you enter a valid Carling catalog number that contains an "X". The "X" indicates there is some type of special switch or circuit breaker construction that falls outside of Carling's standard catalog offerings, and therefore outside of Configurit's offerings.

It also takes a little time for newly released Product Series to be added to Configurit. If a Product Series is not listed within the "Configure New Part" selections - then they will also not be available in the "Part Number Search."

If you receive this message and are unsure why, please use the Configure New Part path, and you will most likely discover the answer.

You must be a Carling Technologies' Sales Representative or Carling authorized distributor in order to be granted a User Name and Password. If you are not a Carling Technologies' Sales Representative or authorized distributor, you can use the "Guest Log On" button to configure a Carling Catalog Number.

Please use the Contact us: Web Site Comments Form found on our web site to request a User Name and Password. Your request will be reviewed, and a User Name and Password will be emailed to you upon approval.

Please use the Contact us: Web Site Comments Form found on our web site to request your User Name and Password. Your request will be reviewed, and we will email to you your User Name and Password.

When you log on to Configurit, you need to enter your User Name and Password, and then click the "LOG ON" button on the LEFT.

If you enter your User Name and Password and click the "GUEST LOG ON" button, you will be treated as a "Guest", and not have access to list pricing.

If you are currently logged on to Configurit, quit or exit out of the browser and then log on again.

Configurit is not a database that stores completed and "searchable" Carling catalog numbers. Instead, it is a software program that configures catalog numbers interactively. Therefore, when using Configurit's Part Number Search feature, you must enter a complete and accurate Carling catalog number, including all dashes and slashes in their correct positions.

You can search for a partial catalog number with Carling's Product Search tool. This tool will search a database of currently active Carling Catalog numbers, as opposed to all possible valid catalog numbers, of which there are hundreds of thousands.