IDEC Releases Illuminated, Low-Voltage Emergency Stop Switches

Today, many battery-powered and low-voltage devices on the market control motion in the physical world. These devices require a mechanism to stop that motion in the event of an emergency or when maintenance personnel need to ensure there is no motion in the field while they are working on equipment. The emergency stop push button is an industry standard when it comes to signalling a zero-energy state request.

Recently, IDEC released new models of low-voltage e-stop buttons with illumination for low-power or battery-powered devices.

A collection of IDEC’s XW series e-stop push buttons, all featuring a 22 mm diameter. Image used courtesy of IDEC

Short-Body Emergency Stop Buttons

IDEC’s XA and XW series are made up of short-body e-stop buttons, with the XW series featuring 22 mm diameter models and the XA series featuring 16 mm diameter models. Both series of buttons now offer low-voltage illuminated models.

Illuminated E-Stop Switches

Low-power or battery-powered devices need to conserve energy whenever possible, so during the design and testing phase, a lot of “nice to have” features are cut out. Illuminated buttons are often a “nice to have” feature, but IDEC has managed to design its illuminated buttons in low-voltage variants.

IDEC’s XA series low-voltage (3 - 6 V DC) illuminated e-stop push button. Image used courtesy of IDEC

The new low-voltage models feature an internal LED powered by 3 to 6 V DC for low-power applications. The e-stop buttons use two internal normally closed contacts, and when pressed, locks the contacts in the open position. An additional set of normally open contacts for position monitoring or operating an indicator lamp is also provided. An operator can release the lock by twisting the head of the button.

The internal LED uses 0.21 mA when the button is active, with the button being white when not active. The XA and XW series, including the new illuminated low-voltage e-stop variants, are ISO 13850 certified.

IDEC’s illuminated e-stop buttons shown in the active (left) and inactive state. Image used courtesy of IDEC

Machine and System Safety

An e-stop button is a great way to disable all electrical control equipment in the system. As equipment becomes smaller and remotely controlled, the industry needs to be able to design e-stop buttons in tight spaces. The XW and XA series offer a compact solution to designers, and now the series offers models that can be installed in low or battery-powered applications.

The addition of illuminated versions offers operators a visual indicator that the button is pressed. In the case of wireless or remote systems, finding the e-stop that has been pressed can help reduce precious production time.