Clipsal 56 Series Industrial Switches Explained
Published by Adam Pol,
In today's world of electrical equipment and hardware, switches are taken almost for granted. Why? Well, the simple operation of this electrical equipment has made them implemented everywhere including various industries. Just like the switches you have at home, there are switches used in industrial applications. These do the same thing but they are still not the same as the switches at home. Industrial switches are built different, made to sustain the conditions of harsh environments and higher power demands too. One manufacturer of industrial power switches is Clipsal.
They have been around since the 20s and the name came as a result of their products being able to clip all sizes, at least that was the claim they made at the time. Clipsal was the company that pioneered the use of thermoplastics back in 1950 which as an Aussie company it helped made Australian homes safer and more convenient. Today Clipsal manufacture all kinds of electrical switches with the 56 series being a good example of quality and safety pieced together.
56 Series
56SW110
This switch control product from Clipsal can be fixed by screws and controlled via a rotary knob. The rated operational voltage of this switch is 250 V AC 50 Hz. The renowned 56SW110 is a mercury-free product that comes with 1 pole and an IP66 degree of protection. This Clipsal switch is made from polycarbonate and it has an ambient temperature of operation ranging from -25 °C to +75 °C.
56C320
The 56C320 is an industrial power switch and socket that has the same temperature of operation as the 56SW110 but it has 3 poles. The 56C320 has a higher rated current at 20A and it is made of ABS as well as phosphor and bronze. The latter is used for the pins while ABS is used for the cover.
56SW120
This surface switch might only come with 1 pole but and is made of polycarbonate but like the 56C320 it has a rated current of 20A. The 56SW120 is also a mercury-free product while being IP66 rated and RoHS compliant like every Clipsal industrial power switch.
56C510
With the 56C510 you get a 5 pole industrial socket and switch with a polycarbonate cover and phosphor and bronze pins. The 56C510 has the same temperature operation range as all the above products and it is also mercury-free. While it has a rated current of 10A the 56C510 is IP66 rated and labelled as a green premium product.
56C410
If you want a switched socket outlet with 4 poles and 10A of rated current then the 56C410 is the right product for you. Again you get the same temperature operation range and operational voltage rating at 500V AC 50Hz as well as the same IP rating.
56SW320
If a rotary knob is the way you prefer to control switches and you want them with a rated current of 20A then the 56SW320 is worth getting. This mercury-free surface switch is IP66 rated and RoHS compliant too while weighing only 300 g.
56C720
If you want as many poles on your switch as you can get then the 56C720 industrial socket and switch is ideal for you. It comes with 7 poles while having a rated current of 20A and a polycarbonate cover. The 56C720 uses the same phosphor and bronze pins found on other Clipsal switches.
56C540
The connection terminals of the 56C540 are screw terminals and the switch itself is current rated for a whopping 40A. This ABS made switch and socket comes with 5 poles and IP66 rated too while being labelled as a green premium product.
Industrial vs Commercial Switches
The difference between industrial and commercial switches is more than just how the two are built. Industrial switches for example are made with higher requirements in made so they're able to be adapted to the needs of the industrial production site. This can't be done with a commercial switch as an industrial switch is better at operating in a wide voltage range and usually have strong anti-electromagnetic interference capabilities.
Industrial switches are also made to operate in poor climates such as high temperature and humid environments. Unlike commercial switches, industrial switches are better at handling shock, corrosion, dust, water, and vibration. Although commercial switches require higher voltages they are single supply units. Industrial switches, on the other hand, typically come as dual-power backup.
Industrial switches are also able to be installed on DIN rails and racks while commercial switches can be mounted on rack and desktop. One other perk that industrial switches offer that can't be found on commercial switches is heat dissipation. Industrial switches are mainly made with a fanless enclosure which makes it easy for heat to escape and therefore eliminating the need for a fan that requires extra power. Fans are used by commercial switches to distribute the heat away from the core.