An Explanation of a Basic Pressure Switch

A pressure switch is one of those terms that many people may be unfamiliar with, but in actuality, they are very common and can be found on numerous pieces of equipment. They come in all shapes and sizes, as well as in various different application settings. No matter how many styles and types of pressure switches become available upon the market, they are all designed to do one specific job. As air or liquid pressure within a specific line increases to the maximum safe or set limit, the pressure switch will cut the power supply off to the machine, effectively turning it off so that it does not overload.

One of the most common applications can be found on a basic air compressor. As most people know the air tank can be set, with a gauge, to hold a certain amount within it. Once the tank has reached the amount of air wanted, the pressure switch turns the machine off by cutting the energy source to it. After a certain amount of air has been used, then the pressure switch will turn the air compressor back on. This is how the tank holds the optimal amount of pressure for any job that is being performed. It also prevents the tank from becoming too full of air, which could cause it to burst.

Another common system that requires a pressure switch would be a hydraulic system. When hydraulic lines fill and are used, various amounts of pressure will be required. Once the specified pressure limit is reached, the switch turns the power off to the entire system, preventing the hydraulic lines from bursting. For instance, a Bobcat runs off of hydraulic pressure to lift the bucket and arms. The pressure switch allows the machine to operate without overloading the lines while under weight and laying ideal. Without it, the bucket and arms would not work properly, as most people that have operated one will know. Once the hydraulic line breaks, the machine is parked until it can be fixed.

Various other applications use numerous other pressure switches as well. Some of them are built into sensors, chips, instrument panels, and even inside of transducers within the system. Each specific task has various types of switches, but the basic job that they perform is the same. The pressure switch is the on/off switch for any given piece of equipment, and without it the manual labor that would be needed to cut the power on and off would be astronomical.