Subminiature switches with high ESD ratings

August 2003 Operator Interfaces, Switches & Relays Security Services & Risk Management

Knitter-Switch ESD resistant subminiature toggle and pushbutton switches are washable, fitted with gold plated over nickel contacts, good for 50 000 operations and have an ESD resistance greater than 14 kV between actuator and contacts.

Besides EMV (electromagnetic tolerance) an additional feature, 'ESD', (protection against electrostatic discharge) is required where sufficient grounding is not possible or desired.

The standards in Europe (Norm IEC 801-2 and DIN VDE 0843) list four different ESD levels:

Grade 1: 2 kV

Grade 2: 4 kV

Grade 3: 8 kV

Grade 4: 15 kV

Knitter-Switch EST and ESP toggle and pushbutton switches comply with these norms and except for physical size are compatible with series A switches.

The guaranteed ESD resistance of 14 kV is close to the upper limit required and is therefore not only higher than that of comparable switches but also exceeds all known requirements of miniature components (Grade 3-8 kV). As it is not possible to use metal support brackets (for example with the RA version) single pole versions are fitted with two additional supports to improve stability.

Further reading:

Rugged PoE switch built for industrial demands
Conical Technologies Operator Interfaces, Switches & Relays
The Planet IGS-5225-8P4S-12V switch delivers all of this in a compact, rugged and highly efficient design, making it the switch of choice for engineers working in harsh environments.

Read more...

---

SABRIC Annual Crime Statistics 2024
News & Events Security Services & Risk Management Residential Estate (Industry)
SABRIC has released its Annual Crime Statistics for 2024, reflecting a significant decline in financial crime losses, but also warning of the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI) in fraud schemes.

Read more...

---

SA’s private security industry receives multi-million USD investment
News & Events Security Services & Risk Management
South Africa's private security sector has attracted significant international attention, with the world’s largest tactical flashlight manufacturer, Nextorch, announcing a major investment in its local operations, Nextorch Africa.

Read more...

---

View from the trenches
Technews Publishing SMART Security Solutions Editor's Choice Integrated Solutions Security Services & Risk Management Residential Estate (Industry)
There are many great options available to estates for effectively managing their security and operations, but those in the trenches are often limited by body corporate/HOA budget restrictions and misunderstandings.

Read more...

---

IVA AI Pro Visual Gun Detection
Products & Solutions Surveillance Security Services & Risk Management Residential Estate (Industry)
Bosch has announced the launch of the IVA AI Pro Visual Gun Detection analytics based on deep learning. It is designed for automatic detection and classification of people and brandished firearms.

Read more...

---

IP-based horn loudspeakers
Products & Solutions Surveillance Security Services & Risk Management Residential Estate (Industry)
Bosch has announced the launch of its new IP-based horn loudspeakers and amplifier module: the high-output LHN-UC15L-SIP horn (for long-throw applications), the compact LHN-UC15W-SIP horn (for wide-angle coverage) and the AMN-P15-SIP amplifier module.

Read more...

---

SMART Estate Security Conference KZN 2025
Arteco Global Africa OneSpace Technologies SMART Security Solutions Technews Publishing Editor's Choice Integrated Solutions Security Services & Risk Management Residential Estate (Industry)
May 2025 saw the SMART Security Solutions team heading off to Durban for our annual Estate Security Conference, once again hosted at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club.

Read more...

---

SSG Holdings acquired by Fidelity Services Group
News & Events Security Services & Risk Management
Fidelity Services Group has successfully acquired a majority shareholding in SSG Holdings. The acquisition builds on Fidelity’s track record of strategic expansion, including previous high-profile acquisitions.

Read more...

---

The role of drones in farm protection
Agriculture (Industry) Security Services & Risk Management
Laurence Palmer reminds us of the role drones play in agricultural security and offers a free security risk assessment template for downloading (link at the end of the article).

Read more...

---

SMART Surveillance Conference in Johannesburg
Arteco Global Africa Technews Publishing SMART Security Solutions Axis Communications SA neaMetrics Editor's Choice Surveillance Security Services & Risk Management Logistics (Industry) AI & Data Analytics
SMART Security Solutions hosted its annual SMART Surveillance Conference in Johannesburg in July, welcoming several guests, sponsors, and speakers for an informative and enjoyable day examining the evolution of the surveillance market.

Read more...

---