Limit switches are an essential element of industrial controls. They are used in everything from crane booms to gates, lifts to storage tanks — anywhere there is a need to sense the presence, absence or position of a moving object.
Conventional wired switches, however, present installation and maintenance challenges, especially in installations that are subject to harsh environments or involve movement in the wiring. Making these switches wireless addresses a customer need for lowered cost and increased installation options for limit switches, giving early adopters a competitive advantage in the design of next generation industrial equipment.
The Benefits of Wireless Limit Switches
Wireless limit switches can lower equipment costs in a variety of ways. For one, the cost of manufacturing and installation is reduced. Not only is the expense of wiring eliminated, there are no conduits, clips or connectors required to place a limit switch where it is needed. There are no wire routing problems to solve, no need for pulling wire during installation and fewer restrictions on location and placement of the limit switch.
Wireless limit switches can also reduce maintenance costs. Equipment wiring is less complex with the elimination of wired switches from the mix, simplifying troubleshooting and reducing commissioning time. Further, going wireless increases system reliability by eliminating the potential for having issues with switch wiring or connectors. Switches also become simpler to replace, with no need to disconnect and re-attach wiring and no risk of incorrect wire attachment.
The introduction of wireless limit switches also provides equipment designers with an expanded range of applications. By using wireless, designers can now place switches in locations where it is impractical or impossible to run wires back to the control console. They also can increase their design’s flexibility by allowing switch positioning to adapt to installation requirements, even if that position must be modified over time. Wireless connectivity even simplifies the retrofit of existing systems with additional limit switches as needed for improved functionality or to meet new regulatory requirements.
To learn more about wireless limit switches, please download the attached document below called, Honeywell’s Wireless Limitless Series Overview, which was the source of information for this document.