Cole Instrument specializes in high-reliability rotary switches designed for demanding applications, including aerospace, military, medical, industrial, and critical ordnance. The switches are generally compact, enclosed for environmental protection, and built to meet or exceed MIL-DTL-3786 standards, often tested per MIL-STD-202. A core theme is the extensive customization available, with a wide range of options and configurations to suit various application requirements. Cole also has AS9100 and ISO9001 certifications. The company encourages customers to contact them directly for assistance with creating specific part numbers, emphasizing the complexity and customization.
• High Reliability and Durability: The switches are consistently designed for "demanding usage" and engineered to meet rigorous military and industry standards\. Testing includes thermal shock, vibration, shock, moisture resistance, explosion proofing, and salt spray \(MIL\-STD\-202\)\.
• Subminiature Precision: Many of the switches have compact size while maintaining precision\. For example the 1150 series are "Subminiature Enclosed Precision Rotary Switch" with a diameter of \.320 inches\.
• Customization: A major selling point is the vast array of options and configurations, including:
• Indexing Angles: 30°, 36°, 45°, 60°, and 90° indexing are commonly available\.
• Number of Poles and Positions: Switches are available in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 pole configurations and various positions per pole\.
• Contact Types: Both shorting \(make\-before\-break\) and non\-shorting \(break\-before\-make\) contacts are available\.
• Terminal Types: Solder lug and printed circuit \(PC\) terminals are common\. Turret type terminals are also available in the 2020 series switches\.
• Shaft Options: Various shaft diameters, screwdriver slots, panel and shaft seals, push/pull mechanisms, and spring returns are offered\.
• Stops: Adjustable and fixed stops are options, as are push\-to\-turn isolation posts\.
• Shielding: RFI/EMI shielding is an available option\.
• Materials: The use of materials like diallyl phthalate and thermoplastic glass\-filled rotors for durability and resistance to contamination are also common features\.
• Key Locks: Keylock variants are available with Medeco cylinders for enhanced security\.
• Coded Options: Some switch series are available with coded outputs like Binary Coded Decimal, Hexadecimal, and Octal\.
• Illumination: The IS3600 series has an illuminated shaft
• Application Focus: The switches are explicitly designed for applications in:
• Avionics
• Communications
• Test equipment
• Command and control systems
• Aircraft
• Medical devices
• Industrial controls
• Critical ordnance
• Electronic equipment
• Part Numbering System: While basic part numbers are provided, there is a system to specify configurations and options\. The part numbers specify the series number, indexing angle, number of poles and positions, and a string of alphabetical option designations\. For custom ones , a new unique part number is assigned, not related to the company's coding system but and IPP number\.
• Push/Pull and Spring Return: Many switches offer specialized actuation, including push/pull mechanisms and spring return functionality which can be implemented in different ways with pull\-to\-turn or push\-to\-turn actions and can be combined to isolate or make certain positions accessible with more force or with a specific directional approach\.
• Series 1150:
• "Subminiature Enclosed Precision Rotary Switch," 0\.320 inches in diameter\.
• Designed for space\-constrained and environmentally demanding applications \(avionics, communications\)\.
• Available as 1 pole \(2\-10 positions\) or 2 pole \(2\-5 positions\)\.
• Non\-shorting with 36\-degree indexing\.
• A1150 has a smaller shaft and ferrule, while B1150 has a larger body diameter, both for panel sealing\.
• Rated at 25,000 operational cycles
• Meets MIL\-DTL\-3786 requirements\.
• Series 1250:
• Not many extra details, has 45 degree indexing and can have options added to the standard part number,
• Series 1800:
• "Half Inch Enclosed Rotary Switch", designed to meet or exceed MIL\-DTL\-3786, style SR20\. A QPL version is also available\.
• Designed for aircraft, medical, industrial controls, and critical ordnance applications\.
• Available in both solder lug or printed circuit terminals\.
• Available with various shaft configurations \(standard, screwdriver, push/pull, spring return, and condensed\) and panel seal options\.
• Low\-level current capability \(10mA @ 30mV DC or peak AC\)\.
• Options include adjustable stops, RFI/EMI shielding, and shorting contacts \(36° only\), pre\-tinned terminals, and non\-turn washers\.
• The standard switch is non\-shorting, continuous rotation, and has solder lug terminals\.
• The C1800 Series is a commercial version with a plastic housing and is an economically priced option\. It has a 1/8" or \.250" diameter brass shaft\.
• Series 1800 Coded:
• Coded output variants of the 1800 series, designed for demanding applications\.
• Available with Hexadecimal, Binary Coded Decimal, or Octal output\.
• Options include adjustable stops, fixed stop between first and last positions, panel and shaft seals, and screw driver slot\.
• High current switching capacity and low contact resistance\.
• Series IS3600:
• "Illuminated Shaft, One Inch Diameter Body,"\.
• Features maximum visibility in sunlight with minimal power consumption and zero light leakage at night\.
• Can have up to six decks\.
• Options include fixed stops, RFI/EMI shielding, low\-level gold contacts, panel and shaft seals, and shorting contacts\.
• Series KL 3600:
• "Key Lock One\-Inch Enclosed Rotary Switches," featuring a high\-security Medeco lock\.
• Available in two versions: KL \(standard\) and MKL \(MIL\-DTL\-3786 compliant\)\.
• Designed for aircraft, weapons, medical, industrial controls, and ground support equipment\.
• Lock resists drilling, wrenching, and picking\.
• Series 1830:
• "\.562" Diameter, 30º Indexing Enclosed Rotary Switches"\.
• Meets or exceeds applicable MIL\-DTL\-3786, Style SR35 requirements\.
• Available with 1 pole \(2\-12 positions\), 2 pole \(2\-6 positions\), and 4 pole \(2\-3 positions\)\.
• Versions include standard, screwdriver shaft, coded, spring return, and push/pull\.
• Resistant to water, contaminants, and most solvents\.
• Low\-level current capability \(10 mA @ 30mV DC or peak AC\)\.
• Series 2020:
• Inertia switches\.
• Designed for critical ordnance, missile arming, wing deployment and detonation on impact\.
• Available with Normally Open \(NO\) or Normally Closed \(NC\) contacts\.
• One pole with variable amplitude of 1 to 100 Gs\.
• Resettable for testing purposes\.
• Series 3600: \* "One Inch Multi\-Deck Enclosed Rotary Switches"
• Hardened steel sprocket and ball bearing detent mechanics\.
• QPL rated switching life of 25,000 cycles\.
• Terminals and commons are molded in diallyl phthalate\.
• Rotors are molded of thermoplastic glass fill\.
• Options include adjustable stops, fixed stops, RFI/EMI shielding, low level gold contacts, panel and shaft seals, shorting type switch, screwdriver slot, pre\-tinned terminals and non\-turn washer\.
• Multi\-deck switches available
• Special order functionality includes, pull/push actuation, isolation, spring return and concentric shafts\.
• Series 3900:
• "Miniature Multi\-Deck Solder\-Lug Rotary Switches"\.
• Engineered to meet MIL\-DTL\-3786 and tested per MIL\-STD\-202\.
• Designed for high and low\-level switching\.
• Flux contamination free, ball bearing smooth detent\.
• 1 Amp power switching capability\.
• Life cycle over 100,000 operations\.
• Concentric shaft and add\-a\-potentiometer variants\.
• Options include adjustable stops, fixed stops, RFI/EMI shielding, panel and shaft seals, a quarter inch diameter shaft \(standard is 1/8 inch\), shorting type switch, screwdriver slot, pre\-tinned terminals, non\-turn washers, and a mounting bushing washer\.
• Multi\-deck switches available
• Series SRL 1845:
• "Spring\-Return Key Lock Half\-Inch Enclosed Rotary Switches"\.
• Key lock version of the 1800 series, with spring return and keylock functionality\.
• 45 degree indexing\.
• Available with various switch actions and key removal positions\.