Five Tips To Keep In Mind When Choosing A Safety Cover For A Switch
Posted on: 21 September 2016
A safety cover prevents switches from being turned on or off accidentally. There are a range of safety covers for switches on the market, and to ensure you get the best one for your needs, there are several tips you should keep in mind as you shop. Take a look at these ideas:
1. Opt for a red cover for visibility.
If you want the switch cover to be visible, you should opt for a cover in red. This alerts everyone to the position of the switch and helps to reduce the chances of someone accidentally hitting the switch. So that you can always see whether or not the switch is in the on or off position, opt for a clear cover.
2. Check which way the switch locks.
In most cases, safety covers do more than just cover a switch. They can also lock it on or off. If you only want your machinery or whatever is attached to the switch to be locked off for safety, you only need that function. However, if there are times when you want the power locked on, you need a switch that offers that as well.
3. Look for a metal base.
In most cases, safety switches have a base, and you attach the base to the switch by putting screws through a plate. To ensure the switch lasts as long as possible, and to ensure that the cover can be securely attached to the switch, look for a metal base.
4. Insist on a metal sleeve to protect the plastic case.
Although the base of most safety switch covers is metal, the rest of these covers is plastic. There may be a metal hinge with a spring connecting the two pieces and helping to give the plastic cover tension. This metal spring may rub on the plastic casing, causing damage over time. To ensure your switch cover lasts as long as possible, look at the spring before buying it. If it has a metal sleeve to protect the spring from rubbing against the plastic, that can help with quality and longevity.
5. Make sure the switch cover fits.
Finally, you need to make sure that the switch cover is compatible with the switch you are covering. For example, if you switch is a three position switch, you need a cover that can accommodate that. Similarly, if the switch is extra large, your cover needs to have dimensions that work with a large switch.
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