Plunger Switches | McMaster-Carr

Rated IP67, these switches have an enclosure that shields their interior during temporary submersion. They open and close circuits in a snap—their quick actuation minimizes arcing and keeps contacts from sticking.

Subminiature Wet-Location Snap-Acting Switches

Built for tight spaces exposed to water, these switches have a housing that's less than 1" long and IP67 rated for protection from temporary submersion.

Subminiature Snap-Acting Switches

At least 25% smaller than our Miniature Snap-Acting Switches, these switches are often used to trigger actions from inside a vehicle’s door or an engine compartment.

Light-Touch Subminiature Snap-Acting Switches

Actuate these switches with a fraction of the force of other subminiature switches for increased responsiveness. Among the smallest snap-acting switches we offer, they fit into the tiniest of spaces.

Miniature Snap-Acting Switches

Smaller than standard size snap-acting switches, these fit in tight spaces.

Ultra-Miniature Snap-Acting Switches

Trigger actions in devices as small as phones and drones. The smallest snap-acting switches we offer, these switches fit into the tiniest of spaces and help keep weight to a minimum.

Limit Switches

When a moving object contacts the actuator on these switches, they open or close a circuit. They have the rapid-closing action of a snap-acting switch, but with a larger actuator for large objects.

Panel-Mount Light-Touch Limit Switches

Our most sensitive limit switches, these switches actuate with the slightest push for a high degree of accuracy.

Panel-Mount Sealed Wet-Location Limit Switches

Sealed actuators prevent these switches from jamming, even when exposed to oil, sand, mud, or ice.

Build-Your-Own Limit Switches

Combine an actuator and a switch to assemble the exact limit switch you need.

Wireless Self-Powered Limit Switches

Install these limit switches where changing a battery or routing wires might be difficult—they power themselves when a moving object contacts the actuator.

Low-Profile Limit Switches

Stack these slim switches together, or fit them into tight spaces. They're rated IP67 for protection from temporary submersion.

Sealed Low-Profile Limit Switches

A sealed actuator prevents these switches from jamming, even when exposed to sand, mud, or dirt. With a slim design, you can stack them together or fit them in tight spaces.

Panel-Mount Low-Profile Limit Switches

Secure these switches into panel cutouts using mounting nuts. They have a slim body so they can also be stacked together or fit into tight spaces.

Compact Safety Limit Switches

Shorter and thinner than other safety limit switches, these are sized to fit tight spaces.

Safety Limit Switches

Protect machinery and ensure the safety of personnel—these switches will open the circuit when actuated even if a spring fails or the contacts stick.

Manual-Reset Safety Limit Switches

Prevent equipment from automatically restarting—these switches must be manually reset each time they're actuated.

Hazardous Location Limit Switches

Safely open or close a circuit near ignitable gases and dust—the housing on these switches seals in anything that could ignite flammable material.

Washdown Limit Switches

Rated NEMA 3S and IP69K, these switches can handle washdowns with high pressures and temperatures. They’re also protected from oil/coolant spraying, precipitation, and temporary submersion.

Stand-Alone Air Directional Control Valves

Two-Action Air Directional Control Valves

Control these valves with one hand. Also known as 4/2 valves, they create two actions, such as extending and then retracting a double-acting cylinder.

Single-Action Mechanically Operated
Air Directional Control Valves

A simple automation solution that requires no programming, these valves are activated when an object, such as a box rolling on a conveyor, pushes the actuator. They create one action, such as extending a cylinder. Also known as 3-way and 3/2 valves.

Two-Speed Two-Action Mechanically
Operated Air Directional Control Valves

Often used to extend and then retract a cylinder at different speeds, these valves create two actions and have two exhaust ports, which allows you to control the speed of each action by attaching a flow control valve to each exhaust port. They activate when an object, such as a box rolling on a conveyor, pushes the actuator. Also known as 4-way and 5/2 valves.