RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents, the global distributor for engineers, has introduced Siemens’ new SIRIUS ACT pushbuttons and switches, which offer a choice of modern styles and make panel builders’ lives easier and more productive.

The line-up includes 22mm-diameter raised indicator lights and illuminated or non-illuminated pushbuttons with a choice of black plastic, shiny metal or matte metal front ring, or a 30mm-diameter flat pushbutton with matte metal ring. Modular design and a choice of red, orange, yellow, green, white or blue LED illumination allow use as switches, indicators or pilot lights.

The pushbuttons are installed quickly and efficiently by inserting the self-holding actuator through a simple groove-free milled hole in the panel and fitting the snap-on holder. The holder has built-in twist prevention and accepts stackable contact blocks that simplify wiring and provide a choice of Normally-Open (NO) or Normally-Closed (NC) contacts and screw, spring-type or solder terminals.

By providing high switching reliability, even with small voltages and currents such as 6V/1mA, SIRIUS ACT pushbuttons and switches are equally at home in electronic systems or conventional controls. Communication options allow direct connection to a controller via AS-Interface, IO-Link or PROFINET, thereby reducing wiring time and complexity and also permitting easier rewiring in the future. Contact blocks and LED modules are specified independently, and all carry markings in accordance with the EN 50013 standard for low-voltage switchgear and controls.

Extreme ruggedness is another key advantage of the new SIRIUS ACT range. In addition to 100,000 hours LED lifetime and mechanical lifetime of 10 million switching operations, the ultra-high degree of protection IP69K allows use in equipment that is cleaned using high-pressure water, or exposed to oils, caustic solutions or high quantities of dust.