Elma Electronics now offers the E18 family of competitively priced, robust mechanical incremental encoders. Typical applications include home automation, white goods, two-way radios, power supplies, heat and water distribution controls, industrial controllers and audio or entertainment systems. This new range of encoders offers a high-quality alternative to system designers struggling to find a plug-in, rugged encoder for extreme environments with a footprint that matches their current PCB designs.
Mark Thorsell, sales manager for Elma Electronic Rotary Switch Products in the Americas, points out: "A well-designed user interface is key to the efficient operation of any electronic system. If it starts working intermittently and eventually fails, what good is any panel control? Elma's The E18 encoder ensures that users experience reliable operation in the field at a reasonable cost.”
The encoder is supplied with a solid nickel-plated zinc body and a solid brass shaft as standard. Front-panel sealed IP67 is an off-the-shelf option, stainless steel shaft. Specific attributes include a body size of 14.4mm × 11.4mm × 6.5mm, a rotational life of up to 150,000 revolutions, a stop torque of 0.5, 1.5 or 2.5Ncm, a resolution of 16, 24 or 30 stops, and a thrust of 3N or 6N .
Encoders are available in a variety of configurations including with or without pushbuttons, with or without threaded bushings. There is also an option to have the shaft mounted in the encoder body, or available separately for tape and reel packaging and/or an industry standard reflow process. The complete encoder includes the company's "Swiss Click Index System," which optimizes the encoder's life and quality-turning feel. Ultra-stable gull-wing SMT terminals or THT pins are standard, and even in smaller quantities, customer-specific customizations are possible. Tray-packed (THT) or tape-on-reel (SMD) offer plenty of purchasing options.
