Pushbuttons and Indicator Lamps: Their Functions and Significance

Understanding Pushbuttons

Pushbutton switches are electrical or air-switch mechanisms utilized to toggle electricity on or off. Crafted from plastic or metal, these switches vary in shapes and sizes, tailored for industrial applications. Primarily, they offer basic commands, monitoring, and indication functions for low and medium voltage panels, adapting to varied operational needs like control, signal indication, switching, self-locking, and spring reset.

These switches come in illuminated and non-illuminated variants, boasting high protection classes and robust switch capacities suitable for challenging conditions. IEC Standards assign specific colors to pushbuttons, aiming to enhance personnel safety and streamline the operation and maintenance of electrical installations and equipment.

The table below highlights the significance of pushbutton colors as per the DIN EN 60 204 (VDE 0113 Part 1): 06.93 standard.

Indicator Lamps: Their Purpose and Function

Indicator lamps serve as optoelectronic devices that emit light, showcasing the operating condition of an appliance through different colors. Each color corresponds to a specific status in a control system. These lamps commonly utilize LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) or Neon lamps, offering varied operational life spans and power consumption levels. LEDs are prevalent in low and medium voltage panels due to their longevity and low power usage. However, Neon lamps serve as an alternative in certain applications. Both are suitable for 24V, 48V, 110V, and 220V AC and DC applications, ensuring high efficiency.

Termed as signal lamps, indicator lights, panel indicators, or pilot lights, these lamps find application in various sectors like freezing, ventilation, machinery, medical equipment, gardening tools, HVAC, cleaning, and control panels.

The table below depicts the colors of indicator lamps and their meanings according to the DIN EN 60 204 (VDE 0113 Part 1): 06.93 standard.