What Does a Pressure Switch Do?

A pressure switch is placed on an item so that it can tell when the pressure changes occur, and can respond in a way that will keep the appliance from breaking. These components are used to provide many services on all kinds of appliances, equipment, tools and electrical devices that you use daily. Your washing machine has a pressure switch in it that senses when the lid is lifted or opened; if a change in the pressure is detected, the machine stops functioning.

The Pressure Switch as a Safety Device

Another way that the pressure switch is used, as a safety device, is when the item is placed under the seat of a riding lawn mower. When there is a person that is heavy enough to depress the button under the seat, the mower will crank, and run when the key is turned. If the person should get off of the seat, and stop depressing the button, then the engine would automatically stop running, and the mower would be shut off. This type of safety feature saves people from getting seriously injured if they fall from their mower, and it also saves small children from being able to crank the mower, and injure themselves. The small child would not have the appropriate weight even if they were sitting in the seat, to depress the button, and keep the button depressed.

Uses for a Pressure Switch

A pressure switch is used on hot water heaters, so that if the tank were to have too much pressure, this switch would open up, and allow some of it to be released, and stop the tank from exploding. The pressure cookers that people use to can vegetables also have devices that are designed to let some of the building pressure off before an accident occurs. People often do not realize that these pressure switches are on a lot of their appliances for their safety.

The pressure switch that is used in your automobile, do different things. One of the most common ones that you will recognize is the one that senses the amount of pressure the oil in the vehicle has. Oil is one of the most important components in the engine. It keeps everything lubed up, and working smoothly. If you have an oil leak it can cause you to lose enough of the engine oil to reduce the amount of pressure in the engine. If this happens, then the engine cannot work as efficiently; some models will not work at all if the oil is not kept at a certain level. Too much oil is also a problem that changes the dynamics of the workings of the engine. Therefore, the little switch that warns the driver of a problem is very important to the life of the vehicle.

The pressure switch has several applications. Most commonly you will need one to complete a safety protocol with an electrical device.