Drukcontact

Drukcontact is a Dutch term used mainly in engineering and electronics to describe a pressure-activated electrical switch contact. It refers to the part of a switch or button assembly that closes or opens an electrical circuit when mechanical pressure is applied to the actuator, such as a push button, plunger, or lever. In technical contexts, drukcontact is considered together with the surrounding switch mechanism, housing, and actuation system.

There are two common operating modes for drukcontact. Momentary (or push-to-make) contacts close only while the actuator is pressed and return to the default state when released. Latching (or maintained) contacts retain their closed state after being pressed until an opposite action resets them. Contacts can be normally open (NO), meaning the circuit is open until actuation, or normally closed (NC), meaning the circuit is closed until actuation.

Applications for drukcontacts are widespread and include consumer electronics, control panels, industrial machinery, automotive interfaces, home appliances, and safety or alarm systems. Selection criteria include actuation force and travel, electrical rating (voltage and current), contact material and durability, and environmental conditions such as vibration, dust, and moisture.

In everyday Dutch language, drukcontact is primarily a technical term used by engineers and technicians. For non-technical contexts, terms like push-button switch or momentary switch may be more common. Related concepts include push-to-make vs push-to-break behavior and NO/NC contact configurations.