Schneider Electric and Emergency Stop Push Button

In this age of technological advancements, electricity is widely used across the industrial sectors for almost everything. From operating heavy-duty machinery, heating, cooling, and ventilation in industrial facilities to running office equipment like lights and computers, electricity is a vital component used in industrial sectors. However, one of the primary risks involved in industrial sectors is physical injuries caused by machinery, often fatal. Emergency stop pushbuttons are used as common countermeasures in factories to prevent workplace injuries. 

What is an Emergency Stop Push Button?

Emergency stop push buttons are generally used in industrial sectors, especially in factories and manufacturing facilities. The emergency stop push button is a safety device connected to heavy-duty machinery. They serve as fail-safe control switches meant for the safety of any high-load industrial machinery and its users. During emergencies, they are used when the machinery's master switch cannot be accessed on time. Once pressed, the emergency stop push button disrupts any power supply to the machinery immediately and is also known as the kill switch or Estop switch. The emergency stop push buttons are usually coated in red paint to be spotted easily during any emergency.

Since the emergency stop push button serves as a safety measure during critical situations, it is designed for the minimum response rate. They are wired along the control circuit of the machinery. Pressing the emergency stop push button causes the control circuit to break, disrupting the electrical connection. Once pressed, the emergency stop push button will immediately cut off the flow of electricity to the machinery, ensuring immediate safety to both operators and machinery during an emergency shutdown situation.

Emergency stop push buttons are specifically designed for easy handling and can be operated either by a footswitch on the ground level or by hand using a pole handle. When performed by hand, emergency stop push buttons can be of three different types:

• Push-Pull: The push-pull is the most commonly available hand-operated emergency stop push button, known for its direct activation. The push-pull emergency button is pushed in for cutting off power to the machinery and pulled back for release. 
• Twist Release: The twist release button can be activated by pushing in to cut off electrical power to the connected industrial machinery and then twisted to release it.
• Essential Release: Once pushed in to stop the flow of electricity, this type of emergency stop push button can be released using a key.

Though emergency push buttons are commonly used in industrial sectors, different emergency push buttons are used for commercial and public facilities to lower the chances of risk by stopping the machinery they are connected to. You can spot an emergency stop push button on machinery like elevators, forklifts, other lift equipment, or packaging machines.

Why are emergency stop push buttons used?

While emergency stop push buttons are primarily used as a preventive device to minimize the risks of workplace injuries to operators, they also serve as failsafe control switches for expensive and heavy-duty machinery. The fundamental reasons behind the use of emergency stop push buttons are:

- Avoiding injuries: The industrial sector, especially with larger, heavy-duty machines, can pose a significant physical threat to operators and workers. The emergency stop push button can help avoid fatal injuries if a person accidentally gets in the way of an active machine and cannot get out in time. The emergency stop switch cuts off power to the device, stopping it before it results in any physical harm.  

- Preventing machine malfunction: The other important role of emergency stop push buttons is the prevention of machine malfunction. If a machine behaves abnormally or shows signs of distress, it must be immediately stopped and examined to prevent any damage to the machine. The emergency stop push button acts as a control switch to cut off power during such situations. The timely prevention of device malfunction can save the company from unnecessary expenses like replacements or repairs and help in avoiding workplace injuries.

Emergency stop push button switches from Schneider Electric

Emergency stop push buttons from Schneider Electric are available as mushroom switches. With a diameter of 22mm, these push button starters are easy to locate and even easier to operate. The Harmony XB5 and Preventa XPS are popular series of emergency stop push buttons with trigger action and mechanical latching mechanisms. Available in both plastic and metallic options, these emergency push buttons are durable and resistant to most physical damages, heat, as well as corrosion. These emergency stops push buttons from Schneider Electric significantly improve safety within an industrial space. 

If you have any requirements for electrical components or solutions, do not forget to visit the Schneider Electric online store. From push button starters to home automation systems, Schneider Electric's online store offers you a wide selection of high-performance electrical appliances and components at highly affordable prices. Schneider Electric store is the one-stop destination to answer all your electrical needs and demands.

Read More:- Where To Buy Push Button Switches For Industrial Use