Piezo Switch Ultimate Guide: Momentary Pulse, Waterproofing & Circuit Design

What Is a Piezo Switch?

A piezo switch is a solid-state touch button that utilizes the piezoelectric effect — the generation of voltage from mechanical stress. Unlike mechanical switches with moving parts, piezo switches use a metal surface and a piezoelectric element to detect pressure, producing an electrical pulse without any physical travel.

Piezo and touch push button switch

What Is the Piezoelectric Effect?

Before understanding piezo switches, it’s essential to grasp the piezoelectric effect:
  • When certain materials (e.g., quartz, ceramic, or polymer films) are mechanically stressed (compressed, bent, or vibrated), they generate an electric charge.
  • Conversely, applying an electric field to these materials causes them to deform slightly (reverse piezoelectric effect).
Piezo switches leverage the direct piezoelectric effect (mechanical stress → electrical signal) to detect user input.

Why Choose a Piezo Switch?

Feature Benefit
No Moving Parts Zero mechanical wear, ultra-long life
IP68 & IP69K Rated Totally waterproof and dustproof
50 Million Cycles Extremely long lifespan
Operating Temp -40°C to +75°C — wide environment tolerance
Solid-State Resistant to shock, vibration, corrosion
Power-Efficient No power required for momentary types
Stylish Designs Anodized aluminum or stainless steel finishes
Multiple Outputs NPN, PNP, SSR, NC/NO, Latching available

How Does It Work?

When force is applied to the switch surface (5–10N typical), the piezoelectric element deforms and generates a signal pulse. The system detects this pulse and activates the output signal.

Operating Types Type Description Power Required
Momentary NO Pulse on press, normally open
Momentary NC Pulse on release, normally closed
Latching (ON-OFF) Press to toggle state

FILN Piezo Switch Series (FLYD)

Key Series: FLYD16, FLYD19, FLYD22

Model Mounting Hole Head Type Lighting Height
FLYD16-FW 16mm Flat No 1.5mm
FLYD16-CW 16mm Concave No 2.5mm
FLYD16-FW-E 16mm Flat Ring Light 4.5mm
FLYD19-FW 19mm Flat No 1.5mm
FLYD19-CW 19mm Concave No 2.5mm
FLYD19-FW-E 19mm Flat Ring Light 4.5mm
FLYD22-FW 22mm Flat No 1.5mm
FLYD22-CW 22mm Concave No 2.5mm
FLYD22-FW-E 22mm Flat Ring Light 4.5mm
FLYD22-CW-D 22mm Concave Dot Light 4.5mm

Detailed Technical Specifications

Parameter Value
Waterproof Rating IP68 / IP69K
Impact Resistance 10g, 10–500Hz
Operating Temperature -40°C ~ +75°C
Electrical Rating 1A @ 24V AC/DC or 200mA (varies by model)
Switch ON Resistance ≤10Ω
Switch OFF Resistance ≥5MΩ
Operating Force 5 – 10 N
LED Consumption 10mA (dot), 20mA (ring)
Lifetime 50,000,000 cycles
Lead Wire AWG24, 200mm, twisted pair
Terminal Material Tin-plated copper
Housing Material Stainless steel or anodized aluminum
Piezo Switch

Wiring Diagrams

Piezo Switch Wiring Diagrams

Model Number Breakdown (How to Order)

YD 16 F W E SS 10 Z P R 05
Series Installation size Head shape Connection method Light Housing Switch combination Switch Function OUT PUT type Light color Light voltage
YD Pezo switch 16 16mm F Flat W  Free lead(Length 20CM) By default, there are no words and no rings SS stainless steel 10 NO By default Momentary By default, NPN NO LED NO LED
19 19mm C Concave Wire length accept customized E = Ring Light RD Aluminum red 01 NC Z = Latching P PNP R Red 05  -5VDC
22 22mm GN Aluminum Green G SSR G Green 12 -12VDC
GD Aluminum Gold B Blue 24 -24VDC
BU Aluminum blue Y Yellow
NT Aluminum W White
BK Aluminum black

Use Cases by Industry

  • Industrial Equipment
    Used in automated control panels, PLC systems, machine start/stop buttons.
  • Smart Bathroom Solutions
    Touchless shower, bath controls — safe and hygienic.
  • Car Wash Systems
    Perfect for high-moisture environments with repeated activations.
  • Marine Electronics
    IP69K ensures perfect performance in salty, wet conditions.
  • Medical Equipment
    Glove-compatible, zero-bounce operation for critical systems.
  • Smart Home Panels
    Stylish design matches high-end home automation interfaces.
  • Mining & Oilfield Control
    Withstands dust, shock, vibration, and outdoor exposure.
application of piezo switches
application of piezo switches1

Comparison: Piezo Switch vs. Other Technologies

Criteria FILN Piezo Switch Capacitive Touch Mechanical Tactile
Waterproof (IP Rating) ✅ IP69K 🚫 Limited (IP65 max) ❌ Unsealed
Lifespan ✅ 50M+ ✅ 10M+ ❌ 1M
Operating with Gloves ✅ Yes ❌ No ✅ Yes
Power at Idle ✅ 0W ❌ Consumes power ✅ 0W
Shock Resistance ✅ Excellent ❌ Medium ❌ Poor
Visual Appeal ✅ Sleek ✅ Sleek ❌ Basic

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • Q1: Can I use a piezo switch in freezing environments?
    Yes, FILN switches operate down to -40°C.
  • Q2: Does the LED require external power?
    Yes, 5V/12V/24V LED options require an appropriate power source.
  • Q3: Are custom cable lengths available?
    Yes — FILN supports OEM customization including wiring, voltage, and function.
  • Q4: What’s the difference between PNP and NPN output?
    This defines how the output signal is pulled to ground (NPN) or power (PNP). FILN offers both.

Download Full Datasheet or Request Samples

Conclusion: FILN Piezo Switch — Built for Professionals

If you’re building a product that needs rugged reliability, elegant design, waterproofing, and a 50 million cycle life, look no further than FILN’s Piezo Switch Series. Backed by industry certifications, global supply, and custom engineering support — FILN is the choice for serious engineers.

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