• Size and Shape — Large or Small
• Foot Switch Pedal Action — Momentary or Maintained
• Proper Electrical Rating — Current, Voltage, Horsepower
• Pre-Wired or Do-It-Yourself Cabling
• Enclosure Rating — Indoor, Outdoor, Hosedown, Etc.
• Single or Multiple Pedal
• Guard or No Guard
• Appearance and Color

Safety and Selection WARNING: Before selecting or using any foot switch, read the foot switch safety warning.  Only the user can be aware of all conditions and factors present during the installation, operation, and maintenance of a foot switch and the surrounding work area.  Therefore, only the user can determine which foot switch(es) and which point-of-operation safeguards are required for a particular application or work station.  Review OSHA and other regulations before selecting or installing any foot switch.  Safety options can include guards to protect against accidental activation, anti-trip safety latches (G-Series only), enclosures ratings, and front access gates.

The shape (form factor) and function required by a foot switch pedal application will help determine which model will be needed (in addition to electrical requirements). Some considerations include size, weight, material, shape, enclosure rating, guarding options, and other factors.

Foot Switches			Potentiometer Foot Pedals
Light-Duty Foot Switch (S-Series) Good balance of size and function Steel case offers toughness Comes with cable Home and shop tools, tattoo, office, medical	Medium-Duty Foot Switch (F-Series) Medium size with tough die-cast housing Added weight is secure under your foot Cable or terminals Home and shop tools, lighting, indoor factory	Heavy-Duty Foot Switch (G-Series) Heavy-duty industrial foot switch for your toughest environments Rugged housing won't rust or break if dropped Water, dust, oil, splash resistant enclosure Factory, metalworking, construction equipment, industrial, wet or dry	Potentiometer Controls (L- & M-Series) Variable resistance output in pedal-style housing Momentary or maintained action Comes with cable Motor speed control when used with a drive
Light-Duty Foot Switch (B-Series) Compact size with small footprint Available with traction pad or mounting bracket Home and shop tools, emergency vehicles, pushbutton	Dual Foot Switches (DS100) Consists of two foot switches side by side Can be fitted with a guard Dual models are available for all product lines	Heavy-Duty Foot Switch (GX-Series) Same as G-Series, but without the guard Heavy-duty industrial foot switch Water, dust, oil, splash resistant enclosure	Potentiometer Controls (G700) Variable-resistance output in heavy-duty housing Water, dust, oil, splash resistant enclosure User attaches the cable Motor speed control when used with a drive

Note: Click here for TIG Welding Foot Pedal Controls.

There are two main types of pedal action: momentary and maintained.

1) Momentary Action: Press and hold to turn on, release to turn off (like a car horn).  The user must continue to hold the pedal down to keep it on.  As soon as the user lifts his or her foot, the unit will turn off.  This is the most common type of foot switch pedal action.

2) Maintained Action: Press pedal once to turn on, press again to turn off (like a light switch).  The foot switch will stay on and the user can remove his or her foot from the pedal until the user presses the pedal again to turn it off.  Examples include: G-Series -MA models (press down on pedal to turn it on, then press forward a latch inside the hood to return the pedal back to the off position); S420-Series models (press opposite ends of the pedal to toggle it on and off); and F300-Series models (has push on / push off maintained action, like a ball-point pen).

Additionally, the Anti-Trip Safety Latch is available on the G-Series models.  For this action, you have to press forward a latch inside the guard before you can press down on the pedal.

Choosing the proper current and voltage rating for a foot switch application will depend on the electrical circuit of the equipment that the foot switch is attached to.  The amount of electrical current that will flow through the circuit will determine the amperage rating required for the foot switch.  The voltage and horsepower ratings (if applicable) also must be selected appropriately for the application.  Consult a certified electrician with any questions to determine the amperage, voltage, grounding, and power requirements for your application.  Follow all local and national electrical safety regulations.

Typically, foot switches contain SPDT contacts that are wired "normally open."  That is, the switch is open, or "off," when not in use, and not activated until pressed.  However, other circuit variations are available and it will depend on the requirements for your application.  See our glossary for more description about foot switch terms and concepts: foot switch glossary page

Many SSC Controls foot switches come with cables already attached. Two of the most common cable examples are listed below: cables with a piggyback plug, and cables with leads. Each of these cable configurations can be included on the S-Series, B-Series, and F-Series foot switch product lines. The circuits below are shown in the "off" or at-rest position, with the pedal fully up.

Danger: Disconnect input power before performing any installation or maintenance. Only a qualified electrician should install any foot switch, including proper grounding and installation per local and national electrical codes.  

Examples	Model	Switch Circuit	Foot Switch Wiring Diagrams and Notes
Examples: S100-1501 S400-1501 B800-1501 F200-1501	Models with Piggyback Plug — Has piggyback (series) plug on the end of the cable.  Comes pre-wired normally open (in "off" position until pressed).	SPDT wired normally open	Simply plug into any standard 3-pronged North American wall outlet, and then plug your device into the back end of the foot switch's piggyback plug. When you press the foot switch, the device will turn on. Inside the piggyback plug, the hot or "live" wire is interrupted and passes through the cable to the foot switch.  The "neutral" prong and the ground prong each pass straight through the plug.
Examples: S100-1502 S400-1502 B800-1502 F200-1502	Models with Leads — Has leads on the end of the cable.  Comes pre-wired normally open (in "off" position until pressed).	SPDT wired normally open	Foot Switch Wiring Diagram (for models with leads) Warning: Disconnect input power before installing or servicing any foot switch. You have to attach the wires directly to your application with these models. The switch is typically wired into one side of the electrical circuit (normally the "hot" side, if applicable), so when you press on the pedal, it will allow current to flow to the device you are controlling (motor, tool, light, etc.). When you press on the pedal, the device will turn on. Shown in "at-rest" (or "off") position -- the switch is off until you press the pedal. Follow all applicable electrical codes and consult an electrician with questions. The white and black lead colors on the foot switch cable have no relation to household wiring. See "Foot Switch Wiring" section below for more information. Click to download a PDF version of the wiring diagram.

G-Series heavy-duty foot switches (see below for wiring diagrams) can include from one to three switches, and up to four independent SPDT circuits. They do not come with cables. The user installs the appropriate cable and strain relief to the switch. G500 models have one switch, G502 models have two switches, and G503 models have three switches. For models with two or more switches (G502, G503, or G504), both switches can be independently adjusted, and can be set so one switch goes off before the other, or at the same time. If both switches are set to go off at the same time in the G502, the unit will have DPDT circuitry. Below are examples of the circuitry of different G-Series foot switches. The circuits below are shown in the "off" or at-rest position, with the pedal fully up.

Examples (G-Series)	Model Examples of G-Series Foot Switches	Switch Circuit (shown in "off" position)	Inside Image
See the G-Series Product Page for a complete list of options.	Model Example: G500-MO Circuit: SPDT (single-pole double-throw) Includes one SPDT switch for simple on/off.
	Model Example: G502-MO Circuit: DPDT (double-pole double-throw) Includes two SPDT switches that can be set to activate separately or at the same time.
	Model Example: G503-MO Circuit: TPDT (triple-pole double-throw) Includes three SPDT switches that can be set to activate separately or at the same time.
	Model Example: G504-MO Circuit: Dual DPDT (two DPDT switches in each unit) Ideal for controlling up to four independent circuits.
	Model Example: G500-MO-DB Circuit: SPDT-DB (single-pole double-throw double-break) Double-break contacts make connection at two points on each line, enabling the switch to have improved performance and life in some DC circuits. Also called "Form Z" contacts. Order by selecting the "-DB" double-break option on the model page.

Additional notes:

• All foot switches should be properly grounded per local and national electrical codes.
• Two-stage models (models ending in "-2S", such as G502-MO-2S) have an additional spring mechanism that provides an extra force in between the activation of each switch. The user will feel the additional force after activating the first switch when pressing halfway down on the pedal; the user can then either hold at that position or continue pressing the pedal down to activate the second switch.
• G-Series foot switches are available with other options, such as the Front Gate (-GT models), the Anti-Trip Safety Latch (-AT), and Maintained Action (-MA). However, the switch circuitry shown above stays the same for these option

Warning: Disconnect input power before installing or servicing any foot switch.  Please review the Foot Switch Safety and Selection WARNING before selecting, installing, servicing, or using any foot switch.  The buyer (and user) is responsible for proper foot switch selection, installation, safety, and application.  The following installation instructions are general guidelines, and each application may require steps or connections different from those listed below.

Foot Switches that come with the piggyback plug (3-pronged NEMA 5-15 series P/R):

• These models typically come pre-wired in the "normally open" (or off) position, so electricity is not supplied to the device until the pedal is pressed.
• Simply insert the plug into any standard 3-pronged North American wall outlet, and then plug your device into the back end of the foot switch's piggyback plug.
• When you press on the foot switch, the device will turn on.

Foot Switches that come with cable that have leads (wires) on the end of the cable:

• Warning: Turn off all power to the device before performing any installation or maintenance work.
• You will have to attach the wires on the end of the foot switch cable directly to your device with these models.
• Most foot switches are typically wired "normally open," meaning the switch is off until you press on the pedal.
• The switch is wired into one side of the electrical circuit (normally the "hot" side, if applicable).
• The function of the switch is simply to close the line on one side of the circuit, so once the pedal is pressed (for "normally open" circuits), the current will flow to the device.
• The white and black lead colors on the foot switch cable have no relation to household wiring colors.
• The foot switch wiring in effect become one wire leading to the device you are attaching it to once the switch is closed.
• The green ground lead must be connected to a properly-connected ground location per applicable electrical codes.
• We recommend you contact a certified electrician with any questions about wiring a foot switch, or to hire an electrician to perform your installation if you are not qualified.
• Follow all applicable electrical codes and safety practices.

Foot Switches that come with no wiring or cable:

• Similar to foot switches supplied with cable and leads (see above), but you will have to attach the cable to the switch terminals and ground location inside the foot switch, as well as ensure proper strain relief of the cable.

In addition to electrical ratings and the size or shape of the foot switch, the enclosure rating is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a foot switch for a particular application. Foot switches typically require one of the following enclosure ratings (for non-hazardous locations), as defined by UL, CSA, and NEMA (see also www.ssccontrols.com/enclosures):

• Type 1 Enclosure Rating — For indoor use only.  Protects against accidental contact with live parts.  All SSC Control foot switches have at least this rating.
• Type 2, 4, and 13 Enclosure Rating — Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use when properly connected.  Offers protection from water (rain, splashing water, hose-directed water, ice, and snow), dust, and oil. Can be used in hose-down environments.  Often called drip-tight, dust-tight, water-tight, and oil-tight.  The SSC Controls G-Series foot switches have this rating.

• SSC Controls -- Glossary
• SSC Controls -- Foot Switch Safety Warning
• Machine guarding of presses (OSHA)
• Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA)
• National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
• Switch circuitry and switches from Wikipedia
• General resource about electric circuits from allaboutcircuits.com
• General resource about home electrical systems
• General discussion of common circuit concepts
• More about switch contacts