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www.us-tech.com Choosing the Right Contact Material:
Gold-Plated vs. Silver Contacts in Electrical Switches
By Randy Myers, Field Application Engineer, EAO Corporation I
n the world of electrical pushbuttons, key- lock switches, lever switches, and emer- gency stop (E-Stop) switches, the material
used for electrical contacts plays a critical role in determining the performance, longevity, and reliability of the compo- nent. Among the most common materi- als used are silver and gold-plated con- tacts. While both materials offer sig- nificant benefits, their suitability depends on the specific application, operating voltage and current, and the surrounding environment.
Contact Behavior Silver is one of the most conduc-
tive materials available, making it ideal for high-power electrical applica- tions. Silver contacts are often found in switches that handle higher volt- ages and currents — typically starting around 20V and up to 10A. These include industrial equipment switches, power appliance toggles, and circuits that perform direct switching. One of silver’s advantages is its ability to
self-cleaning mechanism. This process hap- pens when high current flows through the contacts, burning away oxidation and main- taining consistent conductivity.
is not strong enough to burn off oxidation, this can lead to increased contact resistance and switch failure over time. For these envi- ronments and applications, silver becomes a less reliable option. Gold, while more expensive, is
chemically inert and highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation. As a result, it excels in low-voltage and low-cur- rent environments where silver would be unreliable. Gold-plated contacts are typically used for applications like con- trol panels, precision instrumentation, audio/video electronics, and outdoor or remote systems where environmental contamination is more likely. Because gold prevents surface
Choosing the right contact material is critical for switches to operate in various environments.
However, silver has a known weakness:
withstand high electrical loads. In fact, the oxidation that naturally occurs when silver is exposed to air is often removed through a
its susceptibility to oxidation in ambient con- ditions such as humidity, air pollution, or dust. In low-level circuits where the current
degradation, it ensures stable contact resistance even in polluted or humid settings. A thin layer of gold is usually plated over a more conductive base metal, such as silver, to strike a bal- ance between cost and performance. The result is a switch that maintains high reliability over time, particularly
in applications where precision and consis- tent signal integrity are critical. Gold-plated contacts are particularly
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