APPLICATION NOTE
Power Handling Capability
of Electromechanical Switches
Page 2
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Introduction
RF/microwave electromechanical switches are used in a wide variety of signal routing
applications for test and measurement systems. Typical applications for electromechanical
switches include: selection of multiple signal sources to one output, selection of multiple
input signals to one measurement instrument, transfer switching to insert or remove a device
in a signal path and matrix switching of multiple inputs and outputs. Keysight Technologies,
Inc. electro-mechanical switches provide broadband performance with low insertion loss,
high isolation, and exceptional repeatability throughout a long operating life. One important
parameter for electromechanical switches that is often misunderstood is power handling. The
ability of a switch to handle power is very dependant on the design and materials used in a
switch. In the datasheet, there are different power-handling ratings for the switches such as
hot switching, cold switching, average power and peak power. Understanding these different
terms will help you avoid catastrophic failure of the switch or instruments.