MIL-DTL-21604F
3. REQUIREMENTS
3.1 Specification sheets. The individual item requirements shall be as specified herein and in accordance with the
applicable specification sheet. In the event of any conflict between requirements of this specification and the
specification sheet, the latter shall govern.
3.2 Qualification. Switches furnished under this specification shall be products which are authorized by the
qualifying activity for listing on the applicable qualified products lists at the time of award of contract (see 4.5 and 6.3).
3.3 Switch types. Switches furnished under this specification shall be as defined in 3.3.1 and 3.3.2.
3.3.1 Switches covered by specification sheet and identified by type designation. Switches which are completely
defined by a military specification sheet (see 3.1), and switches differing from the specification sheet only in the
number of sections and having a number of sections within the minimum and maximum number shown on the
specification sheet, shall be as specified in 6.2.
3.3.2 Switch types not shown on a specification sheet. Where the applicable specification sheet does not show a
specific switch type (see 3.3.1), the individual part requirements shall be as specified (see 6.2). The switches shall
be a product of the basic style, design, and construction as the switches shown on the specification sheets and shall
be acquired from a source listed on the qualified products list for the same specification sheet (see 3.2). Unless
otherwise specified (see 6.2), the individual switch shall comply with the inspection requirements shown in 4.6.
3.4 Material. Material shall be as specified herein. When a definite material is not specified, a material shall be
used which will enable the switches to meet the performance requirements of this specification (see 6.2).
Acceptance of any constituent material shall not be construed as a guaranty of the acceptance of the finished
product.
3.4.1 Metals. Metals shall be of sea water corrosion-resistant alloys or shall be plated with IVD aluminum with
chromate treatment, type II, class 3 (plate thickness .0003 inch (.008 mm)) in accordance with MIL-DTL-83488
immersion zinc flake/chromate dispersion, zinc plated in accordance with class 2, type II of ASTM B 633; nickel
plated in accordance with class 1, grade G of SAE-AMS-QQ-N-290 or anodized in accordance with MIL-A-8625
(aluminum alloys only), to resist corrosion. Aluminum shall not be used for structural parts and operating shaft.
3.4.1.1 Contact material and plating. Unless otherwise specified (see 3.1 and 6.2), the movable (rotor) switch
blade contact shall be composition A phosphor bronze in accordance with ASTM B139/B139M. The stationary
(stator) contacts shall be copper in accordance with ASTM B152/B152M. Threaded holes shall have a minimum of
three full threads. The electrical contact surfaces shall be silver plated in accordance with ASTM B700. The movable
contact surface shall have an inlay or overlay of a minimum .002 inch (.05 mm) of fine silver or silver alloy. The
stationary electrical contact surface shall have a minimum thickness of .0001 inch (.003 mm).
3.4.1.2 Current-carrying parts. Ferrous material or aluminum shall not be used for current-carrying parts, including
terminal hardware.
3.4.1.3 Dissimilar metals. When dissimilar metals are used in intimate contact with each other, protection against
electrolysis and corrosion shall be provided. The use of dissimilar metals in contact, which tend toward active
electrolytic corrosion (particularly copper alloys, copper, or steel used in contact with aluminum or aluminum alloy) is
not acceptable. However, metal plating or metal spraying of dissimilar base metals to provide similar or suitable
abutting surfaces is permitted. (The use of dissimilar metals separated by a suitable insulating material is also
permitted.) Dissimilar metals are defined in MIL-STD-889.
3.4.1.4 Lubrication.
3.4.1.4.1 Detent mechanism. The detent mechanism and other mechanical moving parts shall be lubricated with a
compound in accordance with MIL-PRF-23827.
3.4.1.4.2 Contacts. Contacts shall be lubricated with a compound in accordance with MIL-PRF-23827, or equal.
The method for lubricating with contacts shall result in the application of a minute amount of lubrication on the
contacts.
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