Foot Switch Symbol
Definition: The Foot Switch symbol represents a foot-operated pilot device that opens or closes contacts when the operator presses a pedal, drawn per NEMA ICS / IEC 60947-5-1 conventions as a contact symbol with a wedge-shaped pedal actuator, here with Common and NO (normally open) terminals.
Also known as: foot pedal switch, treadle switch, pedal switch, foot-operated switch, footswitch, guarded foot switch, momentary pedal.
What the Foot Switch symbol means
The Foot Switch symbol denotes a control-circuit (pilot-duty) switch actuated by the operator's foot, freeing both hands for workpiece handling. Like a push button it is a command device, not a power switch: in a typical diagram its NO contact closes a relay or contactor coil circuit, a solenoid valve, or a PLC input rather than carrying motor current directly. The 'normally open' state is defined with the pedal released — pressing the pedal closes Common to NO; releasing it re-opens the circuit (momentary action), unless the switch is a maintained (latching) type.
Because foot switches often initiate hazardous machine motion (press strokes, welder fire, shear cuts), diagrams frequently show them wired in series with guards, anti-tie-down logic, or two-hand controls. Safety-rated foot switches add a third 'kick-out' position or dual redundant contacts monitored by a safety relay, and machine-safety standards restrict when a foot switch alone may initiate a press stroke.
How to identify the Foot Switch symbol
The distinguishing feature is the actuator: a wedge or pedal shape drawn above (or attached by a lever to) an otherwise standard contact symbol. In NEMA/ANSI ladder diagrams the foot switch appears as the familiar NO or NC contact drawn with a curved treadle mark — JIC/NEMA symbol charts list it explicitly as 'foot switch, normally open' and 'foot switch, normally closed'. In IEC 60617 the same idea is expressed with the general contact symbol plus the foot-operated actuator qualifier (a pedal-shaped operator linked to the contact by a mechanical dashed line).
Do not confuse it with a limit switch (roller or lever actuator) or a pressure switch (diaphragm qualifier): the pedal/treadle mark is what says 'operated by foot'. NO contacts are drawn open-circuit; NC contacts closed — always in the released (unactuated) state.
Live editor identity: Live-library identity: `foot-switch`, 30 × 50 canvas units, 2 logical terminals. Match this exact SVG and terminal list when identifying the placeable editor symbol; do not identify a physical package from the schematic outline alone.
Function and usage boundary
Mechanically, pressing the pedal drives a plunger or lever that snaps an internal contact block — usually the same double-break contact blocks used in push-button stations — from its resting state to its actuated state. Momentary versions return by spring when the foot lifts; maintained versions alternate state on successive presses, like a push-on/push-off button. Industrial pedals are commonly housed in cast-metal enclosures with a full guard hood so a falling object cannot actuate them accidentally (anti-trip protection).
In the control circuit, the NO contact typically energizes a contactor coil, solenoid valve, or PLC input for as long as the pedal is held — giving the operator dead-man style control of jog, feed, or weld functions. Safety-function pedals use two contact channels plus a distinct third pedal position (full overtravel opens the circuit again) so that a startled operator stamping down hard stops the machine rather than continuing the stroke.
Usage boundary: Use the Foot Switch abstraction only when the intended circuit can be expressed through these logical ports: `com` (Common), `no` (NO). Select a versioned physical profile and exact manufacturer datasheet before assigning package pins, ratings, or fabrication dimensions.
Standards: IEC vs ANSI
| IEC 60617 | IEC 60947-5-1 (Low-voltage switchgear — Control circuit devices and switching elements) governs the contact ratings and utilization categories (AC-15, DC-13) of foot switches; IEC 60617 provides the contact symbol with a foot-operated actuator qualifier. Machine-application rules come from ISO 12100 risk assessment and type-C standards for presses. |
|---|---|
| ANSI/IEEE 315 | NEMA ICS 5 covers control-circuit pilot devices in North America; the JIC/NEMA symbol set includes dedicated foot switch NO and NC symbols (contact with treadle mark). NFPA 79 governs their use in industrial machinery control circuits; ANSI B11 machine-tool standards restrict foot-switch initiation of hazardous strokes. |
| Key difference | NEMA/JIC diagrams use a specific pictorial treadle mark on the contact; IEC 60617 builds the symbol from a general contact plus a foot-actuator qualifier linked by a dashed mechanical line. Contact behaviour conventions are identical: state is drawn as-released, and ratings are expressed as NEMA designations (e.g. A600) or IEC utilization categories (e.g. AC-15). |
The displayed SVG is the live editor implementation, not a licensed reproduction or certification of an IEC or IEEE database glyph. Verify the exact official entry and project edition before issuing work.
Variant availability
- Editor implementation (available): This is the exact SVG and terminal geometry placed by the CircuitDiagramMaker editor.
- IEC 60617 (reference only): IEC 60617 is the official international source. This page does not present the editor SVG as a licensed or certified IEC reproduction.
- ANSI/IEEE 315 (reference only): IEEE 315 is the North American reference listed by IEEE as inactive-reserved; use the edition required by the project.
Logical terminals
The live editor exposes `com` (Common), `no` (NO). These are stable logical terminal IDs for diagram connectivity, not a promise that they equal physical package pin numbers.
| Logical ID | Editor terminal name |
|---|---|
| com | Common |
| no | NO |
Polarity and direction
This editor symbol does not encode a universal positive/negative orientation. Do not infer physical polarity or package pin numbering from left/right placement alone.
Reference designator
Project-defined: No single reference letter is asserted for this broad symbol. Apply the project standard and equipment-classification rules consistently.
Where the Foot Switch symbol is used
- Spot and MIG welding stations where the operator holds the workpiece with both hands and fires the weld by pedal
- Hydraulic and mechanical press controls (with guarding and anti-tie-down logic per ANSI B11 / press safety standards)
- Industrial sewing machines and textile equipment controlling motor run and speed
- Sheet-metal shears, brakes, and tube benders initiating the cutting or bending stroke
- Medical and laboratory equipment (dental drills, surgical tools) where sterile hands-free control is required
- Conveyor jog and hoist inch controls giving dead-man style momentary motion
Key facts
- A foot switch is a pilot device: it switches control circuits (coils, solenoids, PLC inputs), not motor power — the same contact blocks as push-button stations, actuated by pedal instead of finger.
- Contact state on the symbol is always drawn with the pedal released: NO = open until pressed, NC = closed until pressed.
- Momentary (spring-return) action is standard; maintained (alternate-action) versions latch on each press.
- Guard hoods (full-shield enclosures) provide anti-trip protection so falling objects cannot actuate the pedal — mandatory in many press applications.
- Ratings follow NEMA designations (e.g. A600) or IEC 60947-5-1 utilization categories (AC-15 for AC coils, DC-13 for DC coils).
- Safety-rated foot switches provide dual redundant contact channels and a three-position action (mid-travel = run, full stamp-down = stop) for ISO 13849-1 Category 3 circuits.
- Machine-safety standards (ANSI B11 series, press type-C standards) restrict using a foot switch alone to initiate a hazardous stroke — guards or two-hand control usually accompany it.
- Typical electrical life is 100,000–1,000,000 operations at rated pilot duty; mechanical life up to 10 million.
Common interpretation mistakes
- Treating the Foot Switch drawing (30 × 50 canvas units) as a physical footprint. The schematic outline expresses electrical intent; package and panel dimensions come from the selected physical profile.
- Copying `com`, `no` directly to a wire marker or manufacturer package pin number. These are logical Foot Switch port IDs and require an exact ordered-part terminal map.
- Assuming every unlabelled or generic Foot Switch terminal has the same role across manufacturers and variants.
Frequently asked questions
What does the foot switch symbol look like in a ladder diagram?
It is a standard NO or NC contact drawn with a pedal/treadle mark — a small wedge or curved foot lever — attached to the contact. JIC/NEMA symbol charts list 'foot switch NO' and 'foot switch NC' explicitly; IEC 60617 shows a general contact linked by a dashed mechanical line to a foot-operator qualifier. The contact state shown is always with the pedal released.
Is a foot switch normally open or normally closed?
Both exist, and many pedals contain one of each (1NO+1NC). 'Normally' refers to the released state: an NO foot switch closes its circuit only while pressed (typical for initiate/run functions), while an NC contact opens when pressed (used for interlocks or, in safety pedals, the stop channel). This symbol provides Common and NO terminals — the most common start/run configuration.
Can a foot switch start a machine on its own?
Only if the risk assessment allows it. Machine-safety standards (ANSI B11 series, ISO 12100-based type-C standards) generally prohibit a bare foot switch from initiating a hazardous stroke unless the point of operation is guarded, or the pedal is a safety-rated three-position type monitored by a safety relay with anti-tie-down and single-stroke logic. For non-hazardous functions (welder fire with proper fixturing, conveyor jog) a standard momentary pedal is normal practice.
What is a three-position safety foot switch?
A pedal with three detectable positions: released (off), mid-travel (enable/run), and full depression past a tactile break point (off again, often latching until manually reset). The idea is that a startled operator either releasing or stamping down hard both result in a stop. Combined with dual redundant contacts monitored by a safety relay, it supports Category 3 / PL d-e circuits per ISO 13849-1.
What current can a foot switch handle?
Standard industrial pedals are pilot-duty devices: NEMA A600 or IEC AC-15 rated around 10 A thermal, switching roughly 6 A at 120 V AC or 3 A at 240 V AC inductive, and about 0.5–1 A at 125 V DC (DC-13). They are meant to drive contactor coils, relays, solenoid valves, or PLC inputs — not to carry motor load current. For direct motor switching, use the pedal to drive a contactor.
Sources and verification
- IEC 60617:2026 DB — Graphical symbols for diagrams (International Electrotechnical Commission) — The current official IEC graphical-symbol database and the electrotechnical areas it covers. Exact symbol identity data requires IEC access.; claim scope: standards
- IEEE/ANSI 315-1975 — Graphic Symbols for Electrical and Electronics Diagrams (IEEE Standards Association) — The official catalogue record for North American diagram symbols and reference-designation letters; IEEE lists the standard as inactive-reserved.; claim scope: standards, reference_designator
- IEC 61666:2010+AMD1:2021 — Identification of terminals within a system (International Electrotechnical Commission) — General principles for identifying terminals within systems; it does not replace the exact ordered-device datasheet.
- IEC 81346-2:2019 — Object classes and reference-designation codes (International Electrotechnical Commission) — The official classification scheme used to form reference designations across technical disciplines.; claim scope: reference_designator
- IEC 61082-1:2014 — Preparation of documents used in electrotechnology (International Electrotechnical Commission) — General presentation rules for electrotechnical diagrams, drawings, and tables.; claim scope: standards, usage
Geometry fingerprint: c49c2e318adedb75. A changed SVG, canvas size, or terminal definition invalidates the recorded review.
Related symbols
- Emergency Stop symbol
- Limit Switch NC symbol
- Limit Switch NO symbol
- Push Button NC symbol
- Push Button NO symbol
- Relay Coil symbol
Physical breadboard, PCB, and panel mapping
No universal physical profile is published for this symbol yet. Create a versioned custom part from the exact manufacturer dimensions and terminal map before fabrication.
Place the Foot Switch symbol directly on a wiring diagram or schematic in the free online editor — no download required.