Industrial pressure washing requires operators to control the spray wand, manage the hose & maintain control of the work area. A pressure washer foot pedal provides hands-free activation, allowing the operator to operate the equipment with their foot while keeping both hands available. Paired with a pneumatic air switch, this setup also separates the operator control from the electrical switching point.
Looking for hands-free pressure washer control? View Presair pneumatic foot pedals and Tinytrol air switches to explore available control options for your application.
How Does Pneumatic Foot Control Work?
The system uses air pressure to remotely actuate an electrical air switch. The pedal itself does not contain the electrical switching contacts.
When the operator steps on the control, it sends an air signal through pneumatic tubing to the air switch. The air pressure actuates the switch contacts, which control the applicable electrical function of the equipment.
This configuration keeps both hands available to manage the spray wand, hose & workpiece while providing convenient start and stop control from the operator station.
B621BA-5FT Foot Pedal & TVM111B Tinytrol Air Switch
One Presair configuration for this application combines the B621BA-5FT pneumatic foot pedal with the TVM111B Tinytrol air switch. Other foot pedal and air switch options are also available depending on the equipment and control requirements.
This configuration includes:
- B621BA-5FT Foot Pedal: Hard pneumatic foot pedal supplied with 5 ft of tubing
- TVM111B Tinytrol Air Switch: SPDT air switch rated at 21A with a threaded mount
- Pneumatic Tubing: Carries the air signal between the operator control and Tinytrol switch
The B621BA-5FT hard foot pedal provides the operator interface. When actuated, it sends an air signal through the tubing to the TVM111B Tinytrol air switch.
The Tinytrol responds to the pneumatic signal by changing its electrical contacts, allowing it to control the applicable equipment function.
The B621BA-5FT and TVM111B are one option for this type of control system. Presair offers additional pneumatic foot pedals and air switches that can be selected based on the requirements of the pressure-washing equipment.
Benefits of a Pressure Washer Foot Pedal
Moving activation from the hand to the foot can make industrial pressure-washing processes easier to control. The operator can remain focused on directing the high-pressure stream rather than reaching for a separate button or lever.
Hands-Free Spray Control
Foot activation leaves both hands available for handling the spray wand, positioning the hose & controlling the cleaning process.
This can be useful during repetitive operations where the equipment must be started and stopped frequently.
Electrical Isolation at the Operator Control
Water and cleaning fluids are common around pressure-washing equipment. With pneumatic actuation, the operator interacts with an air-operated control rather than an electrical switch at their foot.
Pneumatic tubing carries the air signal to the air switch, where the electrical switching occurs away from the pedal.
Reduced Hand & Wrist Interaction
Repeated use of hand-operated controls can contribute to hand and wrist fatigue during extended cleaning processes.
Moving activation to the foot reduces the need to repeatedly reach for a separate control. The operator can instead keep their hands focused on positioning the wand and managing the hose.
Direct Equipment Control
The operator can actuate the connected switching function while remaining in position at the work area. Stepping on the pedal sends the pneumatic signal to the air switch, which performs the electrical switching action.
Why Pair a Foot Pedal with an Air Switch?
The two components perform separate functions within the control system.
The pneumatic pedal serves as the operator interface and generates an air signal when actuated. The air switch responds to that signal and performs the electrical switching function.
This arrangement:
- Keeps electrical switching away from the operator’s foot
- Provides hands-free equipment activation
- Leaves both hands available for the spray wand and hose
- Uses pneumatic tubing between the operator control and electrical switch
- Allows the electrical switch to be positioned separately from the pedal
For pressure-washing equipment, this configuration provides a straightforward way to combine foot operation with remote electrical switching.
Selecting the Right Foot Pedal & Air Switch
The appropriate components depend on the electrical and operational requirements of the equipment. The B621BA-5FT and TVM111B combination described above is one available configuration rather than the only option.
When selecting components, consider:
- Electrical load and switch rating
- Required switch function
- Momentary or maintained operation
- Pedal style
- Tubing length
- Air switch mounting method
For the configuration highlighted here, the B621BA-5FT provides a hard pedal with 5 ft of tubing. The TVM111B Tinytrol provides a 21A SPDT air switch with a threaded mount.
However, equipment requirements can vary. Presair offers other pneumatic foot pedal options and Tinytrol miniature air switches that can be considered for different control requirements.
Hands-Free Pneumatic Control for Pressure Washing
A pressure washer foot pedal paired with an air switch provides hands-free equipment control while separating the operator interface from the electrical switching point. When the operator actuates the pedal, an air signal travels through the tubing to the switch, which performs the required electrical switching action.
For this application, Presair’s B621BA-5FT foot pedal and TVM111B Tinytrol are one available combination. Presair also offers other foot pedal and air switch options to accommodate different equipment and control requirements.
Need help determining which foot pedal & air switch fit your pressure-washing equipment? Contact Presair to discuss your application with our team. We provide direct customer service & technical support.
