There are a few key questions that need to be answered when selecting a Reed Switch for a design. First is to know what the expected switching voltage and current of the electrical load will be. Additionally, users will need to know if the Reed Switch will be used in an AC or DC circuit. Knowing the type of electrical load (that is, resistive, inductive, or capacitive) will also be important as inductive and capacitive loads may need additional protection to ensure the expected lifetime of the Reed Switch. The number of switching cycles expected throughout the lifetime of the product will also need to be known to ensure that the Reed Switch contacts can reliably operate over that time period. Additional items to consider include whether or not a magnet will need to be provided with the Reed Switch as well as knowing the activation distance requirements for the magnet-switch pair. Having any ferrous metals near the Reed Switch will affect the activation of the Reed Switch, so it is important to know how those will affect the magnetic operation of the Reed Switch. Also, it is worthwhile to consider a complete sensor assembly as a solution. The assemblies can simplify the process of designing the overall mechanical and electrical system. Various wire types, wire lengths, and terminations are available to suit virtually any installation.