Mechanical life represents the maximum life expectancy for rotary switches. When the wheel reaches the correct position a spring-loaded ball bearing or piece of spring steel pressing against the wheel presses into the groove holding it into place. A detent uses a wheel with notches or grooves cut into it and attached to the rotor. This mechanism makes the switch 'click' into position and stay in place until enough force is applied, preventing the switch from turning freely and being put in the wrong setting accidentally. In order to put the rotary switch in the proper position, a detent mechanism is used. Depending on the number of rotors, the switch can have dozens of different positions and each one can be attached to a particular circuit. The rotors are on a spindle and each rotor has an arm projecting outward that can make contact with a terminal when the switch is in a certain position. Mechanical rotary switches are still used however, especially in equipment where a computer failure could be a safety issue. Rotary switches are becoming less common since complex switching operations are being done with digital equipment such as touchscreens. While rotary switches can be found on many types of industrial equipment, they can also be found in consumer equipment such as in a car for adjusting things like fan speed. Rotary switches can also be designed to have many contacts happening at once on a single switch position. These devices have some advantages over other switches since turning the actuator can turn circuits on or off depending on the position and many different actuation positions are possible. They are used to control many different circuits with a single switch. Rotary switches move in a circle and can stop in several positions.

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