This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the Alarms, Buzzers, and Sirens category on DigiKey.com
Alarms, Buzzers, and Sirens are devices that produce an audible signal usually like a steady high-pitched hum that is encased within a molded housing. The characteristics are driver circuitry, input type, voltage rated, voltage range, frequency, technology, operating mode, current supply, and port location. The technology is electromechanical, magnetic, piezo, and piezo (with feedback) with a frequency from multiple, 200Hz to 8kHz.
SelectionCharacteristics
Driver Circuitry: Indicates whether or not a device requires a user-provided drive circuit to perform its intended function.
Input Type: The type of voltage signal fed to the device to trigger it to function.
Voltage - Rated: Typically this represents the maximum voltage rating to which a device will meet its given specifications. Exceeding this voltage rating may damage the device and other system components.
Voltage Range: Indicates the span over which a device’s operational supply voltage may be permitted to vary.
Frequency: The dominant frequency the device operates at.
Technology: The type of core technology the device incorporates.
Operating Mode: Describes the tone pattern produced by a device.
Duration: Describes the rate at which a device’s acoustic output is repeated or modulated, often in terms or Pulses, Sweeps, or Warbles Per Second.
Sound Pressure Level (SPL): Characterizes the intensity or “loudness” of the sound emitted by a device, under the indicated measurement conditions.
Current - Supply: This typically represents the maximum current to which a device will meet its given specifications. Exceeding this current may damage the device and/or other system components.
Port Location: Describes location of a hole in a device for sound transmission, relative to the electrical contacts. Applies primarily to devices that consist of a moving diaphragm enclosed within an outer shroud.
Operating Temperature: Recommended operating temperature, typically given in a range or as a maximum. Exceeding these temperatures may affect performance or damage the device and other system components.
Approval Agency: An indication that the product meets the minimum safety standards of an approving agency. These agencies are either government entities or private third-party labs that protect consumer safety.
Ratings: Minimum performance standards of the device, which are typically set by a third party.
Ingress Protection: IP (Ingress Protection) ratings such as (IP20, IP65, IP67, etc.) define how likely water and dirt will get into the system. The first number represents dirt and solid contaminants while the second represents water and liquids.
IP Ratings
| Solids | Liquids | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Protected against solids larger than 50mm. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water. Limited Ingress permitted. |
| 2 | Protected against solids larger than 12.5mm. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water with the enclosure tilted up to 15 degrees from vertical. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 3 | Protected against solids larger than 2.5mm. | Protected against spraying water up to 60 degrees from vertical. Limited ingress permitted for 3 minutes. |
| 4 | Protected against solids larger than 1mm. | Protected against water splashed from any direction. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 5 | Protected against dust. Limited ingress of dust permitted. | Will not affect operation of equipment 2-8 hours. Protected against jets of water. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 6 | Dust tight. No ingress of dust 2-8 hours. | Protected against powerful jets of water. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 7 | ______________________ | Protected against the effects of immersion in 15cm-1m for 30 minutes. |
| 8 | ______________________ | Continuous immersion in water up to 3m for long periods of time. |
| 9 | ______________________ | Protected against high pressure jets of hot water. (30 seconds) |
| 9K | ______________________ | Protected against high pressure jets of hot water. (2 minutes) |
Mounting Type: Indicates how the device is attached.
Termination: The style of the terminations used to connect the device to the system, such as PC Pin, Screw Terminal, or Wire Leads.
Size/Dimension: The physical dimensions of the device. Given as Diameter for round devices, or as Length by Width for other types.
Height - Seated (Max): Indicates how far the device will extend above the surface to which it has been attached.
ProductExamples
| MFR PART # | PS1240P02BT |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 445-2525-1-ND - Cut Tape (CT) |
| MANUFACTURER | TDK Corporation |
| DESCRIPTION | Buzzers Transducer, Externally Driven Piezo 3 V 4kHz 60dB @ 3V, 10cm Through Hole PC Pins |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | PKMCS0909E4000-R1 |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 490-9647-2-ND - Tape & Reel (TR) |
| MANUFACTURER | Murata Electronics |
| DESCRIPTION | Buzzers Transducer, Externally Driven Piezo 1.5 V 4kHz 65dB @ 1.5V, 10cm Surface Mount Solder Pads |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | XL-5530-LW300-S-R |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 668-1258-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | PUI Audio, Inc. |
| DESCRIPTION | Buzzers Indicator, Internally Driven Piezo 12 V 260mA 3kHz 123dB @ 12V, 10cm Bracket Mount Wire Leads |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | PK-20A35EW-24VQ |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 458-1344-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Mallory Sonalert Products Inc. |
| DESCRIPTION | Buzzers Indicator, Internally Driven Piezo 24 V 20mA 3.5kHz 95dB @ 24V, 30cm Panel Mount, Flange Wire Leads |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
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MediaLinks
Videos
Understanding Audio Frequency Range in Audio | DigiKey
Articles
Increasing the Output of a Piezo Transducer Buzzer
Audio Components and Audio Frequency Range
Audible Alarms for Medical Monitoring
Product Training Modules
Piezoelectric and Electromagnetic Buzzers - TDK
Buzzer Product - CUI Devices
Blogs
Have Some Fun with a Piezo Buzzer & Circuit Python
TechForum
Why Isn’t My Buzzer Working?
Alarm Project using PIR Motion Sensor
Replace piezoelectric element for louder alarm?
Fried transistor on cheap horn PA car siren