A
signal switch (200) for a
power tool, comprising: a lower housing
assembly (230) having: a plurality of side walls connected to collectively define an
interior space; a bottom wall (232) attached to a lower portion of the plurality of side walls and covering a lower portion of the
interior space, the bottom wall (232) defining at least one opening (236); an
actuator (240) pivotally supported within the
interior space, the
actuator (240) having a first end (246) and a second end (248); an upper housing
assembly (228) having: a top wall attached to an upper portion of the plurality of side walls and covering the upper portion of the interior space, the top wall defining an opening; a
paddle (226) extending through the opening and having an arm (256) located within the interior space;a tilting mechanism (252) configured to allow the
paddle (226) to pivot between an ON position and an OFF position; and a spring-loaded pressing member (260) at one end of the arm (256); and a microswitch circuit board (242) comprising: a circuit board attached to the bottom wall (232), the circuit board defining at least two slots (244) through which the at least two fixed terminals (234) extend; at least one microswitch (238) on an inner side of the circuit board positioned to extend through the at least one opening (236) in the bottom wall (232) and into the interior space; an
electrical connector (262) on an outer side of the circuit board, the
electrical connector (262) configured to connect to an electrical cable (272);andconductive traces (264) electrically connected to the microswitches (238) and the
electrical connector (262),wherein, when the
paddle (226) is in the ON position, the arm (256) is positioned such that the pressing member (260) presses the second end (248) of the actuating member (240) into engagement with the at least one microswitch (238) projecting into the interior space, andwherein, when the paddle (226) is in the OFF position, the arm (256) is positioned such that the pressing member (260) presses the first end (246) of the actuating member (240) downward, thereby moving the second end (248) of the actuating member (240) away from the at least one microswitch (238);