Not all resistive touchscreens are the same. When shopping for a resistive touchscreen, you’ll probably encounter a few different types, the most common being 4-wire and 5-wire. Both types are still considered resistive touchscreens because they are made of an electrically resistive material that requires the use of pressure to detect touch commands. 5-wire resistive touchscreens, however, offer several advantages over their 4-wire counterparts. What is a 5-wire resistive touchscreen exactly, and why should you choose it?
Overview of 5-Wire Resistive Touchscreens
A 5-wire resistive touchscreen is a type of advanced resistive-based touchscreen that’s defined by the position of its sensors. All resistive touchscreens have sensors. Sensors are responsible for detecting touch commands. When you tap the display interface, one or more sensors will detect your touch command. 5-wire resistive touchscreens are specifically designed with sensors around the corners of the bottom layer.
5-wire resistive touchscreens still operate on the same principle as all other resistive touchscreens. They are made of multiple layers of an electrically resistive material. Upon tapping the display interface, the layers will push together. The device’s sensors will then register the location where the layers touch each other as a touch event.
Benefits of 5-Wire Resistive Touchscreens
When compared to 4-wire resistive touchscreens, 5-wire touchscreens are typically more accurate. They can pinpoint the exact location of a touch command with a superior level of accuracy compared to that of other touchscreen technologies.
In addition to being highly accurate, 5-wire resistive touchscreens are durable. Many restaurants, factories and other workplaces with harsh environmental conditions use them for this very reason. 5-wire resistive touchscreens can withstand environmental conditions, such as moisture and liquids, without succumbing to damage.
All resistive touchscreens support a variety of different materials — and 5-wire resistive touchscreens are no exception. Some of them are made of glass layers, whereas others are made of plastic layers. There are even 5-wire resistive touchscreens made of both glass and plastic layers.
Another benefit of 5-wire resistive touchscreens is their cost. While prices vary, they tend to cost less than many other types of touchscreens, including capacitive.
Choosing a 5-Wire Resistive Touchscreen
If you’re going to buy a 5-wire resistive touchscreen, you should consider the material. As previously mentioned, they are available in many different materials. Some of these materials are stronger and more durable than others.
You should also consider backlighting when choosing a 5-wire resistive touchscreen. 5-wire resistive touchscreens support several types of backlighting, including light-emitting diode (LED), electroluminescent (EL) and others.
