I had ordered a couple of rotary switches from Tayda for a little synth I was working on. I took the nut and washers off to see if it would fit through the hole, and when I re-assembled everything, the switch had a different number of positions than I thought it did. What the...?
On closer inspection, I noticed that a) there was a little tongue on the washer that fit flush against the switch, and b) there were a dozen or so holes around the threaded collet on the top of the switch, that the tongue on the washer could fit into. Depending on which hole you fit the washer into, you could change the number of switch positions, such that a 2P6T could be made into a 2P%T or a 1P12T turned into a 1P7T or whatever. I noticed that a 4P3T switch I had could acually have 12 switch clicks/positions. Of course, the logic of the contacts meant that you weren't necessarily increasing the number of electronic contacts possible, although I can see where there might be some possibilities.
This is a first! I can't believe that I have known something for quite a while that Mr. Hammer is just discovering! :icon_wink:
These switches are great for the "in between" number of positions.....so you don't have a "dead" position....or have to figure out something you don't really need just to fill the position.
Quote from: armdnrdy on February 20, 2014, 03:02:53 PM
This is a first! I can't believe that I have known something for quite a while that Mr. Hammer is just discovering! :icon_wink:
Hey,
anything can happen, Larry. I just turned off the streamed broadcast of the Canada-USA women's hockey, because it was 2-0 for Team USA with 4 minutes to go. And when I went to check, it was 2-2 in overtime, and then Canada goes and wins the gold. (The network was a little slow, and the building shook a little, so I think I wasn't the only person watching.)
I had bought a whack of 6 and 12-position rotaries a long time back, and had never had cause to buy any of those plastic ones until quite recently.
But here's the big question, Larry: if you
knew, why the heck didn't you TELL us? :icon_mrgreen:
Quote from: Mark Hammer on February 20, 2014, 03:15:19 PM
[But here's the big question, Larry: if you knew, why the heck didn't you TELL us? :icon_mrgreen:
I just assumed that everyone knew??? :icon_rolleyes:
I had been purchasing the same type from an ebay seller for a few years.
There was a description on how they worked in the listing.
I probably wouldn't have know myself!
Hey....what's this funny washer that fell out. :icon_eek:
How come my switch doesn't work anymore?
Thanks, this explains why I couldn't find a single pole 4 position switch....
Quote from: Mark Hammer on February 20, 2014, 03:15:19 PM
I just turned off the streamed broadcast of the Canada-USA women's hockey, because it was 2-0 for Team USA with 4 minutes to go. And when I went to check, it was 2-2 in overtime, and then Canada goes and wins the gold. (The network was a little slow, and the building shook a little, so I think I wasn't the only person watching.)
Off-topic, sorry, but I feel like the whole of Canada shook in excitement for a few minutes, while most of the US didn't care ;)
I live in Southern California (you know...where it doesn't rain and the weather is nice year round) and I have friends that are hardcore hockey fans.......
but they're originally from Wisconsin! ;D
Ah yes, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Or as we like to refer to them, the 11th and 12 provinces. :icon_wink:
Quote from: Mark Hammer on February 20, 2014, 04:02:10 PM
Ah yes, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Or as we like to refer to them, the 11th and 12 provinces. :icon_wink:
You can have them!
Quote from: armdnrdy on February 20, 2014, 03:02:53 PM
This is a first! I can't believe that I have known something for quite a while that Mr. Hammer is just discovering! :icon_wink:
My reaction precisely!
Don't you just love it Mark when that WOW moment happens as you discover something new, It's even a bigger WOW moment when a EE like yourself has just discovered the tabbed washer for 1 to 12 positions which I thought would have been common knowledge form about 1990. Hehe Finding new shit is what life is all about. :icon_smile:
I have a 12-position switch that I modded into seven positions just as Mark described. The nice thing is, you can stock rotary switches without having to worry about the exact configuration you need.
I'm surprised that some people did not realize that the Stop Ring (that's the term by which I know it) is standard with these Alpha switches. What I really want them to make is a 1/2" version of these switches. That exists in Grayhill and C & K, but godawfully expensive. I will continue to noodge them.
Quote from: Ice-9 on February 20, 2014, 06:54:27 PM
Don't you just love it Mark when that WOW moment happens as you discover something new, It's even a bigger WOW moment when a EE like yourself has just discovered the tabbed washer for 1 to 12 positions which I thought would have been common knowledge form about 1990. Hehe Finding new sh*t is what life is all about. :icon_smile:
Not an EE, and no electronic training. Just a guy. And like I say, these are probably the first rotary switches, apart from what Radio Shack carried, that I've bought in decades.
And now that I know about this, probably not the last.
I've been trying to think of a good way to use one in place of the 5th knob on my Rickenbacker that I never use.
Quote from: mth5044 on February 20, 2014, 04:09:51 PM
Quote from: Mark Hammer on February 20, 2014, 04:02:10 PM
Ah yes, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Or as we like to refer to them, the 11th and 12 provinces. :icon_wink:
You can have them!
Uhhhh.... what are we gonna do with Maine then? I feel that the Oregon Border dispute of 1846 is going to fire up again.
Quote from: smallbearelec on February 20, 2014, 08:03:51 PM
I'm surprised that some people did not realize that the Stop Ring (that's the term by which I know it) is standard with these Alpha switches.
That does surprise me. I learned about those shopping on your site, and took it for common knowledge.
QuoteWhat I really want them to make is a 1/2" version of these switches. That exists in Grayhill and C & K, but godawfully expensive. I will continue to noodge them.
What I want is the right-angle version of this, in the same height as the 9mm pots: http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=581 (although now that I'm looking, there's no mention of a stomp ring with these. Hmm.)
Now that you stock 9mm pots that are the same height as your red toggles, this is the last of my PC/panel mount component height struggles. I hate wiring! :icon_evil:
Now I know why my 4T switch keeps clicking all of the way around! I need to find that washer I threw in my parts bin and install it! It thought I was just buying crappy switches. Thanks!
Quote from: smallbearelec on February 20, 2014, 08:03:51 PM
What I really want them to make is a 1/2" version of these switches. That exists in Grayhill and C & K, but godawfully expensive. I will continue to noodge them.
+1 I will sign the petition for 1/2 inch version to be made.
Quote from: Jdansti on February 21, 2014, 01:19:46 AM
Now I know why my 4T switch keeps clicking all of the way around! I need to find that washer I threw in my parts bin and install it! It thought I was just buying crappy switches. Thanks!
That's pretty much how I found out about it. I had the washers and nut off a 4P3T, and the darn thing just kept turning and turning, clicking and clicking, and I'm thinking "When the heck did I order a 4P12T switch!!?" :icon_eek:
I'd love to try the search function to collect up all those thread references to the switch stop washer, but anyone who has used search will know why I'm not doing it.
the best fun with the stop washer is when you pull it out and then absent-mindedly clik the switch, as we all do, then put the washer the wrong side of the rotor. now youv'e got the stop in pos 8, but have only 3 cliks. I'm surprised you've never done similar, mark.
Quote from: duck_arse on February 21, 2014, 09:47:55 AM
I'd love to try the search function to collect up all those thread references to the switch stop washer, but anyone who has used search will know why I'm not doing it.
the best fun with the stop washer is when you pull it out and then absent-mindedly clik the switch, as we all do, then put the washer the wrong side of the rotor. now youv'e got the stop in pos 8, but have only 3 cliks. I'm surprised you've never done similar, mark.
Yeah, been there and had plenty head scratching wondering why my logic is messed up, since then I always remember to return the switch to position 1 before fitting the tab washer. :icon_redface:
Raising the thread from the dead...
I have been playing around with these.
I have here a 3 pole 4 postion rotary switch and figured out that you can adjust the number of stops (as Mark has explained).
Playing around a with my multimeter I have a feel for how the internals connect,
The poles are labelled A, B, and C and the other contacts are labelled 1 to 12 and are arranged in a circle like a clock.
In the stock configuration
Position 1: A ->1 B->5 C->9
Position 2: A ->2 B->6 C->10
Position 3: A ->3 B->7 C->11
Position 4: A ->4 B->8 C->12
If you move the stop washer you can get up to 12 positions, but they just repeat
Position 5 is identical to Position 1
Position 6 is identical to Position 2
Position 7 is identical to Position 3
Position 8 is identical to Position 4
Position 9 is identical to Position 1
Position 10 is identical to Position 2
Position 11 is identical to Position 3
Position 12 is identical to Position 4
(I picture the internals like a clock with 3 hands with 120 degrees between each)
I can see moving the stop washer to eliminate a stop if you don't need a position, but trying to extend positions results in duplication so I can't see the use of that.
Quote from: electrosonic on March 23, 2014, 02:51:11 PM
I can see moving the stop washer to eliminate a stop if you don't need a position, but trying to extend positions results in duplication so I can't see the use of that.
That is exactly what the stop is for.
Let's say you need a single pole five position switch. You can use a single pole 12 position, (and have seven non functional positions) or you can use a 2 pole six position, (and have one non functional position)
Or you can adjust one of these rotary switches to the exact amount to where there are no "dead" positions.
My point was that you can eliminate stops, but you can't adjust the stop washer to get (for example) a fifth position out of a 3P4T rotary.
Well not exactly, you can get a fifth position, but it would duplicate the first position. Maybe that's obvious to some, but it wasn't to me.
No you can not.
Even though you have 12 pins, the switch is still set up internally as a 1 pole, 2pole, etc.
> fifth position out of a 3P4T
It's 30 degrees per click, 12 positions.
They make the stator with (usually) 12 contacts.
But there are different rotors.
With a 1-wiper rotor you can select 1 of 12.
With a 2-wiper rotor you get two 1-of-6 selections.
With a 3-wiper rotor you get three 1-of-4 selections.
With a 4-wiper rotor you get four 1-of-3 selections.
With a 6-wiper rotor you get six 1-of-2 selections.
If you set the stop for more positions it overlaps. The A wiper becomes the B wiper and goes through the same sequence. Generally pointless. (Gotta be some use but I can't imagine what.)
You could change your 3P4T switch to another configuration "simply" by replacing the rotor. Simple at the factory. YOU can't get a naked rotor cheaper than you can get another switch; and some switch types can't be put-together again in the field.
(http://idahorhythm.com/images/allfivepositions_1_.gif)