Interesting rotary switch properties

[Mark Hammer]

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.

[armdnrdy]

This is a first! I can't believe that I have known something for quite a while that Mr. Hammer is just discovering! 

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.

[Mark Hammer]

This is a first! I can't believe that I have known something for quite a while that Mr. Hammer is just discovering! 

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? 

[armdnrdy]

[But here's the big question, Larry: if you knew, why the heck didn't you TELL us? 

I just assumed that everyone knew??? 

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. 
How come my switch doesn't work anymore?

[bufferz]

Thanks, this explains why I couldn't find a single pole 4 position switch....

[Hemmel]

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

[armdnrdy]

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! 

[Mark Hammer]

Ah yes, Wisconsin and Minnesota.  Or as we like to refer to them, the 11th and 12 provinces. 

[mth5044]

Ah yes, Wisconsin and Minnesota.  Or as we like to refer to them, the 11th and 12 provinces. 

You can have them!

[tubegeek]

This is a first! I can't believe that I have known something for quite a while that Mr. Hammer is just discovering! 

My reaction precisely!

[Ice-9]

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. 

[amptramp]

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.

[smallbearelec]

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.

[Mark Hammer]

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. 

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.

[jubal81]

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.

[digi2t]

Ah yes, Wisconsin and Minnesota.  Or as we like to refer to them, the 11th and 12 provinces. 

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.

[tubegeek]

Just a guy.

Too modest by far.

[Keppy]

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.

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.

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!

[Jdansti]

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!

[Ice-9]

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.