"Soft-touch" momentary foot switches with double throw (DT)?

[Phoenix]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone knows who stocks a "soft-touch/click-less" momentary foot switch which has two throws (NO & NC). Number of poles isn't important, SPDT, DPDT or 3PDT would all be fine.
I can find plenty of SPST in either normally closed (NC) or normally open (NO) configurations, but I need both terminals on the one switch for a project I'm working on.
The usual suspects of Smallbear, Tayda, BLMS etc don't appear to carry this type of switch - if I'm mistaken, please let me know!

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[EBK]

Smallbear has a bunch of momentary stomps:
http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/momentary-stomps-1/

[Phoenix]

Smallbear has a bunch of momentary stomps:
http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/momentary-stomps-1/

Thanks Eric, but Smallbear only have two momentary switches that are explicitly "soft-touch" - implying that none of the other switches are. Both of those listed as "soft-touch" are SPST, one NO, the other NC. I need SPDT.
Thanks anyway.

[EBK]

Smallbear has a bunch of momentary stomps:
http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/momentary-stomps-1/

Thanks Eric, but Smallbear only have two momentary switches that are explicitly "soft-touch" - implying that none of the other switches are. Both of those listed as "soft-touch" are SPST, one NO, the other NC. I need SPDT.
Thanks anyway.

Yeah, I realized a minute ago that I glossed over the "soft touch" requirement.  Oops.

[EBK]

What about a SPST soft touch activating a relay or a CMOS switch or the like?

[Phoenix]

What about a SPST soft touch activating a relay or a CMOS switch or the like?

That's not really appropriate in my application unfortunately: a kinda niche remote footswitch/tap-tempo thing - needing power or any circuitry would negate its utility.
Thanks for the suggestion though!

[EBK]

There may be other options.  From smallbear's product FAQ:

I'm working in a very quiet environment and need a true-bypass switch that does not have a mechanical "ker-chunk."
I don't have or know of a silent true-bypass stomp switch. That said, there are ways to handle this problem, though none is simple.

This actuator:

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/switch-actuator-for-b-o-b/ is silent in operation. Combine it with a multi-pole tactile switch: http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/4pdt-latching-pcb-mount/ and you have the equivalent of a silent stomper. But you will have to pay Very careful attention to getting the registration of the parts correct and to securely mounting the switch.

[Phoenix]

There may be other options.  From smallbear's product FAQ:

I'm working in a very quiet environment and need a true-bypass switch that does not have a mechanical "ker-chunk."
I don't have or know of a silent true-bypass stomp switch. That said, there are ways to handle this problem, though none is simple.

This actuator:

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/switch-actuator-for-b-o-b/ is silent in operation. Combine it with a multi-pole tactile switch: http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/4pdt-latching-pcb-mount/ and you have the equivalent of a silent stomper. But you will have to pay Very careful attention to getting the registration of the parts correct and to securely mounting the switch.

Haha, that's funny, just before you posted this it occurred to me that I could use that part with a double-throw PCB mount switch. The collective consciousness really is real!

I'd rather avoid having to use a PCB for this application, but at least I now have a workable option! Thanks for poking my grey-matter a bit Eric

So, if anyone knows where I could get my hands on a momentary soft-touch switch with double-throw, that'd still be greatly appreciated.

[EBK]

Apparently, these guys were able to obtain SPDT soft touch momentary footswitches somewhere.  You might try asking them how they got them: http://www.modestmikesmods.com/silent-step-true-bypass
Edit: Their pic looks suspiciously like SPST....

[EBK]

Another thought occurred to me.  If you find a manufacturer that makes both a NO and NC switch, each version might really be a SPDT in disguise if you feeling like cracking one open.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

I don't believe anyone makes a momentary Double Pole "soft throw" switch. The only momentary double pole switches I have ever seen were NOT soft throw.

[Phoenix]

Another thought occurred to me.  If you find a manufacturer that makes both a NO and NC switch, each version might really be a SPDT in disguise if you feeling like cracking one open.

That, or it may be possible to modify standard "clicky" footswitches to be clickless, but who wants to do that if the possibility of an off-the-shelf product exists?
I'm just kinda surprised I haven't been able to find one, it doesn't seem like a particularly unusual part type - I'm certain there'd be almost as much of a market for this type as there is for the SPST-NC and SPST-NO types - in fact it could replace both types...

I don't believe anyone makes a momentary Double Pole "soft throw" switch. The only momentary double pole switches I have ever seen were NOT soft throw.

Thanks Mr Lacky, but I'm after double THROW, not double pole. I only need a single pole, extra's wouldn't hurt though 

[EBK]

but who wants to do that [if] the possibility of an off-the-shelf product exists?

(big "if")

If you don't want to get too creative, you could find out what the minimum lot size and cost would be to get a SPDT momentary soft touch footswitch manufactured.  I'm sure smallbear or others with similar experience would happily share some wisdom on that.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Thanks Mr Lacky, but I'm after double THROW, not double pole. I only need a single pole, extra's wouldn't hurt though 

I have never seen one. I only know of non-soft touch double throw momentary switches.

[Ice-9]

I don't think a clickerless soft touch switch with a double throw is available in a momentary version, I am quite likely wrong but I would think the nature of the no/nc throw requires a spring and click to function whether it is momentary or latching. If anyone knows any different then I would also like to know where to get them from.

[PRR]

> no/nc throw requires a spring and click

Piece of brass, two screws. Brass touches one screw. Press, it touches the other screw. "Soft", click-free.

Problem is that it WILL go into the in-between state. No-connection at both throws. If "soft", you won't even know it does this. Is this allowed? (Depends utterly on what you are doing.)

If the NC+NC state is not allowed, and a "hard" snap-action is not allowed, then it really comes to a single-throw switch plus a double-throw positive-action slave (relay, JFET, etc).

[PRR]

OK, there is an alternative brass-strip switch. Instead of screws, contacts are more brass strips with significant deflection. Now the in-between state can be *both* throws closed; further motion opens the throw you are leaving. Generally the same "is this allowable?" issues as the other form. And fussier adjustment and more friction.

[EBK]

I just realized today that I actually have the very switch you are looking for:

It actually has two independent SPST switches, one NO and one NC.
Sadly, I can't remember where/when I got it....  , but hopefully knowledge of the configuration helps refine your search since it is actually DPST.

[Phoenix]

Thanks Eric!
Any manufacturers name on there?

[EBK]

Thanks Eric!
Any manufacturers name on there?

This is all I've got.  Maybe someone will recognize it:

Update: brand is EATON.