SPDT on-on-on?

[Projectile]

Does anyone know where I can buy a SPDT toggle switch with center-on? So, basically the center position connects both of the outer terminals to the center. I can find center-off SPDT switches all over the place, but it doesn't seem like anyone makes center-on switches. Anyone seen these anywhere?

[LP Hovercraft]

Though not 3 pin, something like this?  http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/NKK-Switches/M2024SS1W01-RO/?qs=0RDYWt4CO4crSvrig1fhHQ%3d%3d

[kvandekrol]

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=900

This is a DPDT, but if you connect the middle two terminals together and use the terminals on opposite corners from each other as the outer lugs, it will have the same effect.

[Projectile]

Though not 3 pin, something like this?  http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/NKK-Switches/M2024SS1W01-RO/?qs=0RDYWt4CO4crSvrig1fhHQ%3d%3d

This is exactly what I need. Thanks! But holy crap, 8 dollars for a toggle switch?!

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=900

This is a DPDT, but if you connect the middle two terminals together and use the terminals on opposite corners from each other as the outer lugs, it will have the same effect.

This could work, except I'm very limited on space (not a stomp box, but a mod to an existing piece of gear) and I'm almost certain a DPDT is doing to be too wide. Thanks though.

[LP Hovercraft]

You're welcome-$8 is pretty outrageous.  Price goes way up the more exotic the toggling action.  I've been looking into slider switches for this reason-still, making square holes in aluminum is PITA, too.

[LucifersTrip]

don't know how thin this one is:
http://www.altex.com/Miniature-Toggle-Switch-DPDT-On-On-On-30-090-P146473.aspx

[roseblood11]

Old thread, but...

A "small blue" SPDT on/on/on (= three positions, all three lugs connected in middle position) as described by the thread opener doesn't exist. Does anybody know why?

It's the same functionality as the toggle in a Les Paul (or the lever switch in a Telecaster), so there's obviously a use for it.

[paul.creedy]

Old thread, but...

A "small blue" SPDT on/on/on (= three positions, all three lugs connected in middle position) as described by the thread opener doesn't exist. Does anybody know why?

It's the same functionality as the toggle in a Les Paul (or the lever switch in a Telecaster), so there's obviously a use for it.

https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/NKK-Switches/M2024SS1W03-BC?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvudeGI7i40XP93sFwtDpTasVEuaDKptx0%3D

[roseblood11]

I found that one, too. But it's a SP3T and "utilizes a double pole base" (datasheet) - it has six lugs.

[Ben N]

DPDT on-on-on https://www.taydaelectronics.com/electromechanical/switches-key-pad/toggle-switch/mini-toggle-switch-dpdt-on-on-on-mts2033.html. No reason you can't just use half of it, except maybe space.

[roseblood11]

We all know that. The question was: Does a SPDT on-on-on exist?... Or why not?

[PRR]

> Does a SPDT on-on-on exist?... Or why not?

"DT" is Double THROW. Two throws. This way. That way.

On-On-On is THREE throws!!

Three is not two.

Yes, there are catalog listings for DT on-on-on switches. I do not know what to expect.

[Ben N]

No, not really. An SP3T would have three throw connections; what is being sought here is really a "SPDT center on" switch.

[Rob Strand]

Does anyone know where I can buy a SPDT toggle switch with center-on? So, basically the center position connects both of the outer terminals to the center.

You would use a DPDT on-on-on (which have three position), from Ben's link see middle diagram,
https://www.taydaelectronics.com/electromechanical/switches-key-pad/toggle-switch/mini-toggle-switch-dpdt-on-on-on-mts2033.html

then wire as,
- bridge wire across the centre terminal
- as drawn connect the top terminal of left switch and bottom terminal of right switch

or, alternatively, just parallel all three terminals of the switch (ie. 3x horizontal bridges) and connect to the three terminals.
With this method you don't need to get the switch around the right way.

The way switches work internally I wouldn't expect to find a 3-terminal switch which does what you want.

[duck_arse]

No, not really. An SP3T would have three throw connections; what is being sought here is really a "SPDT center on" switch.

centre on = 1 throw.
outer on + other outer on = two throws.
hence single pole, three throws. draw the switch. "a" common connects to an "on", an "on" or an "on", three throws no matter how I werd it.

[ElectricDruid]

No, not really. An SP3T would have three throw connections; what is being sought here is really a "SPDT center on" switch.

centre on = 1 throw.
outer on + other outer on = two throws.
hence single pole, three throws. draw the switch. "a" common connects to an "on", an "on" or an "on", three throws no matter how I werd it.

That's not quite it though. One pole to 3 throws is as you describe, but the OP wanted something with two throws that does:

Upper: one throw
Centre: both throws
Lower: other throw

Having all three pins connected together in the centre is different to SP3T.

The DPDT on-on-on switches are the ones I used in the FilterFX pedal. They work by switching one of the poles but not the other in the centre position. So you get this:

Upper: both up
Centre: one up, one down
Lower: both down

With a bit of clever wiring like kvandekrol posted way back you can get a SP3T effect, or you could do this "both connected in the centre" mentioned here.

[anotherjim]

  ___
^^^
___
^^^
   ___
^^^

You have to imagine the "^" are contacts and can touch the common bar "_" above. The connection lugs are directly under the contacts (and are usually made all of a piece) so the middle lug is the middle contact. The bar is the only part of the contact that moves.


Switch in the middle position and all ^ are on.
Flick to the left and the righthand ^ is off.
Flick to the right and the lefthand ^ is off.
That's a slide switch action. Toggle action will reverse direction.

The convention is wonky. An on-off-on may still be listed as SPDT though it definitely has one more action than the ordinary on-on SPDT. The moment you see the "D", you can expect it to have some kind of change-over action with at least 3 lugs.
What some descriptions do is add "C/O" meaning Centre Off in the case of on-off-on but that could also mean Change Over and can't be used to say Centre On (or even Center On).

Can't say I've seen a single-pole example. But I've had double-pole toggle switches that behave exactly like my little diagram above and no fancy cross-wiring necessary.

[duck_arse]

ok. I rekon if you fronted the C&K distributor and asked for a Single Pole, Three Position, Centre Shorting Toggle switch, they would at least have some idea of what you were wanting. there has to be enough terminologies in there to cover all questions.

[tubegeek]

It seems to me a shorting, "Make Before Break," configuration is more common in rotary switches but that's not quite the same idea. Make Before Break means there's a transition between the throws where both throws are shorted before one is selected - on some switches (e.g., guitar pickup switches) you can stop in between and get the shorted position. The desired action is available in a lever switch for guitars I'm PRETTY sure, same as above but the inbetween position has a detent to hold it in the shorted ON+ON spot. Not sure if they make any rotary switches that stop in the middle or not.

Guitar lever switches are built pretty much the same as panel rotary switches, with wafers and a pivot. Slide switches are a bit different inside with the sliding bar as described above.

None of this may be relevant to your quest - consider it an uninteresting tangent?

[roseblood11]

I still don't understand, why such a spdt on-on-on doesn't exist.

Sure, you can use a dpdt as mentioned, but it's bigger and it exists in two versions (one connects 1-2 and 5-6 in middle position, the other connects 2-3 and 4-5), which might be a source for mistakes.

And the simple toggle switch in guitars wasn't invented for the Les Paul, it existed long before. So, at least there WAS a market for this functionality.