Rotary switch / Multi position question - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: made2hack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2014, 10:16:04 am
content: Hello all,I have a question in regards to this type of switch:Soviet Grade 8 pole 5 positionsWhat in the hell is an 8 pole 5 position switch? How many combinations does it have? The pictures in the listing show 12 contacts, but why 12? And how do I figure all this out? I mean I understand basic switches such as 2 poles / 2 throws / 4 throws etc, but 8 x 5???What I want is essentially a switch with 9 / 10 positions, ie position 1 giving 0 value (so 10 positions), and the construction on these switches looks really rugged, but I can't figure out the "math" so to speak on how I would wire this type of switch to get 10 positions.Alternatively, what other pole / position switch would you recommend to get 10 positions?Thanks

author: kizzap
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2014, 10:35:50 am
content: the switch you linked has 8 different possible circuits, each with 5 different possible connection.

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2014, 11:09:42 am
content: i assume you want a single pole 10 position switch.

author: andtfoot
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2014, 11:17:11 am
content: Quote from: trs80 on July 01, 2014, 10:16:04 amOne of the pictures show 12 pins to connect to, but this is only 1 layer out of the 4.Each layer has 2 circuits (poles), so with all 4 layers that gives the 8 total.Each pole has 6 pins: 1 common, and 5 positions to join this common to.

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2014, 01:01:46 pm
content: QuoteYou answered your own question, you require a 10 position switch. That 5 position switch will not do the job for you, it only has 5 physical positions to switch through. How many poles you need is dependent on how many independent circuits you want to switch, from 1 to X. The non-shorting spec is another way of saying break-before-make Vs make-before- break, which is the switch contact behavior when switching from one position to the next. As far as figuring out how to wire up to any specific switch with multiple contacts, your ohm meter is your friend.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2014, 01:39:11 pm
content: If you need a 10 position switch, then why are you looking at a 5 position switch?If you need a 10 position switch, then look for a 10 position switch. They are out there.You might even find 12 position switches easier to find, and many of them have user-settable stops so you can limit to 10 positions.You can use a switch with MORE positions for fewer positions. But you can't ADD positions out of thin air.You simply ignore the positions you don't need.It isn't terribly clear, but maybe you need only one pole?

author: made2hack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2014, 02:13:46 pm
content: From reading your comments, yeah, I only need one pole but 10 positions.I just wanted to understand what was referred to as 8 pole 5 pos in this case.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2014, 02:26:57 pm
content: Quote from: trs80 on July 01, 2014, 02:13:46 pmTake a 5-posittion switch, and lash eight of them together. You may be over-thinking this.