Trying to find DIP switch selector - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Melon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 17, 2019, 10:11:08 am
content: Hello everyone, my questions are: Are there any single-pole, multiple-throw DIP switches? If so where can I find them?Not the ones with only two throws (SPDT), but many of them. My purpose is to make a clock selector from a binary counter to a common output using a slider switch.This is the only one I have found, a Grayhill 79C10T (see attachment) and I've searched quite a lot. It is also quite expensive.Why aren't they common?Greetings.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2019, 10:44:30 am
content: DIP switches are not very robust and are only designed for infrequent use. The datasheet for the Grayhill switch states:Mechanical Life:4,000 cycles maximum. Note:a cycle is one complete operation, back and forth through all switch positions.A cheaper solution would be to use a 2x10 row of pin headers with a jumper. A jumper with a tab will make it easier to use:You can find them on ebay by searching for "jumper with handle".

author: Melon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 17, 2019, 02:29:08 pm
content: Yeah that's true, the jumper solution is definitely simpler and cheaper. I thought I could make a better looking board using switches instead of jumpers but now I see why these switches aren't common.Thank you for the answer.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2019, 09:53:51 pm
content: So... if you are willing to use jumpers (which provide no protection against someone using multiple jumpers at once), you could just use ordinary DIP switches and write "SELECT ONLY ONE" next to them.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2019, 10:12:09 pm
content: But if there is only one jumper there is a good chance they will move the existing jumper rather than add another one.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2019, 11:01:57 pm
content: There's slide switches:https://www.digikey.com/products/en/switches/slide-switches/213There's also rotary switches, with various number of stops :https://www.digikey.com/products/en/switches/rotary-switches/200and all kinds of other switches and selection options...

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2019, 01:10:44 am
content: Quote from: ledtester on September 17, 2019, 10:12:09 pmYes, but you missed my point: They stillcanadd another, easily. There is noprotectionagainst it, as in, there’s no lockout. If it’s critical enough that multiple selection must not happen, then the expensive slide switch is the right option. If it’s not that critical, then jumper vs. regular DIP switch is insignificant, IMHO.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2019, 03:04:27 am
content: How many people carry spare jumpers around with them?Neither solution is perfect, and only the OP can decide what will work for them. But if you want to focus on just safety, IMHO separate dip switches is decidedly worse -- you're giving the user the rope to hang themselves with. At least with a jumper they have to bring their own rope.