Question for electricians/EE's

[Anonymous]

...or anybody who knows alot about electrical hardware:

I need some electrical switches where 1 toggle opens/closes two circuits at the same time, but I don't know the 'professional' name for them. Here's a drawing:

I seem to remember it's either "double-pole, single-throw" or "single-pole, double throw"; I need to know the correct name and/or abbreviation so I can do a Google search for someplace that sells these things.

BTW Radio Shack does NOT have them, or at least the people working there have no clue what I'm talking about... but they sure tried to talk me into upgrading my wireless service...[|(]

[willy6]

First of all, Radio Shack employees are pure and simple idiots, they have no clue about electronics. you need a DPDT switch sold @ jameco for $1.29. Radio Shack wants $5.00 for the same switch.

[BR60103]

Ken: "Pole" is the number of circuits, so your diagram shows a double pole.
"Throw" is the number of different connections each pole can make. Yours is a single throw.
OK: Double pole Single throw. Maybe not at radio shack. You can make one from a DPDT switch by ignoring one set of contacts.
For completeness: a SPST switch is an ordinary light switch. A SPDT is the 3-way light switch.
Anything more complicated usually requires a detailed description -- not common enough for an abbreciation.

[dinwitty]

you can use a DPDT, select one with no center off and don't use one section of the contacts, but you have a DPST switch. A hardware store can sell these.
Or check a computer store, or a surplus electronics outlet.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Will, Dave, & Din for the pointers.[:)]

[rrinker]

The last Radio Shack employee that actually knew something about electronics quit about 19 years ago (which is when I quit, in case you didn't catch on..LOL. I worked at RS while in college).

Technically what you drew there was a Double Pole Single Throw switch, you CAN get those from Mouser and Jameco and so forth, but as stated, a DPDT works just fine - just don't connect anything to the one set of terminals. And DPDT is far more common.

--Randy

[Big_Boy_4005]

SPST has 2 contacts, a simple on/off.

SPDT has 3 contacts, and can come in two styles on/on or on/off/on.

DPST has 4 contacts, and is just the same as an SPST but for 2 poles. As Randy said, that's the one you drew.

DPDT has 6 contacts, and comes in the same two styles as the SPDT.

It can go on indefinately as poles and throws increase. I have a bunch of relays that are 3PDT, and a few 4PDT's. If you ever need a lot of selections, wafer style rotery switches can easily be 4P16T. Poles are the number of wafers, and throws are the clicks turning the knob.

[Anonymous]

Thanx Randy & Elliot,
I think I have some idea now what I can get. I'll most likely go with the DPDT and just skip using the one set of contacts as suggested.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Ken, if you are going to use a DPDT, I suggest not getting one with the center off position. Just get the on/on type to avoid confusion.

[Don Gibson]

DPDT You can use the other set of contact's for signal light's, or wiring a track segment to prevent 'running' an open switch..