Basic Rotary Switch supplier

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Basic Rotary Switch supplier - NZ

RKM78

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#309260 3-Oct-2023 09:10

Hey Geekzone - my Google skills have failed me for what I thought should have been an easy task.

I am a novice when it comes to this sort of electronics stuff. Fairly simple need.

I am doing a retro upcycle where I want to use existing rotary knobs off an old radio to drive a basic circuit connection. Don't need a fancy digital encoder.

Just a basic 3 position rotary switch (that I can drop the existing knob on). No connection in its normal position (off), twist to the left momentary contact to make a circuit, then flicks back to the middle, twist to the right momentary contact to make a different circuit, then flicks back to the middle.

Surely these are out there.... Any recommendations? Links to suppliers (NZ preferred).

robjg63

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#3138148 3-Oct-2023 09:29

So this doesnt bring up anything useful?

The size and voltage etc are going to be the variables that will make it difficult I guess.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

RKM78

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3138154 3-Oct-2023 09:56

Always seem to get the high voltage running nuclear power plant type stuff - with integrated knobs (though they may op off?

12 volt is all I need. This is what I was hoping to find - got 3 position ones from Jaycar - no bounce back though.

robjg63

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#3138163 3-Oct-2023 10:24

Anything useful here?

The RS site is probably worth a look anyway.

What you want will be out there somewhere - can be very frustrating trying to find though.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

tweake

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#3138303 3-Oct-2023 15:56

another one for RS. i suspect the momentary part would be pretty rare.

mclean

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#3138354 3-Oct-2023 16:09

That's usually called a "reversing switch". It's easy enough to get an industrial type one (eg Kraus & Naimer CA4 series), but that's a cam switch and they're not single-hole mounting, which I assume is what you want for a radio front panel. I don't think I've ever seen what you're asking for.

tweake

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#3138357 3-Oct-2023 16:14

RKM78:

No connection in its normal position (off), twist to the left momentary contact to make a circuit, then flicks back to the middle, twist to the right momentary contact to make a different circuit, then flicks back to the middle.

sorry i read that wrong.

yes you can get them but for 230v (no idea about low voltage ones). i have one on one of the machines. one of the industrial electrical places would have it.

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SomeoneSomewhere

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#3138384 3-Oct-2023 17:41

Most stuff rated for 250VAC is also good for 24-30VDC. Check datasheets especially if you're using more than an amp or so.

'Spring return' and 'centre off' are the keywords you want.

This is in the UK but gives you an idea - as an automotive-focused product, it's actually pretty cheap and the knob should be replaceable: https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/black-rotary-switch-3-position-spring-return

I don't think PCB-mount rotary switches usually have any spring return, just detents. For spring-return, you're mostly looking at proper industrial cam switches. And you want a proper cam switch not a switch with contact blocks, because the spring return and rotating mechanism is all in the knob on those; it just pushes on the contact blocks.

RKM78

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3143392 6-Oct-2023 05:09

Thanks all - yes that is all aligned with what I was thinking.

Might stick with the non bounce back - so I can't stop the rotary from staying closed, but can I re-open the circuit? Can a relay (ignorant novice question coming up) be used to switch off the circuit once it is connected (to stop it being 'closed').

So rotary switch to close, input drives output, also hits the relay to turn off that current. Hopefully enough current to complete the circuit before it is stopped.

Flick rotary back to normal, current stops relay opens/resets....

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3143395 6-Oct-2023 07:08

You'd likely need timers or a micro assuming you want a pulse of more than a few milliseconds.