DIP switches are electromechanical devices allowing users to change an electronic circuit manually. They offer many benefits like flexibility, simplicity, and low cost, making them ideal for several electronic applications. There are many options to choose from as they come in various sizes, switching mechanisms, configurations, and power ratings. So, you choose what is best suited for your application requirements. It is easy to choose the number of positions on the DIP switch from the configuration option for a particular application. You can manually actuate some switches, while others would need a special tool or a screwdriver to toggle the switch position.
How Does a DIP Switch Work?
A DIP switch features a series of switches in a single unit, which is why it is called a dual-line package switch. To operate this electromechanical device, the user needs to manually move the actuator so that a different electronic circuit can be activated or deactivated. These switches are commonly mounted on a Printed Circuits Board or a breadboard and allow the operator to toggle an electronic device between various setting modes quickly.
When working with any switch, it is important to understand the concepts of poles and throws.
- Single Pole Single Throw: A single pole single throw switch indicates that it is placed in an electronic circuit where it is closed and allows the current flow or is open and restricts the current flow.
- Single Pole Double Throw: A single pole double throw switch chooses between two different paths to allow the current flow. The movement of the actuator does not affect the current flow; instead, it encourages it to move into a different circuit branch.
- Double Pole Double Throw: Double pole double throw switches have two linked switches that control two circuits. When one switch changes position, the other one will do the same. Each of them will guide the current into a different path within the circuit. Technically, it is possible to connect many switches using this arrangement that allows multiple poles and throws.
The number of switches that come in one package depends upon the application and is usually in the range of 1 to 16 positions. You will commonly find a DIP Switch package with 8 positions because it corresponds to 256 binary codes, equal to one byte of data.
Types of DIP Switches
There are wide varieties of DIP switches, including slide actuators, piano actuators, and rotatory actuators as the main types.
- Slide DIP Switches: Slide DIP switches are considered the standard toggle switches. They all have two positions, closed or open, and therefore function as a single pole single throw switch. You will also find switches with three positions and a central neutral location with a contact at every end and configuration on/off/on. The configurations are normally open or normally closed. The former opens the switch when the circuit is completed, and the latter breaks the circuit when it is actuated.
- Piano DIP Switches: Piano DIP switches are very similar to Slide DIP switches. However, piano switches are vertical in position, and they require an up and down action.
- Rotatory DIP Switches: Rotatory switches change their position when the operator rotates the actuator. The amount of rotation usually determines the output. For example, a rotatory switch with 4 output pins can create up to 16 various output configurations in binary code
