4 position single pole rotary switches.

[Trainshed Terry]

Evening all.

 

Is there any out there can steer me where to purchase 4 position single pole rotary switches from, as I have done a internet search and can only find 3 pole 4 position switches

 

I need 9 of the aforementioned items to control 4 aspect signals 

 

Thank you

 

Terry.

 

 

[martin_wynne]

Hi Terry,

 

You likely won't find a single-pole 4-way switch at low-cost. What you do is use a 3-pole 4-way wafer switch and ignore the other two poles. For example this one:

 

 http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/rotary-switches/0320203/?origin=PSF_428206

 

Here's the data sheet for these low-cost wafer switches:

 

 http://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/007a/0900766b8007a1e8.pdf

 

Note that for most model railway applications you need to use the Non-Shorting Break-Before-Make (BBM) poles/versions. Usually marked NS. It depends on your actual circuit how important this is. If you are simply switching a supply to different signal aspects it doesn't matter.

 

These switches are rated only 150mA for switching, so not really suitable for many model railway applications, but ok for switching signals.

 

Martin.

[Suzie]

Terry

 

Maplin do them FF75S

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/3-pole-4-way-rotary-switch-ff75s

[smokebox]

You can get single pole, twelve position ones and by moving a tabbed washer that is provided on the shaft you can limit the number of positions that are selectable. http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/1-pole-12-way-rotary-switch-ff73q

[Pete the Elaner]

If you would rather not pay Maplin prices, then try http://www.rapidonline.com/rvfm-solder-tag-rotary-switches-30304

[unravelled]

If they'd be of any use, I have a bunch of 12 way 1 pole rotary swithes which need a good home. I can send a photo later , but they are open construction, and quite big, about 40mm diameter.
They were bought as surplus about 40 years ago, probably because I thought they'd come in useful one day.

Say if you want a photo, I could post them off tomorrow

Dave

 

 

edit to add photo

[HowardGreen]

You can get single pole, twelve position ones and by moving a tabbed washer that is provided on the shaft you can limit the number of positions that are selectable. http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/1-pole-12-way-rotary-switch-ff73q

I've installed (but not yet tried out) 3-pole, 4-way "break-before-make" switches to connect my 3 controllers to any one or more of my 3 power districts; I converted them to 1-pole 4-way switches by the simple expedient of connecting the 3 central terminals together.  This gives you up to 4 sets of 3 terminals to connect to whatever you want to give power to, e.g. sections of an oval, which you may wish to control individually through SPST Switches.  I hope it's going to work without shorting out.  You do need to ensure that one of the positions does not connect to anything.