Electronics Club - Switches - SPST, SPDT, DPST, DPDT, Reversing, ON-ON, ON-OFF-O

Switches
Switch Contacts (pole, throw etc.)

Standard Switches (SPST, DPDT etc.)
Special Switches (multiway, tilt, reed etc.)
Also see: Relays | Series & Parallel
Selecting a Switch
Features to consider when selecting a switch:
Type of contacts such as DPDT.
Ratings for voltage and current.
Method of operation toggle, slide etc.
The following terms are used to identify different types of standard switches:
SPST = Single Pole, Single Throw
SPDT = Single Pole, Double Throw
DPST = Double Pole, Single Throw
DPDT = Double Pole, Double Throw
Switch Contacts
Several terms are used to describe switch contacts:
Pole - number of switch contact sets.
Throw - number of conducting positions (only used for single and double)
Way - number of conducting positions.
Momentary - switch returns to its normal position when released.
Open - off position, contacts not conducting.
Closed - on position, contacts conducting, there may be several on positions.
A simple on-off switch
A simple on-off switch has one set of contacts, single pole, and one
switching position which conducts, single throw. This is type of switch is
called SPST (single pole, single throw) and its action is described as ON-OFF. The
switch mechanism has two positions: closed = on and open = off, but it is called 'single
throw' because only one position conducts.
https://electronicsclub.info/switches.htm 16/10/19, 11:06 AM

Page 1 of 8
A simple push switch
A simple push-switch, such as one for a doorbell, has one set of contacts
and the on position is only momentary, as soon as you release the switch it
goes back to off. This action is called push-to-make (push to close contacts). The
momentary action is shown by using brackets like this: (ON)-OFF.
Switch Contact Ratings

Switch contacts are rated with a maximum voltage and current, and there may be
different ratings for AC and DC. The AC values are higher because the current falls to
zero many times each second and an arc is less likely to form across the switch contacts.
For low voltage electronics projects the voltage rating will not matter, but you may need to
check the current rating. The maximum current is less for inductive loads (coils and
motors) because they cause more sparking at the contacts when switched off.
Tamagawa
Resolver -
Encoder
rendertechindia.com
India Supplier - Resolver

Tamagawa Resolver - Ex-stock -
Immediate Delivery
OPEN

Page 2 of 8
Standard Switches
Photographs © Rapid Electronics
ON-OFF, SPST
SPST = Single Pole, Single Throw
A simple on-off switch.
This type can be used to switch the power supply to a circuit.
The photograph shows a SPST toggle switch
When used with mains electricity this type of switch must be in
the live wire, but it is better to use a DPST switch to isolate both
live and neutral.
Rapid Electronics: SPST toggle switch
(ON)-OFF, Push-to-make, SPST Momentary

A push-to-make switch returns to its normally open = off position when you
release the button, this is shown by the brackets around (ON). This is
the standard doorbell switch.
Rapid Electronics: push-to-make switch
ON-(OFF), Push-to-break, SPST Momentary

A push-to-break switch returns to its normally closed = on position when
you release the button, this is shown by the brackets around (OFF).
Rapid Electronics: push-to-break switch
ON-ON, SPDT
SPDT = Single
Electronics Pole,Components
Club Double ThrowStudy Menu
This switch can be on in both positions, switching on a separate
device in each case. It is also called a changeover switch.
For example, a SPDT switch can be used to switch on a red lamp in
one position and a green lamp in the other position.
A SPDT toggle switch may be used as a simple on-off switch by
connecting to COM and one of the A or B terminals shown in the
diagram. A and B are interchangeable so switches are usually not

Page 3 of 8
labelled.
SPDT is a popular type of switch and suppliers are likely
to have a good variety of styles, for example:
Rapid Electronics: SPDT toggle switch
Rapid Electronics: SPDT slide switch
Rapid Electronics: SPDT rocker switch
Toggle, Slide and Rocker SPDT switches
ON-OFF-ON, SPDT Centre Off

This is a special version of the standard SPDT switch shown above. It has a
third switching position in the centre which is off.
Rapid Electronics: SPDT centre off switch
Momentary (ON)-OFF-(ON) versions are also available where the switch
returns to the central off position when released. The brackets are used to show
the momentary action.
Rapid Electronics: (ON)-OFF-(ON) switch
Dual ON-OFF, DPST

DPST = Double Pole, Single Throw
A pair of on-off switches which operate together (shown by the dotted line
in the circuit symbol).
A DPST switch is often used for mains electricity because it switches both
the live and neutral connections.
Rapid Electronics: DPST rocker switch

Page 4 of 8
Dual ON-ON, DPDT
DPDT = Double Pole, Double Throw
A pair of on-on switches which operate together (shown by the dotted line
in the circuit symbol).
Reversing Switch
A DPDT switch can be wired up as a reversing switch for a motor as shown
in the diagram below:
Rapid Electronics: DPDT slide switch
ON-OFF-ON, DPDT Centre Off

This is a special version of the standard DPDT switch shown
above. It has a third switching position in the centre which is off.
This can be useful for motor control because you have forward, off
and reverse positions.
Rapid Electronics: DPDT centre off switch
Momentary (ON)-OFF-(ON) versions are also available where the
switch returns to the central off position when released. The brackets are used to show
the momentary action.
Rapid Electronics: DPDT centre off momentary switch

Page 5 of 8
Tamagawa Resolver -
Encoder
India Supplier - Resolver
Tamagawa Resolver - Ex-stock - Immediate
Delivery
rendertechindia.com
OPEN
Special Switches
Photographs © Rapid Electronics
Push-Push Switch (e.g. ON-OFF, SPST)

This looks like a momentary action push switch but it is a
standard SPST on-off switch: push once to switch on, push again
to switch off. This is called a latching action.
Rapid Electronics: SPST push-push switch
Microswitch (usually ON-ON, SPDT)

Microswitches are designed to switch fully open or fully closed in response
to small movements and small forces. They are available with levers and
rollers attached.
Microswitches are often used as sensors in machinery to detect the
position of parts including doors, for example they may be used to stop a
machine if a door or panel is opened which exposes moving parts.
Normal switches are likely to suffer from damaging arcing (sparking) at
their contacts when they are not fully open or closed, microswitches are designed to
avoid this problem.
Rapid Electronics: microswitches

Page 6 of 8
Key Switch
A key operated switch. The example shown is SPST.
Rapid Electronics: key switches
Tilt Switch (SPST)

Tilt switches contain a conductive liquid and when tilted this
bridges the contacts inside, closing the switch. They can be used
as a sensor to detect the position of an object. Some tilt switches
contain mercury which is poisonous.
Rapid Electronics: tilt switches
Reed Switch
The contacts of a reed switch are closed by bringing a small
magnet near the switch. They are used in security circuits, for
example to check that doors are closed. Standard reed
switches are SPST (simple on-off) but SPDT (changeover)
versions are also available.
Warning: reed switches have a glass body which is easily
broken! For advice on handling please see the
Electronics in Meccano website.
Rapid Electronics: reed switches
DIL Switch
DIL = Dual In-Line.
A DIL switch is a set of miniature SPST on-off switches, the
example shown has 8 switches. The package is the same size
as a standard DIL integrated circuit.
DIL switches are used to set up circuits, for example setting the
code of a remote control. They are also known as DIP (Dual In-
line Parallel) switches.
Rapid Electronics: DIL switches
Multi-pole Switch

Page 7 of 8
The picture shows a 6-pole double throw switch, also known as a
6-pole changeover switch. It can be set to have momentary or
latching action. Latching action means it behaves as a push-push
switch, push once for the first position, push again for the second
position etc.
Rapid Electronics: 6-pole changeover switch
Multi-way Switch
Multi-way switches have 3 or more conducting positions and they
may have several poles (contact sets).
The symbol shows a 1-pole 4-way switch.
A popular type has a rotary action and it is available with a
range of contact arrangements from 1-pole 12-way to 4-pole
3 way. The number of ways (switch positions) may be
reduced by adjusting a stop under the fixing nut. For
example if you need a 2-pole 5-way switch you can buy the
2-pole 6-way version and adjust the stop.
Contrast a multi-way switch (many switch positions) with a multi-pole switch (many
contact sets) described above.
Rapid Electronics: multi-way rotary switches
Rapid Electronics have kindly allowed me to use their images on this website and I am
very grateful for their support. They stock a wide range of switches and other
components for electronics and I am happy to recommend them as a supplier.
Privacy Policy & Cookies

This website does not collect personal information. If you send an email your email address and any personal
information will be used only to respond to your message, it will not be given to anyone else. This website displays
advertisements. If you click on these the advertiser may know that you came from this site and I may be rewarded.
No personal information is passed to advertisers.
Cookies: this website does not use cookies itself but it does use Google AdSense which uses cookies to serve
advertisements based on your use of websites (including this one) as explained by Google. To learn how to delete and
control cookies from your browser please visit AboutCookies.org.
electronicsclub.info © John Hewes 2019

Website hosted by Tsohost

Page 8 of 8

Electronics Club - Switches - SPST, SPDT, DPST, DPDT, Reversing, ON-ON, ON-OFF-O

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Electronics Club - Switches - SPST, SPDT, DPST, DPDT, Reversing, ON-ON, ON-OFF-O

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Switches

Switch Contacts (pole, throw etc.)

Also see: Relays | Series & Parallel

https://electronicsclub.info/switches.htm 16/10/19, 11:06 AM

Switch Contact Ratings

India Supplier - Resolver

https://electronicsclub.info/switches.htm 16/10/19, 11:06 AM

(ON)-OFF, Push-to-make, SPST Momentary

ON-(OFF), Push-to-break, SPST Momentary

https://electronicsclub.info/switches.htm 16/10/19, 11:06 AM

Toggle, Slide and Rocker SPDT switches

ON-OFF-ON, SPDT Centre Off

Dual ON-OFF, DPST

https://electronicsclub.info/switches.htm 16/10/19, 11:06 AM

Rapid Electronics: DPDT slide switch

ON-OFF-ON, DPDT Centre Off

https://electronicsclub.info/switches.htm 16/10/19, 11:06 AM

Push-Push Switch (e.g. ON-OFF, SPST)

Microswitch (usually ON-ON, SPDT)

https://electronicsclub.info/switches.htm 16/10/19, 11:06 AM

Tilt Switch (SPST)

https://electronicsclub.info/switches.htm 16/10/19, 11:06 AM

Privacy Policy & Cookies

electronicsclub.info © John Hewes 2019

https://electronicsclub.info/switches.htm 16/10/19, 11:06 AM

You might also like