Why do switches have 3 prongs

Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. Why do some tactile switches have 4 terminals? Ask Question. Asked 7 years, 8 months ago. Active 2 years, 1 month ago. Viewed 37k times. For example, take a look at these switches , like the image below: source: pranelectronics. Glorfindel 1, 2 2 gold badges 12 12 silver badges 17 17 bronze badges.

Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Here from an NKK datasheet are a couple examples of such layouts: X-Y matrix This would typically be scanned by a microcontroller or ASIC : Common line one side of each switch common, typically it might be connected to Vss or Vdd and a pullup or pulldown resistor perhaps internal to a chip would be required for each switch.

Spehro Pefhany Spehro Pefhany k 12 12 gold badges silver badges bronze badges. But autorouters are about useless on single-sided boards anyway! The design I described isn't ideal in all applications, but it's pretty common. Olin Lathrop Olin Lathrop k 36 36 gold badges silver badges bronze badges. It would require N-1 tracks to pass between the two pins of some of the switches. Having at least one split pin on each switch makes it trivial. Impossible Impossible I don't know of any components designed for breadboards.

The volume would be so small compared with PCB mounting products that it wouldn't be worth anyone's while. The kinks are generally to provide an accurate PCB insertion stop to give consistent, repeatable height above the PCB.

To create lights that operate with two separate switches, the electrician uses two special pieces of equipment in the circuit:. A normal switch has two terminals that are either connected or disconnected. A three-way switch has three terminals , and the switch connects the first terminal to either the second or the third terminal, as shown here:. In this diagram, a normal piece of wire comes from the fuse panel to the first three-way switch.

The black "hot" wire enters the switch on the left. Three-way wire which includes red, black and white wires runs from the switch on the left to the switch on the right, with the white wire carrying ground and the red and black wires carrying the output from terminals in the left switch.

Normal sheathed cable runs from the right switch to the light. Assume that, with the switch up, terminals 1 and 3 are connected as shown above. If the switch is down, then terminals 2 and 3 are connected. You can see if you trace through the wires and the switches that in the previous figure, the light is off.

You can also see that if you flip either switch, the light will turn on. And if you flip either switch again, the light will turn off. Also will I need fuses? I want to control one light from two switches. If so, how would I wire it? Thanks in advance. Hi I just wired a 3 prong rocker switch that had leads already attached.

When I turned on the power the switch was backwards when is the indicator should have been on it was off and vice versa plus the little LED light does not turn on do you have any suggestions. ItSeems like the switch is wired backwards internally. Just let me know if you need a diagram. Hi, at the moment I use the switch for a car fuel pump. At the moment the power is going to the 85 of the relay. Then the switch is working. When I turned on the pump the led light is off.

I have a diagram available how it is connected at the moment with a kill switch etc. Hopefully you or somebody else can help with information on the correct product and about the wiring.

Also, a wiring diagram would be helpful the lights and switch will be grounded to vehicle chassis. The electric fan is for a transmission cooler and not for the cooling system, thus the temperature switch will not work for transmission fluid because of the different operating temperatures. It depends. Can you please clarify: what do you mean by 3way? What exactly are you trying to achieve? I have a Campervan. I have tapped in a shower on the same plumbing…would like to put a switch in the back of the van to control the same pump.

I have 3 3 prong illuminated switches. Each is connected to different loads. Each switch is grounded so I get the lights on them. All 3 are connected the same way. Switch 3 dims, considerably, the load if the switch is grounded. If I unground the switch, the load is full brightness. Switch 1, wired exactly the same, works great. How do I tell which is the acc male connector off the switch and which is the constant power?

Also, I hooked up the switch but only had one power wire coming off the battery, to a fuse, then to my switch and light. Grounded it and the power wire melted! Your email address will not be published.

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