4 terminal switch with specific state configuration

[[email protected]]

I am looking for a way to switch between two states across 4
terminals.

Given 4 terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4 the switch should alternate between
these two states:
state 1 - terminals 1 and 2 are connected
state 2 - terminals 2 and 3 are connected AND terminals 1 and 4 are
connected

Any help would be greatly appreciated. An alternative would be to wire
two three way switches and bind them together but I'm just curious if
anyone knows of a single switch solution.

Thanks

Al

 

[Bob Engelhardt]

I am looking for a way to switch between two states across 4
terminals.

Given 4 terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4 the switch should alternate between
these two states:
state 1 - terminals 1 and 2 are connected
state 2 - terminals 2 and 3 are connected AND terminals 1 and 4 are
connected

DPDT switch

pole 1: term 1 to C, term 2 to NO, term 4 to NC
pole 2: term 3 to C, term 2 to NC

center OFF if desired

... An alternative would be to wire
two three way switches and bind them together ...

This suggests that I don't actually understand what you're trying to do.
Why would "three way switches" be used when you only need two states?

Bob

 

[Bob Engelhardt]

Bob Engelhardt wrote: ....

... single-pole, double-throw, a "3-way" switch. ...

Oh, right ... the electrician's "3-way". Silly me, I was thinking
triple-throw (3 position).

Given that, we need to know what this switch is for. Home lighting or
what?

Bob

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

DPDT switch

pole 1: term 1 to C, term 2 to NO, term 4 to NC
pole 2: term 3 to C, term 2 to NC

center OFF if desired


This suggests that I don't actually understand what you're trying to do.
Why would "three way switches" be used when you only need two states?

Bob

So-called "3-way" (electrician-speak) switches are SPDT, and he needs
DPDT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-way_switch#Multiway_switching

Here's another (equivalent) DPDT wiring (view in monospaced font)


Shown in state 1

2 4
o o
|
| |
o o
\ ---- \
\ \
o \o o \o
| | | |
| +------+ N.C.
| |
o o
3 1

It's best to avoid connecting power across the N.O. - N.C., so the two
may not be exactly equivalent.



Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[[email protected]]

DPDT switch

pole 1: term 1 to C, term 2 to NO, term 4 to NC
pole 2: term 3 to C, term 2 to NC

center OFF if desired


This suggests that I don't actually understand what you're trying to do.
  Why would "three way switches" be used when you only need two states?

Bob

Yes, this will work. Thank you.

For some reason, I could diagram out a two switch solution but when I
went to diagram the DPDT switch, I got hung up.

This will switch two DC power sources (batteries) between parallel and
series to double the voltage.

I meant an actual three-way switch because I wanted to make sure that
it was a break-before-make switch since any crossover would result in
a short between the two batteries. The center OFF is ideal for this
and I went out and got this kind of switch thanks to your solution.

Thanks go out to everyone. This really got me past the mental block.
Thank you.

Al

 

[Bob Larter]

I am looking for a way to switch between two states across 4
terminals.

Given 4 terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4 the switch should alternate between
these two states:
state 1 - terminals 1 and 2 are connected
state 2 - terminals 2 and 3 are connected AND terminals 1 and 4 are
connected

Any help would be greatly appreciated. An alternative would be to wire
two three way switches and bind them together but I'm just curious if
anyone knows of a single switch solution.

Easily done with a standard DPDT switch.

S1 S2
1 O----o /o-----O 3
2 O------o

NC O----o /o-----O 4
1 O------o

HTH.

 

[Rich Grise]

Thanks go out to everyone. This really got me past the mental block.
Thank you.

A googlie who bothers to acknowledge responses - Priceless! ;-)

Cheers!
Rich