MECHATRONICS LABORATORY

Experiment No: 6

STUDY OF SWITCHES AND RELAYS

Aim: Study of switches and relays.
Objectives:

1) To study different types of switches and relays.

Introduction:
Switch is a device, which is used to make or break the electrical circuit, thereby allowing
a current to flow or not.
Switches are classified based on two criterion as given below.
Classification of Switches
The switches are classified as follows:
(A) According to contact configuration:
1. Single Pole - Single Throw (SPST)
2. Single Pole - Double Throw (SPDT)
3. Double Pole - Single Throw (DPST)
4. Double Pole - Double Throw (DPDT)
These are as shown in Fig. 2.1.

Fig. 2.1.Switch contact configurations

(B) According to the way it is operated:
1. Manually operated switches:
(a) Toggle switch
(b) Slide switch

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(c) Dual in Package (DIP) switch

(d) Rotary switch
(e) Thumbwheel switch
(f) Push buttons
(g) Selector switch
(h) Rocker switch
Toggle Switch
A toggle switch is an example of a manually operated switch. This type of switching or
contact arrangement is specified by the appropriate abbreviation. Electrical ratings are
expressed in terms of maximum interrupting voltage and current, they should not be
exceeded.

Fig. 2.2.Toggle Switch contact configurations

Probably the most common switch type is the toggle switch, which is available in
various contact configurations. Each switch consists of one or more poles, where each pole
is actually a separate switch. The contact arrangement for the single-pole/single-throw switch
(SPST), the simplest switch is shown in fig. 2.1. We notice that it has a single set of contacts
that can either open or close. Next, up the line of complication is the single-pole/double-throw
switch (SPDT). We notice that the movable "arm" called the common (C) or wiper can
connect with either contact A or B. fig. 2.2 illustrates a double-pole/double-throw switch
(DPDT) which consists of two electrically separate SPDT switches in one housing that
operate together. In fig. 2.2, we notice that how the terminals are arranged on the back of the
DPDT switch housing with the three terminals for each pole running the 'long way' on the
switch body. Although not as common, switches with up to six poles are possible.
The Slide Switch

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It uses a simple slide action to produce the same connections as a toggle switch. Except
for the different types of operator action, the switched poles accomplish the same results.
The slide switch is often used as a mode switch to select a certain mode of operation such
as HIGH and LOW. (See Fig. 2.3)
Closely related to the toggle switch is the slide switch. Although mechanically different
internally the slide switch performs the same functions as the toggle switch and is available
in the same configurations. Slide switches tend to be less expensive but are not available
with high current rating of toggle switches.
The Rocker Switch
It uses often a modified slide switch. Pressing one side of the rocker arm mechanism
causes the slide to be forced in the other direction.

Fig. 2.3.Slide and Rocker Switch

Dual in Ling Package (DIP)
These switches are small switch assemblies designed for mounting on printed circuit
boards. The pins or terminals on the bottom of the DIP switch are of the same size and
spacing as an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The individual switches may be of the toggle,
rocker or slide kind. Switch settings are seldom changed and the changes occur mainly
during installation, testing and troubleshooting.

Fig. 2.4 DIP Switch

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As shown in Fig. 2.4, a DIP switch is a set of small SPST switches built into a unit
shaped like an integrated circuit (lC). The DIP switch can be plugged into an IC socket or
soldered into a circuit board. Each individual switch uses two pins directly across from each
other, that is, switch 1 uses pin 1 and 14, switch 2 uses pin 2 and 13, and so on (do not use a
pencil to set the switches; the graphite can work into the switch and short it out).
The Rotary Switch
It is often used for more complex switching operations, such as those found on
oscilloscopes and multimeters. This type of switch is sometimes called a wafer switch
because the main shaft passes through the centre of one or more ceramic, fiberglass or
phenolic wafers on which the terminals and contacts are mounted. The centre section .of
each wafer can be rotated, passing a common contact to one of the many stationary
contacts mounted around the wafer's perimeter. The rotary switch can also have several
banks of switch section on one shaft. This allows contacts to change simultaneously and in
sequence.

Fig. 2.5 Rotary Switch

A rotary switch, considerably different from the switches discussed so far, can perform
multiple, complicated switching operation. The rotary switch is constructed of switch wafer
mounted along a singe shaft. The inner part of each wafer rotates in steps with the shaft and
the outer part remains stationary. To understand how the switch works, Fig. 4.58 shows the
switch in off position. In this position, the C terminal is making contact with the
pad, but the pad is not touching either terminals 1 or 2. In fig. 4.58, the shaft has been
rotated clockwise to position X. Notice that C terminal is still connected to the pad, but now

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the little extension of the pad is making contact with terminal 1. The shaft has been rotated I
to position Y and now the pad is in contact with terminal 2. Notice that there could be three or
four such switches on the same wafer as well as multiple wafers. Thumbwheel Switches:
These switches are used on numerical and computer-controlled equipment to input
information from the operator to the computer. There specially made decks output binary
coded decimal (BCD), decimal or hexadecimal codes necessary to communicate with digital
computers.

Fig. 2.5 Thumbwheel Switch

A thumb wheel switch, a special type of rotary switch, is used to input numeric data.
The operator selects a number by rotating the numbered wheel and each number
corresponds to a different switch setting. The switch schematic in Fig. 2.5 shows that one of
the ten separate terminals is connected with C terminal. Also available are thumbwheel
switches that output 4-bit BCD (binary coded decimal) and other codes.
The Selector Switch
It is another common manually operated switch. Switch positions are made by turning the
operator knob right or left. Selector switches may have two or more selector positions, with
either maintained contact position or spring return to give momentary contact operation. (See
Fig. 2.6)

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Fig. 2.6 Selector Switch

Pushbutton Switch
These switches are the most common form of manual control found in industry. The NO
(normally open) pushbutton makes a circuit when it is pressed and returns to its open
position when the button is released. The NC (normally closed) pushbutton opens the circuit
when it is pressed and returns to the closed position when the button is released. The breakmake pushbutton is used for interlocking controls. In this switch, the top section is NC,
whereas the bottom section is NO. When the button is pressed, the bottom contacts are
closed after the top contacts open. When you have one or more pushbuttons in a common
enclosure, it is referred to as a pushbutton station. The pushbutton may consist of one or
more contact blocks, an operator device and legend plate. (See Fig. 2.7)

Fig. 2.7: Pushbutton

Pushbutton switches are almost always the momentary type-pressure must be maintained to
keep the switch activated. There are two configurations possible, normally open (NO) and
normally closed (NC). For NO switch, the contacts are open until the button is pushed and for
NC switch, the contacts are closed when the switch is "at rest" and open when the button is
pushed. This means that to make any output device ON, we need NO contact and when it is

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pressed, the device will turn ON. Similarly, to make device OFF, we need NC contact
pushbutton.

Conclusion:
We have studied different types of switches and their functions and application.
*****

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