What Is a Rotary Coded Switch?
A rotary coded switch is an electric switch that can be switched by operating a lever or a button.
The main body has an operating shaft and a number of terminals to switch contact points.
Depending on the manufacturer, they are called by various names, such as rotary coded switches, rotary cord switches, and DIP cord switches.
The shape of the actuator of a rotary coded switch varies from flat to shaft-shaped. Some are small and require a screwdriver for switching operations.
Uses of Rotary Coded Switches
Rotary coded switches are often used to adjust the volume of audio equipment, but they are also used in a variety of other applications.
They are also used to set electrical values for microwave ovens, knobs on electric fans and other electronic devices, switch settings for pilots operating aircraft, switch settings for medical equipment, switch settings for construction and agricultural equipment, and stepwise control settings for AC/DC drives, among many other applications.
They are used in a variety of locations as switches that allow settings to be changed on human-operated inputs.
Principle of Rotary Coded Switches
A rotary coded switch has a step mechanism, COM contacts, contacts, etc., on the bottom of the rotary actuator and a number of terminals (contacts) around the bottom of the rotary coded switch.
As the actuator of the rotary coded switch rotates, the step mechanism moves the contacts at a predetermined angle, causing each contact to conduct with the COM contact.
Rotary coded switches are classified into two types, shorting type and non-shorting type, depending on the state of electrical connection between the contacts as they move during switching. The shorting type moves to the next switching point by shorting the two points when moving between the two contacts. Unlike the shorting type, the non-shorting type moves to the next switching point by opening once when moving between the two contacts.
When designing a circuit, care should be taken when selecting components since the design may vary depending on whether the two points are shorted or open.