Hi
I want to make an speaker switch to switch between speakerpairs on my vintage stereo. I am starting to have a colletion of nice speakers, and dont like the hassle to put the wires in the back of the reciever every time.
Is there any hardware i can use for this task?
You can use any big DPDT on-on switch. Pick one that can handle 3 A or more (your speakers may draw more than 3 A peaks but never more than 3 A average, and it is the average that you need to look at here).
"DPDT" means "double pole double throw".
"double pole" means that it controls two separate sets of wires, like two switches in one. You need this for two stereo speakers.
"double throw" means that it has two "on" positions.
"on-on" means that it switches between those two positions, but does not have a center off position (that would be "on-off-on"). There are also momentary types that spring back to the center off position instead of snapping and staying there, and other variations as well.
For two sets of speakers you can use just one such switch. Connect the ground (black) wires of both sets of speakers to the receiver. Connect the red wires through the switch... receiver to the center contacts, and each set of speakers to one of the outer contacts.
For four sets of speakers, you can use three switches in a sort of tree configuration. The first switch will select between say bank A or B. Then in bank A another switch will select between speaker set 1 or 2. In bank B, another switch selects between speaker set 3 or 4. So to listen through speaker set 3, set the first switch to "B" and the bank B switch to "3". Another option is to find a "DP4T" switch, that is, double pole quad throw, but you will not easily find one.
these things used to be expensive, don't know about now but they are simple.
With switch specs a parenthesis generally means that it's a momentary position. So ON-OFF-(ON) means that centre is off, one side is on and the other will tuurn on when pushed but as soon as you release turn off again as it springs back to centre, much like a push button.
I ended up buying the finished product, since it was really reasonable priced. I will mod it though. I will make a custom case for it to fit my retro setup (wood or wood/alu). I will also change the output ports to 2pin din ports. I also want to change the switches to something that fit a retro setup, here i can gladly take som tips on nice switches. Turnable switches with old look would be awesome.
I will post here when i start the project, maybe over christmas.
