What kind of switch is that?

[AlphZeta]

Hi Guys,

I am trying to find a kind of switch that is similar to a DIP switch, but unlike a DIP switch you can set one channel at a time (e.g. after setting one channel, the remaining channels are reset). For example:

1000000  0100000 00100000 00010000 00000100 ...

What's the official name of this kind of switch? Thanks in advance!

[tom66]

Radio buttons?

[AlphZeta]

Seriously? I know in programming that's called a radio button but didn't know what the physical device is actually called.  I was just looking around at Mouser, but couldn't seem to find any? Anyone knows a part number that I could reference?

[oPossum]

PCB mount rotary switch.

For example: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/R10815RS02Q/CKN9480-ND/1949298


Ganged switches where only one switch can be active are actually called 'radio buttons'.

[AlphZeta]

Thanks @oPssum and @tom66!

If only the internet were not inundated with the programming stuff when I searched radio button 

[rolycat]

I don't believe the physical switches are called 'radio buttons' - that's a computing term.

They used to be called 'gang linked' or 'interlocking' push button switches, but they are now mostly obsolete, since it's cheaper to do the linking in software and for example use LEDs to show which of a set of momentary contact switches is active.

There are some for sale here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BANK-OF-14-INTERLOCKING-LATCHING-PUSH-BUTTON-SWITCHES-/320527187824

Searching ebay for 'interlocking push button switch' should turn up some hits.

[oPossum]

You must be young.

Car radios had interlocked mechanical buttons for setting and recalling the station presets -> Radio Buttons.

[oPossum]

There are also slide switches that have one closed contact with all other open.

For example: http://www.te.com/commerce/DocumentDelivery/DDEController?Action=srchrtrv&DocNm=1825073&DocType=Customer+Drawing&DocLang=English


I have never seen a tiny ganged switch the size of a DIP switch. Let us know if you find one.

[Praxis]

I don't believe the physical switches are called 'radio buttons' - that's a computing term.

They used to be called 'gang linked' or 'interlocking' push button switches

Those are the official terms.  'Radio buttons' are what they got called colloquially since that's the only place most people ran into them -- the preset buttons on their radios.  The computing term came from the original gang-linked switches (and their common name,) not the other way around.

[AlphZeta]

I have never seen a tiny ganged switch the size of a DIP switch. Let us know if you find one.

Yeah... I still can't find these buttons DIP switch sized. I seem to remember one of my old SONY Walkman had something similar to that but it might have been a custom designed part.... anyway, I might just have to resort to those slide switches.

[Kremmen]

You must be young.

Car radios had interlocked mechanical buttons for setting and recalling the station presets -> Radio Buttons.

And don't forget the AM era tube radios where LW/MW/SW band selector buttons were also "radio buttons". That must be the first application of that kind of interlock in a radio.

[JoannaK]

I have never seen a tiny ganged switch the size of a DIP switch. Let us know if you find one.

Yeah... I still can't find these buttons DIP switch sized. I seem to remember one of my old SONY Walkman had something similar to that but it might have been a custom designed part.... anyway, I might just have to resort to those slide switches.

Most likely those aren't made that small, since the mechanics must be scaled accordingly and  the mechanics design/production cost makes it way too expensive.

[rolycat]

You must be young.

I wish.

Car radios had interlocked mechanical buttons for setting and recalling the station presets -> Radio Buttons.

Yes, I know. But so did cassette decks, for selecting 'play' or 'record' or 'rewind', or for selecting the tape  type. So did test gear, like Dave's new picoammeter.

As Praxis has pointed out, 'radio buttons' was a colloquial term, and consequently rather useless for AlphZeta, who was looking for the official name in order to find vendors selling such switches.

AlphZeta, could you provide more detail about why you need this specific functionality, and why for example PCB mounting rotary switches won't do the job?

[PA0PBZ]

Yeah... I still can't find these buttons DIP switch sized. I seem to remember one of my old SONY Walkman had something similar to that but it might have been a custom designed part.... anyway, I might just have to resort to those slide switches.

Not sure what the problem is you are trying to solve, but...

[JuKu]

I don't believe the physical switches are called 'radio buttons' - that's a computing term.

:lol:

[AlphZeta]

You must be young.

I wish.

Car radios had interlocked mechanical buttons for setting and recalling the station presets -> Radio Buttons.

Yes, I know. But so did cassette decks, for selecting 'play' or 'record' or 'rewind', or for selecting the tape  type. So did test gear, like Dave's new picoammeter.

As Praxis has pointed out, 'radio buttons' was a colloquial term, and consequently rather useless for AlphZeta, who was looking for the official name in order to find vendors selling such switches.

AlphZeta, could you provide more detail about why you need this specific functionality, and why for example PCB mounting rotary switches won't do the job?

I am building a multi-channel input multiplexer and thought it would be nice to be able to just pick the channel I wanted by using an interlocking switch. But as everyone had pointed out, they don't seem to come in a small DIP-sized package. Anyway, it's not something that I absolutely need the exact kind of switch I had in mind.

[jeroen74]

Check this out:

http://nl.farnell.com/erg-components/ds16c1-8/switch-dil-1pole-8way/dp/422903

[codeboy2k]

Check this out:

http://nl.farnell.com/erg-components/ds16c1-8/switch-dil-1pole-8way/dp/422903

oh that's cool! I've never seen a 8-pole slide switch before in DIP 

However, I think I would prefer the rotary one better, posted by PA0PBZ. The slide switch seems like too easy to slide past the
actual number you want.