I’m looking for a rotary switch that has 3 positions (on, on, on); which is easy to find. The kicker is that I want it also to be a pushbutton to act as a power switch.
so… basically, the rotary part of the switch will determine the function and the pushbutton will be the power.
I don’t need microscopic, but something that is smallish (maybe about 1" diameter or so) would be great.
I’ve looked online and in some catalogs, but my google-fu has failed me.
A rotary switch that’s also a pushbutton?
Hmm. Have you looked at what Allen-Bradley has to offer?
And why not use a rotary switch and separate pushbutton? What is it you’re trying to do?
Does this link help at all?
I know it’s not quite what you have in mind, but the air conditioner controls in my car have a rotary switch to choose the function and a pushbutton in the center of the knob to control the rear defroster.
Crafter> I’m a volunteer firefighter and I am wiring up my vehicle for lights and siren response. I have a current setup that has 4 toggle switches, but it’s big and clunky. On my vehicle, I’d like to take up as little space as possible, so I was thinking if the rotary/pushbutton existed I’d use it.
Trisk> it kinda helps. I’m not an EE, so I didn’t really know what everything meant. I wasn’t sure what option to use to have a pushbutton top
gp> that’s exactly what i’m looking for. What kind of vehicle is it? My A/C is just a rotary knob… no pushbutton
It’s a Kia Soul. Chances are pretty good that the Kia Rio also has the same controls. I have no idea how amenable this particular switch would be to re-purposing.
For your intended use, I’d recommend sticking with the standard stuff. I know someone who’s also a volunteer firefighter and they wound up on fire thanks to some mis-wiring in a homemade light/siren controller.
Heh… yeah… we’ve had one here too… i’m really good about using relays and making sure that only low power stuff makes it inside the passenger compartment along with fusing stuff properly.
I’ll check out those controls and keep on looking, but I figured this would be a good place to start…
You’re talking about something like these dials, right? I’m having a heck of a time trying to figure out what they’re called…
those climate controls are maybe low current and would need to use relays for lights and siren, so you would need to have space and mounting for those. you could get maybe with what you want with a 3 position toggle/rocker and a single position switch.
I’m pretty sure that with a three position rotary switch you are going to drop the contact when you rotate the dial…therefore you wont have siren and lights at the same time. That is assuming that you would want them on at the same time and this is the way you are thinking of wiring it.
ETA:
I suppose you could wire position one to be lights, two to be siren and three to be both.
A four position slide switch would work with the first position being empty and then configured as above.
There are lots of siren control boxes available online… a little pricey though.
